The head of transport in London called for a long -term financing agreement from the UK government to replace the 50 -year -old tube trains and stop parts of the road network and railway from falling into a bad condition.

Andy Lord told the Financial Times that he wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves a financial settlement request of up to five years to finance TFL spending on capital projects as part of the Treasury spending review in June.

The London Transport Authority-which runs the underground bus networks and networks, as well as some excessive trains on the ground and many major roads-through six short-term rescue operations from the previous conservative government.

“You cannot manage the largest integrated public transportation body in the world without settling the long -term capital financing,” Larde said in an interview.

One TFLThe most urgent priority is to replace 53 -year -old trains that work on the Bakerloo line in Underground, the oldest vehicle in the UK service.

The Lord warned that the line became increasingly reliable as the authority fought to preserve the trains that were built in the 1970s.

He said: “A point will come at a time when we will not be able to simply get enough trains to run a reliable service, and it will have severe consequences.” “We will continue to continue working as long as possible, but the reality is that it will become more expensive and less reliable.”

TFL is on the right track to achieve a “surplus” for the second fiscal year in a row, which in reality it can pay for the cost of its operations. But it will need government funds to obtain a large on -capital spending to replace trains, renew the signal, or open a new infrastructure.

The authority was delivered 485 million pounds in the October budget to spend the capital in the fiscal year 2025-26, but it has no clarity for its financing after that.

LORD compared to TFL financial settlements with other transportation agencies such as Network RAIL, the state -owned operator of the British railway infrastructure, and national highways, which are responsible for highways. Budgets are granted over five -year sessions.

But with public funds fluctuating to a Smaller than the expected surplus in January Pressure to find more money for defense, Reeves has increasingly difficult spending background.

The Lord, the TFL Commissioner, has refused since 2022, to specify the amount he requested. But he warned of “risk” that the parts of the transport network will become less reliable without new money.

Lord said that the dangerous turmoil of the underground central line during the past year was a result of the previous conservative government had not been fully funded for the maintenance program.

He added that some of the main roads managed by TFL, including Brent Cross Flyover in northern London, needed urgent reforms.

“We have restrictions on a number of basic arteries at the present time, as they have a direct impact [on traffic]He said.

TFL 94 has requested new trains of German industrial Siemes. It is scheduled to enter the service next year.

Lord said that TFL wants to put a follow -up order for the new Bakerloo line from Siemens, which will also help secure the future of the factory as it is assembled in Gooole in Yorkshire.

TFL also wants to re -sign the Piccadillly line to increase the number of trains that can work on the line significantly.

Other options provided by Lord to Reeves included the funding of the main “growth plans”, including the Bakerloo line tunnel to southern London, and the extension of the light Docklands railway to Themesmead in southeast London.

“I encouraged the positive discussions that we conduct[about a financial settlement]. . . I am optimistic that we will get the necessary funding. “The Lord said.

Government officials said they were working with TFL to a long -term settlement. The Ministry of Transport said: “The success of the London Transport Network is vital for both the capital and the economy in the United Kingdom.”

With Heathrow’s expansion again on the agenda after Reeves said that the government would support the project, the Lord said that the government or airport would have to finance promotions worth billions of pounds to the current necessary transportation infrastructure if a third runway is built.

He said that TFL should think of additional services on the Elizabeth railway link and upgrades to the Piccadilly line, both of which extend between Heathrow and Central London, to meet the increase in air passengers.

He added that the creation of new railway links to the south and west, and will also need to consider road promotions.

“TFL can not be expected to expand its services to Heathrow from its own money.” We do not have this available funding. ”

In a new TFL financing blow, the Lord said it is expected that passengers will be less than expected in its current financial year.

He blamed fewer people who were traveling more than expected, and cited the economic environment and evidence that it was found that there were jobs created abroad from the inner London.

The latest TFL financial figures, published in December, expect the passengers of 5.3 billion pounds for the fiscal year 2024-25, less than 200 million pounds of expectations.

“I think we must continue to consider how to work with employers in particular to encourage people to come to the city often,” he said.

The Lord’s comments repeated the suspension of the mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, who warned of the rise in flexible work. Khan warned this month that the capital “could not” become a city where the center has been caught.

However, TFL imposes its office staff to be in the office only 50 percent of the time.

“I think a lot of focusing on whether people should be in the office a lot on the sector in which you work. If you take our business, I want people to be outside the network who test what our customers are testing,” Lord said.