Portal:London Transport

London Transport Portal

The London Transport system is one of the oldest and largest public transport systems in the world. Many components of its transport system, such as the double-decker bus, the Hackney Carriage black taxi and the London Underground, are internationally recognised symbols of London.

Most transport services in London are controlled by Transport for London (TfL), an executive agency of the Greater London Authority. TfL-controlled services include the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the London Overground, Buses and Trams, most of which accept payment by the Oyster card. TfL also administers the congestion charge zone and the low emission zone.

London has a comprehensive rail network with several major railway stations. London has two international train stations, at St Pancras International and Stratford International (due open late 2009), which connect London to mainland Europe through the Eurostar service. London also has six international airports.

In addition to public transport, London is the starting point for a number of motorway routes. The M25 is an orbital motorway which enables vehicles to avoid travelling through central London and is one of the busiest motorways in Europe.
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The London low emission zone is a charging scheme that aims to reduce the pollution emissions of diesel-fuelled commercial vehicles in London. Vehicles are defined by their size of their emissions and those that exceed pre-determined levels are charged to enter Greater London. Operation of the low emission zone started operating on 4 February 2008. There is a planned phased introduction of an increasingly stricter regime up to 2012, when it will be fully operational. The scheme is administered by the Transport for London executive agency within the Greater London Authority.

The scheme applies to diesel engine vehicles over 1.205 tonnes, which must be registered with TfL. The scheme does not affect cars or motorcycles. Owners of vehicles that do not meet these requirements must pay a fee of £200 with failure to pay resulting in a fine of up to £1,500. A limited range of vehicles are exempted or able to obtain a discount from the charge. Payment of the LEZ charge is in addition to any congestion charge required.

Vehicles registered after October 2001 are generally compliant with the first stages of the zone as from this date Euro 3 engine compliance was a mandatory requirement. Specific engines registered before October 2001 may also be compliant. Vehicles models not specifically listed can be registered with TfL subject to obtain a Low Emission Certificate (LEC) from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) subject to passing a supplementary smoke test or for non UK vehicles a specified operator certificate. Most vehicles do not need to be registered as TfL has compiled a list of compliant vehicles from information held by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), VOSA and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Like the congestion charge, the zone is monitored using Automatic Number Plate Reading Cameras to record number plates. Vehicles entering or moving within the zone are checked against the records of the DVLA to enable TfL to pursue vehicles that have not paid.

(More on the London low emission zone)

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• 23 November 2009 — The Lewisham extension of the Docklands Light Railway is ten years old.
• 23 November 2009 — Oyster cards are introduced on the Thames Clippers river boat services.
• 19 November 2009 — TfL's lost property office donates hundreds of toys left on public transport to the Salvation Army.
• 14 November 2009 — Bendy buses on route 38 are replaced by double decker buses. All bendy buses will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.
• 11 November 2009 — Coca-Cola is to sponsor the Underground's busking pitches from the end of the November.
• 29 October 2009 — A fuelling facility for Hydrogen-powered buses will be built at Temple Mills, Stratford for use by buses on five buses operating on route RV1.
• 27 October 2009 — A baby is born on route 394 bus as a woman goes into labour on her way to Homerton hospital.
• 26 October 2009 — New Docklands Light Railway station at South Quay opens, 200 metres east of the old station, to enable 3-car trains to call here.
• 15 October 2009 — Mayor of London Boris Johnson announces increases to the London congestion charge from £8 to £10 per day by December 2010 and the introduction of an automatic payment charge of £9 per day.
• 9 October 2009 — Docklands Light Railway platforms at Bank are to close for a month on 24 December for upgrade works.

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Did you know

Did you know...

• ...that the "Mind the gap" announcement is played when trains stop at stations with curved platforms to warn passengers of gaps between the platform edge and the doors? It has become the Underground's best-known catchphrase.

• ...that there are seventeen tunnels underneath the River Thames in Greater London, with an eighteenth just outside?

• ...that the longest distance between two adjacent stations is 6.26 km (3.89 miles), between Chalfont & Latimer and Chesham on the Metropolitan line?

• ...that the Kingsway tramway subway, the only underground tram route in the United Kingdom, operated under Kingsway from 1906 to 1952 with two underground tram stations at Holborn and Aldwych? Part of the route is still in use as the Strand Underpass.

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