Transport for London fails to deliver


The London transport network is a disgrace.
It is unreliable, expensive and crippled with delays daily.
It is dirty, crammed, and run by people with no pride in delivering an essential service to the capital city.
The equipment is faulty and not fit for purpose.
Transport for London is failing every single person who relies on the transport system to take them to and from work with a degree of reliability.
As thousands of people  late for work and other appointments over and over again, Transport for London smugly maintains it is providing a better service than ever.
I disagree, and I have the evidence to prove it.
They have bumped up fares but have done nothing to improve the service accordingly, in short it is a total shambles.
For a month I have kept a record of delays on the service, and it makes for very ugly reading.
It is a log that shines a spotlight directly onto TfL’s incompetence.
The London Transport system is not fit for purpose.
What is more shocking is these findings come 112 days before the 2012 Olympics, when thousands upon thousands more people will be using the trains.
That is 112 days -three months, until the biggest event London has ever hosted.
In July the entire world will get a glimpse of just how much of a disgrace to the country the system is, as are those who manage it.
This research also comes as those who work on the tubes  greedily hold London to ransom, threatening to strike over the Olympic period unless they are given more money.
As is stands, on the salary they are on, they are not capable of doing the job.
In the past month there have been delays on the Tube and overground every single day bar one.
That is ONE day when the system has not been beset with delays, cancellations and suspended services.
On weekends there are planned closures and works being carried out, during the week the system has been hit by a catalogue of failings including faulty trains, faulty signals, problems with doors, late finishing of engineering works and problems with wires.
I approached TfL a while ago for a comment.
This is what they said.
“London Underground is heading for its most reliable year since TfL took responsibility for the Tube a decade ago, with passenger numbers soaring and average delays at their lowest since 2003/04 according to the latest performance figures for the Tube.”
This is not true, and if it is, if a near 100 per cent failure rate is an improvement then this truly is a shocking reflection on TfL.
“The latest figures cover a four-week period between 11 December 2011 and 7 January 2012 and demonstrate how so far this year London Underground is delivering its most reliable performance ever when compared to previous years.”
Conveniently, their figures are taken over the Christmas and New Year holiday period when use of the system would be minimal with city workers  on holiday and children off school.
No TfL, this does not demonstrate “London Underground is delivering its most reliable performance ever”, it demonstrates TfL can fudge the figures.
“The Tube now looks set to end the year with the lowest average for delays”

See below - this needs no comment from me, the figures speak for themselves.
Mike Brown, managing director of London Underground, said: “We know what a vital year this is for the capital and we are focused 100 per cent on delivering an even more reliable service for Londoners and the millions of people looking forward to the London 2012 Games. 


“The latest figures show that our commitment to drive reliability up is paying dividends, and we will continue to build on these impressive results to give Londoners the world-class transport network that the city deserves.”
I am sorry to disagree with you Mr Brown, but I am a user of this appalling service and my figures show it to be an utter failure on every level.
You are right, this is a vital year for the capital, but with just over 100 days to go until the Olympics, the catalogue of failures below is far from “impressive”.
It is shameful, shocking and very sad.

Record of delays 
March 5, delays on the Central Line

March 6, delays on the Victoria Line

March 7, delays on the Victoria Line

March 8, delays on the Central, Jubilee, and Victoria Lines and DLR

March 9, Jubilee Line suspended

March 10, Central Line part closed, DLR part closed, overground part closed, severe delays on the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines.
March 11, several planned closures
March 12, severe delays on the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith and City Lines
March 13, delays on the DLR
March 14, delays on District and Circle Line
March 15, Central Line Part Suspended
March 16, DLR suspended, Metropolitan and Central Lines severe delays
March 17, Piccadilly Line, District Line delays
March 18, several planned closures
March 19, Waterloo and City Line delays
March 20, Central Line delays, Circle and District Line severe delays, Jubilee Line delays
March 21, Metropolitan Line delays, DLR severe delays, Circle Line delays, Hammersmith and City Line severe delays, Northern Line part suspended, District line delays.
March 22, Jubilee Line severe delays, Waterloo and City Line suspended (non availability of staff), District Line part suspended
March 23, Metropolitan Line part suspended
March 24, Piccadilly Line delays
March 25, Circle Line severe delays, Hammersmith and City Line severe delays, Overground delays, District Line delays
March 26, Bakerloo Line part suspended, Overground part suspended, DLR delayed
March 28, District Line delays, Northern Line delays, Hammersmith and City Line part suspended
March 29, Piccadilly Line part suspended, District and Circle Line delays, DLR not going to Bank due to overcrowding due to faulty train, Circle Line severe delays, No DLR from Bank
March 30, Overground delays due to overhead wire problems, District Line part suspended, Hammersmith and City Line part suspended
April 1, several planned closures
April 2, Hammersmith and City Line delays, Metropolitan line part suspended, Circle Line delays, Victoria Line Delays, Bakerloo Line delays
April 3, Overground delays, Piccadilly Line part suspended, severe delays, Jubilee Line severe delays
April 4, Jubilee Line delays, District Line part suspended
April 5, District Line delayed.
April 6, numerous closures and suspensions
Reasons for delays
March 6 - faulty trains
March 7 - faulty trains
March 8 - signal problems
March 9 - faulty trains
March 10  - faulty trains
March 12 - signal failure
March 13 - faulty trains
March 15 - faulty trains
March 16 - faulty trains
March 17 - signal problems
March 19 - faulty trains
March 20 - faulty trains
March 21 - signal failures
March 22 - signal failure
March 23 - signal failure
March 24 - signal failure
March 25 - signal failure
March 26 - problem with train doors
March 28 - signal failure
March 29 - signal failure, faulty trains
March 30 - overhead wire problems, signal failure
April 2 - signal failure, faulty trains
April 3 - late finishing of engineering work
April 4 - faulty train, signal failure
April 5 - signal failure

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