TfL funding bung “insulting and unhelpful”

Responding to today’s eleventh-hour funding extension for Transport for London (TfL), TSSA said the “short term uncertainty is insulting and deeply unhelpful”.

The latest funding settlement was due to expire today (4 February) and instead of the desired long-term funding settlement, an agreement has been struck with the Department for Transport a further short-term extension of the current funding package to 18 February.

Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary said: “Yet another eleventh-hour reprieve for TfL is insulting and deeply unhelpful – it’s miles away from what our capital needs.

“Short-term sticking plasters are doing harm to what should be the jewel in the crown of our transport networks. Just this week we’ve heard the government say they want other parts of the country to have ‘London style’ transport – but what an insult if they intend to grind TfL into the ground.

“TfL is operating hand to mouth, without the ability to make capital investments and long-term plans.

“The government must come up with an appropriate, long-term funding arrangement which protects TfL services for London as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.”