Sustainable transport in London
A brief look at economics A final point of note is that TfL’s services are generally not economically sustainable. In the 2019/2020 financial year, the Underground was the only transport segment generating a net income. 56 The bus segment saw the biggest deficit, amounting to £768 million, partly down to TfL’s attempts to keep buses affordable, with the Hopper Fare and free travel for under-18s and over-60s. In the 2023/24 financial year, only the Elizabeth line was generating a net income. 57 Conclusion In conclusion, London’s public transport network varies in environmental sustainability, with its rail systems outperforming its bus services, although the whole network is generally more environmentally sustainable than private transport. Disparities in network density, accessibility and passenger experience mean public transport might not always be convenient for users, thus reducing the effectiveness of sustainable transport. Furthermore, London’s public transport network is not economically self-sustaining. Overall, work still needs to be done to improve access to pleasant, reliable and sustainable public transport in London.
Appendix
Figure 4: TfL's total CO 2 e emissions over time. Author’s own work using data from Graham Hurt, ‘FOI request detail: Spend based conversion to average distance’.
56 Transport for London, ‘TfL Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 2019/20’, July 29, 2020, 96, https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/annual-reports-past-years. 57 Transport for London, ‘TfL Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 2023/24’, December 3, 2024, 138, https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/annual-report.
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