A Councils Member briefing January 2014

London Underground - 150 Years and Beyond

2013 saw celebrations of 150 years of an underground railway in London. The underground has changed and shaped the way people live in the capital and this anniversary has provided with the opportunity to set out a vision for its future.

Overview This briefing summarises Transport for London’s (TfL) vision for the future of the underground (Tube). Gareth Powell, Director of Strategy at , gave a presentation to the meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee on 12 December 2013. He stated London Underground’s priorities for the future are:

• Keeping London Moving- Reliability and safely • Keeping London Growing - Capacity from the current network and from growing the network • Making Life in London Better - Customer service where every journey matters

The vision also includes five commitments to Londoners:

1. Introduce a new 24-hour Tube service at weekends 2. Further improve the reliability and capacity of services 3. All Tube stations are controlled and staffed while services operating 4. Make journeys easier for customers – supported by technology 5. Deliver improvements with the best possible value for money

Analysis For 150 years the Tube has been constantly evolving to meet the needs of Londoners. Today, the Tube travels 43 million miles and carries over one billion passengers a year. There have been many key milestones since it first opened in 1863, 10 are highlighted below:

1890 First deep level electric Tube railway in the world and access to platforms by hydaulic lift 1905-38 The Tube reshapes suburban London, including the development of ‘Metroland’ 1968-69 First computer-controlled underground railway in the world, with automatic and ticket gates 1977 First airport link for the Tube, with Picadilly line extension to Heathrow Central (terminals 1,2 and 3). Later extended to Heathrow T4 and T5 (2008) 1983 Introduction of zonal fares and following legal battles over ‘’ between London’s“ Council and government in 1981/2 population is 1999 Jubileee line extension opened from Green Park to Stratford set to grow at a 2000 Transport for London (TfL) established as a new transport authority for the capital, responsible rate equivalent to the elected , returning it to local control to a Tube 2002 First Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract with for maintenance upgrading of full of people several underground lines every week

2003 Introduction of Oyster cards revolutionising the way people pay for tickets between now 2011 constrcution begins, scheduled to open in 2018. and 2030 “

London’s population is set to grow from 8.4 million today to around 10 million by 2030, a growth rate equivalent to a Tube train full of people every week. Steps need to be taken to improve and increase capacity within London’s transport infrastructure if we are to meet future demand, including improving the Tube network.

The On1 2 November 2013, the Mayor stated, in his open letter to Londoners: “London is a 24- hour city and to support the capital’s vibrant night-time economy we will be introducing a 24-hour Tube service at weekends from 2015, with services running right through the night on Fridays and Saturdays.”

The service is planned to be introduced in phases from 2015. The initial 24-hour weekend Tube network will be comprised of regular services on the Northern, , Victoria, Central and Jubilee lines.

Frequent, Reliable and Accessible Ino addition t Crossrail, TfL’s plans for the Tube include the extension to Batter- sea via , the start of the next phase of Tube upgrades including the Piccadilly, Cen- tral and Bakerloo lines and Tube station upgrades including Victoria, and . The plans for the next 10 years also include new and refurbished trains, track replacement, network re-signalling, asset stabilisation and renewal, and lift and refurbishment.

The Mayor has also pledged to make the network more accessible with more raised platform sections and boarding ramps, improved information and signage and 27 additional step-free Tube and Overground stations over the next eight years. TfL also believe the proposed staffing changes will ensure that the current turn up and go service for disabled and visually impaired passengers continues and are aiming to enhance the disability training given to staff. Stations, Tickets and Fares TfL’s vision is that in the future, rather than being remote from customers behind closed doors or glass windows, Tube station staff will not be based in ticket offices but in ticket halls, on The“ introduction gatelines and on platforms, using mobile technology to help customers. This will be enabled of 24 hour Tube by the introduction of Wi Fi to all Tube stations where it is currently available at 120. services are a long overdue recognition of Closing ticket offices will result in a reduction of 750 posts, around 13 per cent of station London’s status staff. However TfL has pledged that no staff member who wants to continue working and is as a 24 hour city prepared to be flexible will lose their job. and the need

for safe, cheap The introduction of the has transformed the way we use Tube stations, with just night time “ three per cent of journeys now involving visiting a ticket office. Lessons learnt from the transport Olympics also show that moving staff out into the concourses and platforms is popular with passengers.

To assist this transition, another part of the plan is to increase and update the numbers of ticket machines across the network and from early 2014 will be available on the Tube, (DLR), Trams and .

On 3 December 2013, the Mayor announced that 2014 fares would be frozen would be in real terms to help ease cost of living for Londoners. This means an average rise of RPI (3.1 per cent) on some fares and a complete freeze at 2013 prices on others.

Commentary London Councils supports the development of the Tube as essential to providing the transport infrastructure required to support population and economic growth.

The introduction of 24 hour Tube services are a long overdue recognition of London’s status as a 24 hour city and the need for safe, cheap night time transport, for those working at night as well as for recreational activities. However, some consultation and engagement with boroughs would have been welcome as there are some concerns about policing anti-social behaviour, the cost of potential additional street cleaning services around stations and the noise impacts for communities surrounding tubes stations, particularly for surface level lines and stations. Case Study: Anti-social behaviour around Tube stations in Enfield Crimes committed within 500 metres of Tube stations (November 2012 to October 2013) Last year, Enfield council studied crime around four stations on the Picadilly line - , Oakwood, Southgate and

Using data obtained from police Crime Recording Information System (CRIS) and caller aided Dispatch (CAD) database they found that:

Of the recorded ASB incidents around Tube stations, 34 per cent had been classified as ‘rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour’

The peak time for these offences is the 1500 to 2100 period (39 per cent), closely followed by the 2100 to 0600 period (33 per cent).

No particular day is over-represented in terms of the volume of offences occurring. London Councils will continue to monitor developments of concern to boroughs and residents, in particular in relation to and fare increases. Any comments or feedback members may have that could help develop our knowledge base and inform future discussions with TfL would be welcomed.

Author: Nishma Malde, Head of Transport and Environment (T: 020 7934 9945) Click here to send a comment or query to the author

Links:

The Future of the Tube (TfL website)

This member briefing has been circulated to: Portfolio holders and those members who requested policy briefings in the following categories: Transport

London Councils, 591/2 Street, London SE1 0AL www.londoncouncils.gov.uk