Company information

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Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated body responsible for the capital's transport system. Its role is to implement the Mayor's Transport Strategy for London and manage the transport services across the capital for which the Mayor has responsibility.

TfL is accountable for both the planning and delivery of transport facilities, which enables it to take a truly integrated approach to how people, goods and services move around London.

TfL is directed by a management board whose Members are chosen for their understanding of transport matters and appointed by Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, who chairs the TfL Board.

What does TfL do?

TfL manages London's buses, the Underground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London Trams. It also runs London River Services, Victoria Coach Station and London's Transport Museum.

TfL also manages a 580km network of main roads, all of London's 4,600 traffic lights and regulates taxi's and the private hire trade.

To ensure greater accessibility, TfL co-ordinates schemes for transport users with mobility impairments as well as running the Dial-a-Ride scheme.

Considerable work is being undertaken to improve conditions for walkers, cyclists, drivers and freight and to implement proposals for reducing congestion on London's streets.

How does TfL operate?

TfL puts a premium on working in partnership with London's key transport stakeholders. TfL is working with groups such as boroughs, which implement the Mayor's Transport Strategy on local roads, the Strategic Rail Authority (overseers of overland/national rail services into London) and the Police to groups representing the needs of all the different transport users to deliver results.

TfL is committed to listening and responding to the transport needs of Londoners, the capital's communities and businesses and has set up a consultation programme on a variety of issues.

The Mayor's Transport Strategy sets out a package of policies and proposals designed to significantly improve transport in London, from buses, trams, river buses, DLR, taxi hire to cycling and walking.

Key facts

• In a poll conducted by MORI in 2001, Londoners stated that the two top transport priorities for the Mayor to tackle were reducing traffic congestion and improving the reliability of bus services
• 27.3 million journeys are made in Greater London every day, 8.5 million on public transport (4.5 million on bus; 3 million on Tube; 1 million by rail), 11 million by car or motorcycle, 7 million on foot, 0.3 million by bicycle
• There are 13,600km of roads, 3,730km of bus routes, 205km of dedicated bus lanes, 329km of Underground lines, 26km DLR line, 28km of new tramways and 788km of national rail lines in Greater London Transport
• Traffic on roads in London moves at an average speed of less than 10 mph