Transport for London

Transport for Greater London are the organizer for London’s transport and have been (Overseen by the Mayor) since 2000.
London has so many transport options: The Tube, Rail, buses, and they all are okay, with some buses far better than others.
RAILWAY: Railway is one of the least common transport methods across London, with it even being non-​existent between the likes of Victoria and Euston, for example most of these lines take the tube, honestly the railway does not get you where you need to go and it basically works alongside the Tube for example the route from Euston to South Croydon is the following:
London Euston to London Victoria — The Tube for 6 minutes on the Victoria Line
London Victoria to South Croydon — Train with Southern Railway’s Brighton Line (often late)
Many of the train companies around London are often late too, but honestly that is under National Rail rather than TFGL, although they must have some influence, surely?
BUSES: London buses are famous all around the world, just like NYC and the yellow taxis, everyone associates red double decker buses with London, all glamorous but honestly it is not like that with London Traffic.
London Buses are like a punishment for disabled people, yes they is a ramp that comes down very easy on the second door, however it takes so many times longer than the tube, hence meaning you have to allow so much more time, and even if you are not disabled, spending time on a London bus is much longer than any other place surely, taking hours to go a few measly miles, when it would take seconds on The Tube. It is also meaning you pay the price for wanting to see the scenic routes around London as a tourist, it seemed they had no bus lanes too, unlike in Manchester, which is certainly needed and it would also help, ease the congestion on London streets, to go alongside the congestion charge and encourage people to be more eco friendly and use public transportation.
TUBE: The Tube is great, full of trains, faster than the speed of light (No wonder I was never good at Science), which are very quick and connect mostly all of London however they are often very crowded; they is always people standing and it can be hard to get on and off in a way due to crowds, and even hard to get a seat, and with it being underground, it can get very hot. Disabled Access on the tubes is also quite poor, considering only few stations have access, not including Victoria, Euston etc, and the ones that do, it is still difficult to get on and off with a wheelchair/​prams etc due to large crowds and it sometimes being hard to find a member of staff.
The Bus is exhausting, the Trains are late, the Tube isn’t friendly to the minority. TFGL can be doing so much more! I don’t feel they deserve 1 star, but they don’t deserve more than two!

wouldn’t it be easy if the TFL Oyster IT system was to date with 21^st century thinking and geared about how customers travel. How about when your card readers screws up, we fill in an on-​line form (1 form), therefore avoiding having to hang on the phone for 20 minuets, and no need with idiotic follow up questions/​emails. Here’s a thought, start being a Customer Service provider, customers first type of thinking with current IT to aid you — instead of moaning about the above London average wages you get and going on strikes for an extra day off. Some 3 emails and a telephone call to get a refund of £3.10??? Privatisation couldn’t come sooner really if this is TFL logic of efficiency. Clearly not a happy CUSTOMER…

I never had any problem with London’s public transport, except for the days of general strike (but I accept that as a democratic way of expressing workers’ demands) or the days with heavy snow fall.
I like the Oyster card system, especially the fact that you can buy a 7-​day card, use it for 3 – 4 days, then return it and you’ll get back the equivalent of the money that you haven’t used. (I hope it still works this way!!)
And London doubledeckers are LEGENDARY!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I absolutely love London tube buskers!

I think people have such varied feelings about TFL depending on their past experiences in comparison with what is available in London.
For myself, I love the system and how the rail and tube and busses are all easily accessible using the Oyster card and travelcard.
It is simple to understand and I love you can go practically anywhere using public transportation.
Please realize that sure, there may be better systems in other cities, but there are also way worse systems, and even non existent systems.
Take for example, my hometown of Montgomery, AL. The last I have heard of the bus system, you would need to call at least 3 days prior to schedule a bus to pick you up.
In Orlando currently, you really need to own a car. The bus will take literally hours, and we recently just just installed a rail system in its infancy that does not run late at night and does not run at all during the weekends. It only travels north and south in a straight line, and only through one section of the city.
Londoners are super fortunate to have so many options so easily accessible.

As we bought ourselves daily unlimited travel passes (£8.30 wk /​£7.80 wknd) we used the buses and Underground equally as much. if you are travelling a lot on the day this is a far better solution than the Oystercard.
I am very impressed with he frequency of the buses. I also appreciated the electronic displays at the stops. The TfL bus drivers tends to communicate to their passengers on many occasions — how long they’re stopping for or what is causing a delay. The stops are easy to find and clear information on times and routes.
There is no Wifi as I gathered, but that just may be the services we took that weekend (13÷113÷82).

Public transportation in London is good and well organised. We took double decker bus from Notting Hill (Kensington and Chelsea district) to Trafalgar Square. Well! There was strong evening traffic jam obliging every vehicles to drive slowly and so we spent enough time in bus: Seats pitch is limited and there are video cameras showing passengers from upper deck and vice versa! Really amusing:) London bus drivers are in general very friendly and we liked bus nice red colour!

²⁰¹³⁄₀₂₂
I’ve used public transportation in San Francisco for 30 years, and in NYC for business trips. I’ve used public transportation in Paris, Washington D.C., Honolulu, Atlanta, etc., among other cities.
London has excellent public transportation. I get that people complain if there is a breakdown in the system. I’ve gone through BART strikes and earthquakes that disrupt mass transit, myself.
I’ve used the Tube, the double decker buses, regular buses, the trains, and other systems. My husband’s family lives 80 miles south and when we get off at LHR, we don’t hesitate to take whatever system (s) gets us to my in-​laws. My sister-​in-​law lives in Paris, and we always take the various combinations of what TFL has to offer to get us there. Well, at least to the UK side of the Chunnel.
I love seeing my husband and his sister debate about which Tube line gets one to places faster. They seem to breathe the A-​Z book. Debating A to Zed seems to be an artform.
I now live in Nashville where certain bus lines don’t even run between 10am and 2pm, a 4-​mile trip takes 1.5 hours by bus (and always involves a transfer at the sole bus station downtown), and no buses seem to run after 10pm. And if your flight gets in after 9pm at the airport (BNA)? Forget it. It’s always a taxi ride home at that time. People here can’t function if their cars break down. And most people turn their noses up at using buses. Don’t even get me started on how sidewalks/​pavements don’t exist in half the city.
So, yeah, I love your mass transit system. Try living somewhere where it doesn’t exist (or where people will assume it’s a left-​wing conspiracy).

#536 I’ve already reviewed the Tube specifically, so I’ll keep this review focused on the buses. First of all, friendly bus drivers. I am in LOVE with friendly bus drivers. The stereotype is that buses are always driven by overworked, underpaid, grumpy drivers and I am a fan of people totally working against entrenched stereotypes. Secondly, plenty of seating and friendly co-​passengers who give up their seats within seconds when they noticed an elderly person or mother with young children. Third, public transportation in London is efficient and runs to almost anywhere you’d need it to, especially within the central area. No complaints here!

This transport system has been around for a very long time, and has enabled Londoners to move about the city with ease. Yes, there’s always the case of delays, and cancellations (Especially weekends for tubes), but there’s always an alternative to get you to where you’re going.
It’s quick underground than overground for me; except maybe on Sundays, when the roads are less busy with cars, so I get on the bus to church. The DLR system is quite good, and when you’re visiting the Docklands, there’s always some good sights to see if you’re a tourist.
With the 2012 Olympics coming up this summer, plans are already being made to contain the visitors, and make their travelling easier. It is not easy to manage people, but I believe the staff at TFL are doing their very best.
There’s also the electronic updates (Email) for tube closures; this helps customers who access the internet on the go to know which train lines to board and the ones to avoid. It may not always be rosy for most of us, but it is what it is. So, I’d say kudos to the TFL crew for their continuous effort in ensuring we get to our destinations, even though we get there late is some cases.

I like when round numbers come up — I try to «save» an important review for it and for number 1300, it’s Transport for London. The Underground (aka the Tube), the Overground, the world famous red double-​decker buses and even London’s classic black Hackney taxi cabs are all part of the conglomerate known as TfL.
Complain all you like, but Londoners are lucky to have it. Try and imaging getting from Paddington to Liverpool Street without the organization that today interfaces with National Rail and the Underground. Sure, they have their bad days and perhaps there are more bad days than we have a right to hope for, but dang, when it’s good, it’s great!
Oyster Cards take you everywhere and they save you a ton of quids as you go. Right now it’s £4 cash for a zone one trip on the Tube. Or tap your «magic» Oyster card and it’s £1.20. Hoo-​ah!
Labor problems with the Tube drivers, with the bus drivers and with the taxi drivers. Arguments over the «special» lanes for the Olympics. Strikes. Breakdowns. Planned engineering works. All the problems that come with a system that started as the world’s FIRST Underground 130 years ago. All of needs modernization. Give ‘em a small break?

TfL is an easy target but I don’t think it’s that bad.
The tube:
This kinda depends on where you are in London. In Zones 1 and 2, services tend to be frequent, reliable and the electronic noticeboards up-​to-​date, something that can’t always be said about comparable services on the continent. In zones 3 and 4 however, it’s possible to sit for good portions of an hour waiting for something to show up. And as we all know, the closures on the weekend and after midnight can be highly inconvenient.
The bus:
Again, it rather depends where you are. In some areas it’s reasonably reliable and quick; in others, it’s hampered by heavy congestion. On the other hand, the night buses are very useful if somewhat slow.
The cost:
Bus passes are reasonable. But travelcards are eye-​wateringly expensive. £7.30 for a day’s off-​peak zones 1 – 4 travelcard? Ouch!
The Cyclehire scheme:
This is where TfL begins to make up lost ground. The Cyclehire scheme is a superbly implemented idea, allowing you let TfL worry about typical deterrents to cycling like maintenance, lights and security. And for an annual cost of just £40 to be able to use each of these bikes for up to 30 mins for free every 24 hours, I really can’t understand why more Londoners don’t use them to get around more. That’s particularly the case when I’m coasting past gridlocked traffic on London’s streets on my bike.
TfL’s Journey Planner on its website:
Again, I think this is pretty decent and reliable. It’s also an excellent reminder to all Londoners of how it’s usually quicker to get around by bike. I find I can eventually start to beat the cycle journey times provided, but they’re good ballpark estimates.
TfL’s other support for cyclists:
Once more, this is pretty good. The Cycle Superhighways are a bit so-​so, but to be fair they’re not yet fully implemented and certainly better than nothing. The existing network of cycle routes and bus lanes is pretty decent though, which brings this review to the unsung hero of TfL’s cycling support: the free cycling maps that can be acquired from tube stations showing possible cycle routes through London along calmer roads. These are hugely useful, and have made many of my cycle-​commutes far more pleasant affairs. Highly recommended.
Overall then, not bad, or A-​okay in Unilocal language.

Well, can’t say it doesn’t pretty much get you everywhere, but sadly at a very high price. It wouldn’t be unfair to say it’s cheaper to drive!
And its embarrasing to have visitors who don’t understand that this isn’t a ²⁴⁄₇ city. The thought of how your going to get home is always present and can often ruin a night.
But the bad points have been unleashed, the good points are there too! Get to point a to point b! Some places easier than others, but its still possible!
It would be nice if London businesses would make transportation easier by offering flexible schedules so we can avoid the transport crowds!
But for the price of a travel card, i would expect a back massage on first class!

This review should really be a 1 star; like on those days when I’m 2 hours late to work due to ‘mechanical issues’ that require me to take 1 Tube, 2 buses, and a 20 minute walk to go the 6 miles from flat to office. Which somehow ended up costing me £4 in travel and £20 in wages.
On other days it should be a 2 star; when my bus decides mid-​route to dump out all its passengers and drive off requiring us to wait… and wait… and wait for the next bus which is full.
On most days its 3 stars. It gets me to where I’m going without too much trouble but still charges me enough that I feel like I’m getting cheated somehow.
Occasionally it will be a 4 star day like the day I moved to London and was stuck with 3 suitcases, the largest with a broken wheel. Staff helped me carry my luggage up the stairs at the station and pointed me in the right direction.
Funny thing is, however, is that as much as I complained about the TFL whilst I was living in London, its one of the main things that I miss now that I live someplace without a public transportation infrastructure. For that, I’ll give it 5 stars.
So take your pick. You have a pretty equal chance of having any of these experiences on TFL… sometimes all on a single trip.

Tourists love the tube.
But they don’t use it every day for comuting. Then you realize it is subpar system compared to Hong Kong, Paris, Tokyo or NYC
Pluses:
Large network, beats NYC.
Oyster Cards work.
Cons:
Expensive — its an inefficiently run public company
No express trains — these are great in NY; and london is very spread out so sorely needed.
Weekend maintenance — horrendously dysfunctional on weekends.
Signal failures — getting stuck for an hour in a hot tube due to signalling failures, happened twice in one year.
Ugly, claustrophobic stations
Oystercard useless for purchasing goods. Google «octopus card» to see how HK’s system does it.

TFL TFL TFL! How many times you have failed me, but since I am such an optimist I shall award you 4 stars! recently you have proved to me that you love me as a passenger, not only have you arrived on time but you have made my station look much prettier =)
TUBE
If you haven’t used the tube before and you are travelling in zone 1 + 2 try walking lol. The tube can get very packed and hot! especially around rush hour.
The Victoria line has recently got an upgrade on the train, and it is a lot quieter yay! future trains will be one long carriage which should be interesting. District line trains are also getting an upgrade soon to provide extra standing space.
The district line is particularly slow, so if you are travelling on the district line add another 2 mins per stop (Try and avoid this line) =)
The Northern line always has problems, and the Jubilee line is always undergoing repairs.
Once you get used to passenger alarms, signal failures, leaves on tracks, regulating the trains, you will love the tube! =)
BUS
I try and avoid the buses, they get so hot and packed! I know many people love buses, but I just don’t have the patience for the stopping and starting and smelly people and kids… lots of kids. When I need to I do get the bus, but I try and avoid school times.
Overall, get a book, a portable fan, IPod and enjoy your journey. Oh most people don’t talk to each other on the tube or even smile, so don’t expect any pleasantries. Also if you see a pregnant woman… give up your seat. you will get mean looks from everyone!

Having been a Londoner for almost 20 years, I’m awarding TFL 4 stars for the improvements they’ve made in that time. It’s by no means perfect but compared to some of the literal misery heaped upon Londoners in the past, today’s Tube and buses are much improved.
There’s still an awful lot of Tube line closures at the weekend, which can be very irritating, but we’re promised a phoenix from the ashes in time for the 2012 Olympics, so I shall reserve judgement for now.
One other good thing I would like to highlight is their excellent website. You can sign up for alerts and this free service is customisable to your route/​stations. So fro example, I get the weekend Tube closures e-​mailed to me every week for free.
Things to improve:
More late night Tubes
The cost, though that’s probably a result of living in ripoff Britain
Not shutting down the Jubilee line to the Dome during the weekend of big events held there

Previously, I mentioned that a Travelcard I purchased online wasn’t activated correctly, and instead caused money to be taken off the PAYG part of my Oyster card. After filing a complaint online, I finally received an email from TfL 1.5 months later, stating that they would refund the amount of my journeys for the day my Travelcard was supposed to begin.
That almost earns TfL three starts. However, with all the Tube closures that have been taking place over the weekends, and the subsequent inconvenience caused, I’m not ready to offer TfL a higher rating.

Dear TFL,
I realised something when you unceremoniously decided to shorten my bus route the other night and dumped me in Lancaster «greenbelt of central london» Gate. In pouring rain. Then made me pay an extra pound to get my wet arse home. On average I am pretty sure you con me out of £2 a week. That works out to be roughly £100 a year. This contributes to one item below:
1 month worth of lunch for work
2x dinner at a posh restaurant (without wine natch)
4x lunch at a posh restaurant
1x bottle of Dom
¼ of a designer pair of shoe (or the heel of 1 designer shoe)
¹⁄₈ of a designer bag (ie the handle+ perhaps the mobile phone pocket)
¹⁄₁₀ new mac
All of which I much rather have than line your deep, bottomless pits of pockets.
I am grateful that you get me round town, don’t get me wrong. But GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. For the extra money I am «donating», I want my tube to work during the weekend, no f!@#ing motorcycles in my bus and cycle lane and no randomly dumping me in the rain somewhere.
Oh and I want my Oyster to let me buy pastries, drinks, groceries and whatnots. Not some quasi oyster card I need to get from a bank, which also happens not to be my bank. my normal oyster card please. The one I paid £3 for years ago. Even though you only «started charging this year»
Thanks. Let me know when you get onto it.

Ahhh The N253, how many times have you saved my weary legs?
This isn’t just a night bus, it’s a mobile after party!
This prestigious carriage never fails the night bus party test. To test your night bus, simply start singing either «Build me up buttercup» or «The Flintstones» and if everyone joins in… it’s Night Bus party o’ clock!

TUBE
Coming from San Francisco, this transit system is crazy. Did you know that during WWII they used the underground tunnels as a bomb shelter and whole parts of the city lived down there. There are stations everywhere. The one thing I remember most is when the doors open, you hear «MIND THE GAP.»
BUS
I love how the buses are double deckers. Awesome, very London-​y.