Nearly half of Tube track in 'very poor' condition

A Transport for London report has found that 42% of the London Underground’s track is in a “very poor” condition. This assessment was presented to transport officials on Wednesday during a London Assembly meeting focused on the £6.5 billion deferred maintenance backlog affecting the capital’s transport system.

The findings have prompted concerns about the state of London’s ageing Tube network. City Hall Conservatives leader Susan Hall stated that the figure should “set alarm bells ringing” and criticised London’s leaders for allowing the transport infrastructure to deteriorate. A spokesperson for Ms Hall added that the condition of rails, bridges, and tunnels paints a picture of a city in decline.

Read Next in News London4 min read

TfL unveils 70 measures for climate resilience

Transport for London's updated Corporate Environment Plan includes adaptation and emission reduction strategies.

Rise in Incidents and Delays

The maintenance backlog is contributing to an increase in Tube incidents and delays. Between 2015 and 2022, the average number of weekly infrastructure breakdowns on the Underground did not exceed 200. This figure has now risen to around 350 incidents per week, as reported by The Standard.

Nick Garratt, Chair of the Budget & Performance Committee, noted that the number of incidents related to asset decline has significantly increased. He also pointed out that delays experienced by passengers have risen, indicating that individual incidents are becoming more severe. While TfL can manage safety through measures like speed restrictions and additional maintenance, Mr Garratt suggested that the cost is being passed to passengers through worsening disruption.

Related Borough Coverage3 min read

London black cabs face shortage as production stalls

Drivers warn of job losses and industry crisis due to lack of new vehicles and parts.

Transport for London acknowledged that issues stemming from ageing equipment are more frequent and that insufficient funding hinders efforts to address the maintenance backlog. The transport authority stated it is working to reduce disruption by responding more quickly to incidents and utilising other parts of the network, such as the Elizabeth line, to accommodate affected passengers.

Funding Shortfall

Transport for London estimates that it needs to spend between £1.1 billion and £1.2 billion annually to prevent its assets from deteriorating. However, over the five years leading up to the 2025/26 financial year, the body has spent approximately £700 million per year on maintenance. This has resulted in a £6.5 billion shortfall for essential maintenance and renewal work, which includes replacing tracks, tunnels, and stations, as well as refurbishments.

TfL attributes the backlog to insufficient and uncertain government funding over the past decade, particularly noting the impact of the Government’s withdrawal of its revenue grant in 2018. A TfL spokesperson stated that safety remains the top priority and that the organisation is investing an average of £860 million per year in renewals, a substantial increase from pre-pandemic and pandemic years. They are working with the Government to secure sustained, long-term funding to boost investment in assets.

Richard Jones, TfL’s Director of Asset Performance Delivery, clarified that a track being classified as “very poor” does not automatically mean it is unsafe. However, it can impact service reliability and the frequency of train operations. He explained that TfL assesses its track against modern standards, while much of the Underground still uses older, legacy track and equipment.