London mayoral elections: What are the candidates' plans for public transport?

With a little over a week until the London mayoral election, Sadiq Khan’s time at City Hall, including his transport policies, has come under significant scrutiny.

When unveiling his last mayoral manifesto in 2021, Mr Khan pledged to restore Transport for London’s Covid-crippled finances. At that time, TfL was surviving day-to-day thanks to Government bailouts which ended up totalling more than £6 billion.

The Labour mayor’s efforts to bring the capital’s transport system off life support has led some to hail transport his “legacy area.” Jon Tabbush, at the Centre for London, said: “We want Sadiq to go further but, broadly speaking, transport is the area that Londoners are happiest with him. Transport is definitely his key legacy area.

“Shepherding the Elizabeth line through its last stages, when the funding package began to fall apart, and keeping TfL alive during the pandemic, was really quite impressive.”

However, aspects of London’s transport system have been highly criticised, including Mr Khan’s decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to cover all of Greater London. There have also been ongoing issues with the Central line and TfL is unable to afford replacing trains on lines such as Bakerloo. Voters will be weighing up the failures and successes of the transport system in recent years as they peer through the candidate campaign catalogue.

So what are this year’s candidates’ plans for London’s transport system?

Sadiq Khan, Labour

Beyond his recent announcement of a freeze on TfL single fares, Mr Khan has pointed to his previous achievements of delivering the Elizabeth line, the introduction of the Night Tube and investing in green buses. In 2021, he said he had overseen a five-fold increase in protected cycle lanes. He is now pledging to extend the Superloop express bus network and has also announced he would create a new London bus company, as he would look to bring routes back into public ownership.

Susan Hall, Conservative

Sadiq Khan’s main opponent, Susan Hall, has fiercely opposed Mr Khan’s Ulez expansion, saying: “As mayor, I will scrap it on day one. No ifs, no buts.” Hall has said the £12.50 daily charge for non-compliant vehicles is devastating for people who cannot afford to travel around the city. In lieu of the scheme, she intends to set up a £50 million Pollution Hotspots fund to improve air quality in specific neighbourhoods. Hall has also vowed to expand the Night Tube to help women get home safely and to throw off anyone playing loud music.

Rob Blackie, Lib Dems

Rob Blackie has ruled out making any further bus cuts, as “Sadiq Khan has cut 22 million miles of buses from London while he’s been mayor.” Mr Blackie has also promised to work towards a long-term funding deal with national Government to avoid strikes and has said the Liberal Democrats would increase the price of Tube fares in line with rising inflation.

Zoë Garbett, Greens

Zoë Garbett has “set an ambition to flatten fares and create a single zone for tube and rail, just like we have on buses and trams, helping everyone in outer London pay less for travel”. This would begin with the introduction of a flat fare system across the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The Green Party is also campaigning over the lack of loos on the capital’s public transport network.

Howard Cox, Reform UK

Howard Cox plans to the entire Ulez and plans to reimburse fees and fines received since the zone expanded on 29 August 2023. Mr Cox also plans to remove Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN’s), 20 mph zones, “needless road restrictions, pinch points, floating bus stops and excessively wide cycle lanes.”

Count Binface

The satirical political candidate proposes to use a windfall tax on oil companies to pay for a new electric car for every Londoner who cannot afford a Ulez-compliant vehicle. He has also pledged to make parking free between Vine Street and the Strand for all electric vehicles - bar Teslas.

Natalie Campbell MBE, Independent

Natalie Campbell MBE has said she would refund Ulez payments to essential businesses and small business owners in outer London on day one as mayor. Moreover, Ms Campbell plans to switch TfL roads from 20mph back to 30mph and has said she would look to progress the Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham.

Andreas Michli, Independent

Andreas Michli would axe Ulez, LTNs and the Congestion Charge. The health and fitness entrepreneur has previously said London’s air is “the cleanest it has ever been” but insisted Ulez did not play a part in that.

Brian Rose

Ex-Wall Street banker Brian Rose’s plan to privatise TfL (to tackle strikes amongst other issues) remains controversial, but he says a lot of managing it properly lies with accountability and penalties for companies who don’t hit targets where necessary. Mr Rose has also said there are “so many possibilities to generate revenue. I see land. There are actually 5,700 acres of it owned by TfL that we can develop on.”

Femy Amin, Animal Welfare Party

Femy Amin plans to incentivise public and active transport by making it more affordable. Part of this involves expanding the public transport subsidies for low income individuals and families. Funding would also increase for bicycle and walking infrastructure, cycle lanes and cycle storage. Ms Amin said: “There is a significant disparity currently in the investment between cycling and walking infrastructure compared to the budget allocated for roads between 2016 and 2020.”

Tarun Ghulati, Independent

Tarun Ghulati plans to scrap the Ulez policy, which he calls a “disaster”. He has also pledged to enhance transport access and amenities for seniors and the disabled which would involve reinstating the peak-hour Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card. The independent candidate would also remove the 20mph speed limit from main roads to “get London moving”.

Amy Gallagher, Social Democratic Party

The Social Democratic Party candidate agrees with others campaigning to scrap Ulez, LTNs, and what she refers to as the all-round “war on cars.” Ms Gallagher also plans to crack down on anti-social behaviour on Tubes, trains and buses.

Nick Scanlon, Britain First

The Britain First candidate says he would abolish congestion charge and Ulez, which sit highest on his list of pledges.