The future of London's transport: growth, devolution and delivery

Andy Lord, Commissioner of Transport for London, recently sat down with our Chief Executive John Dickie for an in conversation event which provided a wide-ranging look at the future of London’s transport network and its role in driving economic growth, kindly sponsored by AtkinsRéalis and hosted by Canary Wharf Group.

The discussion, which marked the second briefing in our series of three with TfL’s senior leadership team, came at a pivotal moment for London. Alongside TfL securing a £2.2 billion four-year capital settlement through the 2025 Spending Review – its largest funding agreement for more than a decade – the political landscape is shifting following last month’s local elections and mounting speculation around Andy Burnham becoming the next Prime Minister. 

Burnham’s vision of ​“Manchesterism”, centred on greater devolution, place-based leadership and infrastructure-led growth, framed much of what followed. The question for London is not whether devolution should continue, but what the next chapter should look like for the capital.

Opening the session, Andy reflected on London’s international standing following a recent visit to Singapore and Tokyo with the Mayor, where the capital’s transport network was recognised as a major factor in London receiving the World Cities Prize. Despite economic and political uncertainty, he said the city’s reputation remains exceptionally strong, with continued international confidence in the city’s ability to attract investment.

A consistent message throughout was that transport is far more than a public service – it is an engine of growth. Andy noted that TfL has now delivered its third consecutive operating surplus, with the longer-term funding settlement allowing the organisation to move beyond short-term financial recovery and invest strategically in renewing ageing assets, improving resilience and supporting economic growth.

That investment is already translating into delivery. New DLR trains will enter service later this summer, new Piccadilly line trains will be in service in the next 12 months, and London’s 3,000^th zero-emission bus has recently joined the fleet. But Andy stressed that these milestones are only the start of the sustained investment needed to modernise one of the world’s busiest transport networks.

A central focus was how transport investment unlocks housing and regeneration. The proposed DLR extension to Thamesmead stood out as one of London’s most significant growth opportunities, with the potential to unlock around 30,000 new homes and 20,000 jobs by connecting one of Europe’s largest brownfield development sites to the wider network. Members also highlighted the continued importance of progressing the Bakerloo line extension, West London Orbital and safeguarding the route for Crossrail 2 to support the capital’s longer-term growth.

Alongside major infrastructure projects, Andy pointed to TfL’s expanding role as a landowner and development partner. Through Places for London, TfL is delivering over-station developments at Bank and Southwark while identifying opportunities to redevelop surplus operational land for housing. Partnerships with organisations including Network Rail and NHS trusts, he suggested, could unlock even more public land while attracting private investment.

Devolution was one of the liveliest themes of the session. Andy welcomed the growing national consensus behind greater local control, arguing that London’s success over the past 25 years demonstrates what devolved leadership can achieve. If ​“Manchesterism” becomes the model for the next government, he argued, London must ensure it is not left behind. The capital should have greater fiscal freedoms to leverage private investment, become less reliant on Whitehall and accelerate progress, while maintaining strong alignment between the Mayor and London’s boroughs through the London Plan.

That debate naturally moved to how future infrastructure should be funded. With TfL’s borrowing capacity constrained, Andy made clear that the next generation of projects will be more reliant on new delivery models, including commercial partnerships, land value capture and development through Places for London. The challenge is finding ways to attract private capital while retaining the long-term public benefits transport investment creates.

Fares, buses and customer experience were also key parts of the conversation. Andy reaffirmed that fares remain a matter for the Mayor, but there is scope to simplify what has become an increasingly complex rail fares system while continuing the rollout of contactless ticketing. He also cited the forthcoming Weekend Hopper fare as another example of targeted innovation.

Attention then turned to bus services. More than five million passenger journeys are made by bus every day, yet congestion and roadworks continue to undermine reliability. Improving bus journey times remains one of TfL’s highest priorities, prompting discussion about stronger coordination of London’s road network and wider use of lane rental schemes.

The session also explored how London’s transport system must adapt to future challenges. Andy emphasised the growing impact of climate change on operational performance, noting that passenger numbers fell by around 14% during last week’s extreme heat while high temperatures forced speed restrictions across parts of the rail network. Building a more climate-resilient network through modern rolling stock, upgraded infrastructure and stronger operational resilience will require sustained investment over many years.

Looking further ahead, members discussed autonomous vehicles and how major infrastructure projects can be delivered more quickly. Andy maintained that autonomous vehicles have an important future role, particularly in improving connectivity in Outer London, while stressing they must complement rather than compete with public transport. He also called for planning and consultation processes to be streamlined so investment can be delivered more quickly.

If one message ran throughout, it was that transport underpins almost every aspect of London’s future prosperity. Whether the challenge is building new homes, improving productivity or adapting to climate change, infrastructure remains the foundation of growth. As TfL moves from recovery to renewal, the debate is no longer simply about funding London’s transport network, but about ensuring the capital has the powers, investment tools and devolved freedoms to remain the UK’s primary engine of growth in an era of ​“Manchesterism”.

Reflecting on the session afterwards, James Walker, Client Director – Transport for London and London Boroughs at AtkinsRéalis, said: ‘‘Thank you, Andy and John, for the insightful discussion on TfL’s priorities for the coming decade. The conversation reinforced that transport is far more than infrastructure — it is the foundation for growth, regeneration and resilience. As London continues to evolve, long-term investment in sustainable and integrated transport networks will be critical to unlocking opportunity and supporting the city to meet its future needs. At AtkinsRéalis, we are proud to play our part in engineering a resilient future for London. Thank you to Canary Wharf Group for hosting this event. We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting the final event in the series.’’