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Transport in London 'under severe stress'
David Williams, Motoring Editor15 Oct 2008
LONDON's position in the global economy is being jeopardised by rising congestion on its roads and railways, a report claimed today.
The Institution of Civil Engineers says London's transport network is under "severe stress".
Its report, State of the Nation, says the system suffers from "delays, congestion, overcrowding and pollution".
The report calls for a focus on schemes including road-pricing and on changing travellers' behaviour. It adds that Tube and rail links must be upgraded "to boost efficiency and improve the quality of Londoners' lives".
ICE regional director for London, Jacki Bell, said: "Behaviour and attitudes must change if people are to get out of their cars for short journeys."
TfL said it was investing heavily in reducing congestion, including Tube upgrades, Crossrail and cycling.
Reader views (11)
You can get rid of all the cars and fill London with buses, but what do you do then once every bus is full?
Do not worry about pollution or CO2 levels, that is only a symptom of the REAL problem; over population!
- Terry Hudson, Herne Bay, Kent., 20/10/2008 21:03
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Rebecca, so we remove pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square that benefits everyone for a short term solution that involves transferring the current problem to another date not too far in the future. Everyone will eventually lose under that proposal.
Solving congestion with solutions that involve allowing more cars on the road (removing pedestrian areas, resignalling of lights etc) is just one giant futile quest, that will eventually end up costing more money and all we end up with is where we started in the first place with high levels of congestion.
Why is Boris so fixated with providing equal access to cars in the capital when they are proven to be the least efficient use of our scarce resource? For someone who was voted into office on the back of his value for money and efficiency he was going to bring to the capital it defies belief that he continues with these proposals that ignore more efficient ways of using the limited space on the roads we have.
- Adam, London, 20/10/2008 15:13
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The idea that Crossrail, a £16bn scheme relieving congestion on the central line is laughable by the standards of Mr Bean, Mr Johnson and that organisation that calls itself Transport for London. Improve our tube network to European standards or ship out to the US where they have money to burn.
- V Keller, london uk, 16/10/2008 09:58
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Transport for Livingstone ought to relieve a bit of the stress they created by reversing the unwise pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square, which has added to the congestion misery.
They should also give back the road space they stole from motorists, which is now a collection of under-used bus lanes.
- Rebecca, London SE11, 15/10/2008 14:33
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Mr. Port - I would suggest that TfL's money is better spent improving public transport - a bus takes up the same amount of space as 3 - 4 vehicles, and can hold 80 odd people, compared to the theoretical maximum of 15 - 20 for the cars.
TfL only have a limited budget, it should be spent on projects that bring the maximum amount of benefit for the maximum number of people.
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 15/10/2008 13:57
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I am now officially at war with other commuters who get on the same train as me going to work for 'the' only seat left at our station. 3 Stations later people are squashed against the doors and windows holding each breath till the next stop.
- Serox, London, 15/10/2008 13:49
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Ken's legacy of road humps, sign clutter and unfairly phased traffic lights are still responsible for the worsening of London's traffic congestion. Boris it's up to you and your team to improve our roads and make driving a more pleasurable and speedier experience.
- Edwin Sheppard, Pinner UK, 15/10/2008 13:22
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rising congestion on its roads and railways, a report claimed today.
Yes its called uncontrolled mass immigration. Its going to get a lot worse as we never deport anyone because of our EU masters
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 15/10/2008 13:17
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Every day I see traffic jams going in both directions. That means people living where I work are travelling to where I live, while I am travelling to where they live. Crazy! Surely it would make sense to incentivise people to work near their homes. The best ways to achieve this is to ensure that people can earn as much working a mile away from their home as they can by travelling into the centre of London, and that they can buy a home in London for the same price as outside London. Never happen of course.
- Sarah, London, England, 15/10/2008 13:00
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What about the roads TFL . when are we going to get investment in the roads ?
And i am not talking about narrowing them, putting humps on them,and adding more traffic lights on them.
- Mr.S.Port, London, 15/10/2008 11:19
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Tell me about it.The daily commute is becoming a living nightmare.I wouldn't mind but a lot of these that contribute to the congestion haven't even been to work,just travelling about.
But then if you have an open immigration policy that's what you get.
- Steve, London, 15/10/2008 11:09
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