Transport for London (TfL) kicked off a “year of celebration” on Monday as it marks its silver anniversary, with 25 buskers playing hits from the last quarter-century.
Morning commuters pouring out of Liverpool Street station were greeted by songs from the early noughties, with musicians performing in chronological, 40-minute slots throughout the day and each covering a different year. By evening, the buskers will be playing more recent tracks from the 2020s.
TfL commissioner Andy Lord said that since its establishment in 2000, the organisation had done a “remarkable job” in transforming the capital’s transport landscape.
“We are the world’s largest, fully-integrated public transport authority, the first one that’s managed to cover its cost of operations compared to anywhere else in the world,” he said.
“But more importantly, it’s the impact it’s had for the city, in terms of economic growth, with things like the Northern line extension to Battersea Power Station, the Overground extension to Barking Riverside, the Piccadilly line to Terminal 5 [at Heathrow] and of course, the remarkable Elizabeth line.
“So just from a rail perspective, it’s significant, but then from a roads and active travel perspective – over 400 kilometres of cycle network [have been created], there is now as much cycle network as there is Tube network.
“We have more people using public transport, walking and cycling, than we do driving their car, which is great news for the environment, congestion and everything else.”
He added that several innovations had improved the every-day experience for passengers too, with the development of the Oyster card in the noughties, the introduction of the hopper fare for buses almost a decade ago, and now the ongoing roll-out of 4G/5G mobile data across the network.
A silver-toned roundel was unveiled on Monday as part of TfL’s 25th anniversary celebrationsTransport for London
“A twenty-fifth, silver anniversary is quite a milestone for any organisation, and that’s why we want to make a bit of a song and dance about it,” said Mr Lord.
Looking to the next 25 years, the commissioner said that in the short term, Londoners can look forward to new trains on the Docklands Light Railway [DLR] and Piccadilly line.
London’s Transport Commissioner Andy Lord and London Transport Museum CEO Elizabeth McKay unveil the TfL 25th anniversary roundelTransport for London
“Positive discussions” are meanwhile being had with the Government about long-term funding for major rail extension projects.
“We’d love to see the DLR extended to Thamesmead,” he said. “We’d love to see the Bakerloo line extended down to Lewisham, the West London Orbital expansion of the Overground, and of course lots of exciting things with the bus network – further enhancements to the Superloop [range of express bus services], the opening of the Silvertown Tunnel.
“If you look at the next two or three decades, then the opportunities are endless. We want to see what more we can do around Crossrail 2 and of course the role that we can play in the future growth for both London and the wider UK economy.”
Posters showcased highlights and achievements from TfL’s first 25 years, in an exhibition at Liverpool Street station on MondayTransport for London
Also playing at Liverpool Street station on Monday morning were specially recorded PA announcements to mark the anniversary, recorded by London-born pianist and Britain’s Got Talent winner Tokio Myers, along with National Teacher of the Year and rapper MC Grammar.
Earlier this month, TfL revealed plans for four major artworks from contemporary artists to be introduced as part of its Art on the Underground programme this year, as the programme marks its own 25th anniversary.