TfL’s next chapter: funding certainty, growth and the future of London’s transport network

Last week, BusinessLDN welcomed Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, in conversation with our Chief Executive, John Dickie, for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of London’s transport network, kindly sponsored by AtkinsRéalis and hosted by BT Group.

The event came at an important moment for TfL, following last summer’s Spending Review settlement and the publication of its new four-year business plan in February..

Reflecting on the past decade, Alex highlighted both London’s continued growth and changing travel patterns. The capital’s population has increased from 8.7 million to around 9.1 million, yet TfL’s London Travel Demand Survey shows the average number of daily trips per person has fallen from around 2.3 to 2 per day as hybrid working and new commuting patterns have become established in the post-pandemic period.

Alongside these shifts, London’s transport network has undergone major transformation. The success of the Elizabeth Line was a recurring theme, with passenger numbers now reaching around 800,000 journeys a day, while ridership on the London Overground has increased by around 200% since TfL took over operations.

Alex also pointed to the impact of projects including the Northern line extension, Silvertown Tunnel and Barking Riverside in supporting regeneration and improving connectivity across the capital.

Decarbonisation and accessibility featured prominently throughout the conversation. London now has around 2,950 electric buses, while TfL has delivered step-free upgrades at 26 stations in recent years. Alex also highlighted progress on air quality, while acknowledging the challenge of increasing sustainable mode share in Outer London boroughs, where car dependency remains significantly higher than in Central London.

The discussion turned to TfL’s business plan and what longer-term funding certainty now enables. Alex stressed that the four-year settlement provides a more stable platform for investment planning after years of short-term funding negotiations, allowing TfL to take a more strategic approach to infrastructure upgrades, asset management and regeneration.

Central to that future pipeline is the DLR extension to Thamesmead, with TfL now progressing powers and funding arrangements to move the scheme forward after the Government greenlit the scheme in the last Budget. The discussion also covered the next steps needed to unlock future projects, including the Bakerloo line extension and the West London Orbital. Alex stressed the importance of continuing to make the economic growth case for transport investment in the capital to the Government.

Innovation and the changing nature of transport delivery formed a major part of the conversation. Alongside the growing role of AI in planning, operations and customer experience, Alex spoke in an upbeat and pragmatic way about autonomous vehicles as a technology that is clearly coming to London rather than a distant possibility. He emphasised that the task is not to resist change, but to shape it well – ensuring the right regulatory framework, infrastructure adaptation and governance are in place so new mobility technologies can be safely integrated into a dense, complex city. The focus, he suggested, should be on harnessing these developments to improve safety, accessibility and efficiency, while ensuring clear accountability remains with elected leaders and TfL.

Fare innovation and customer experience also generated strong interest. Alex highlighted the success of the Hopper fare in supporting bus usage and confirmed TfL is exploring further innovation, including the recently announced Weekend Hopper, coming later this year. This will allow passengers to travel across London on buses and trams all day on Saturdays and Sundays for the price of a single fare during the summer holidays. He also pointed to some early thinking on loyalty and rewards schemes, drawing on models used in other sectors, to better recognise and incentivise regular public transport use.

Bus services and road management generated particularly lively discussion. Alex argued that improving bus speeds remains critical if TfL is to reverse long-term declines in usage, which has fallen by around 2% annually since 2014. He noted that roughly 70% of bus delays are caused by congestion and roadworks, underlining the importance of stronger road management powers and closer borough partnerships.

Members also raised questions about the future of Euston station and its integration with HS2 Ltd. Alex described Euston as a once-in-a-generation opportunity, bringing together London Underground, HS2, Network Rail and major over-station development into a single complex programme. He stressed that success will depend on stronger integration, clearer governance and sustained delivery focus.

The role of the River Thames also featured, with Alex highlighting its untapped potential within London’s transport system. He pointed to opportunities to grow passenger usage through better integration with the wider network, improved ticketing and information and further riverside development supported by additional piers and safeguarded wharves.

London’s transport network has evolved significantly over the past decade, but the next phase of investment will be just as important. With population growth continuing, travel patterns evolving and pressure mounting to deliver housing, decarbonisation and economic growth simultaneously, the challenge for TfL will be turning longer-term funding certainty into delivery on the ground.

Reflecting on the session afterwards, James Walker, Client Director – Transport for London and London Boroughs at AtkinsRéalis, said:

“Thank you, Alex and John, for the insightful discussion on TfL’s priorities for the coming decade. The conversation highlighted how travel patterns across London continue to evolve, the central role of public transport alongside the growth of cycling and the tangible progress being made on decarbonisation and air quality. A valuable reminder of the wider role transport plays in shaping a more connected, sustainable and liveable city. Thank you for the opportunity to sponsor the event and BT for hosting. We look forward to the next event in the series.”