00:00Hello, London, and welcome to your latest Transport Roundup.
00:05A Conservative MP has raised alarm over the growing problem of graffiti on the London Underground, likening it to a scene from a superhero film.
00:18Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, said he had seen conditions on the central line deteriorate, significantly describing the train interiors as increasingly vandalised.
00:32Hudson remarked that the state of the carriages reminded him of something out of a Batman movie, more like Gotham City than Epping Forest in London.
00:42He expressed concern about public safety, arguing that the antisocial behaviour was being left unchecked.
00:50According to him, a lack of deterrence, such as CCTV or warning signs, made it easier for offenders to act without any consequences.
01:01Transport for London responded by saying that it was removing over 2,000 graffiti tags each week from central line trains.
01:10However, the agency added that taking trains out of service during peak hours was not financially viable and would create delays.
01:20In other transport development, TfL has announced that plans for new trains for the Piccadilly line will be arriving later than originally scheduled.
01:31Originally for 2025, the new fleet of 94 walkthrough trains will now be introduced in the second half of 2026.
01:40TfL said testing would begin this summer and trains would replace the ageing 1970 models.
01:49The upcoming trains are designed to be more energy efficient and include features like air conditioning, CCTV, real-time displays and wider doors.
02:01The model has been described as the most complex train ever introduced on the London Underground, even more than carriages on the Elizabeth line.
02:10TfL attributed the delay to unexpected engineering challenges, especially due to the Piccadilly line's considerable depth and length.
02:22Meanwhile, TfL has launched a second public consultation on a proposed extension of the Docklands Light Railway, otherwise known as the DLR.
02:33TfL believes the extension could cut journey times from Thamesmead into central London significantly, down to 25 minutes to Stratford and 35 to Tottenham Court Road.
02:47Officials estimate the project could unlock up to 30,000 new homes, 10,000 jobs and generate £15.6 billion in an economic boost to London.
