Funding settlement could add driverless trains to tracks

As part of the deal, the government has confirmed that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan agreed to continue work on the introduction of driverless trains, which transport secretary Grant Shapps has been pushing for as a condition of the settlement.

TfL commissioner Andy Byford said the agreement follows weeks of negotiations over the settlement, which will see a further £1.2bn funding from government. This will support almost £3.6bn of investment into major projects for TfL including new Piccadilly Line and Docklands Light Railway trains, the Bank station upgrade and finalisation of the Elizabeth line.

In a statement announcing the update, Byford said that the settlement will give TfL ongoing revenue support should passenger numbers not recover from the pandemic at the rate budgeted.

“This agreement, which was hard won, means that we can now get on with the job of supporting London’s recovery from the pandemic — to the benefit of the whole country,” he said.