Is it the end of the line for TFL?

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Is it the end of the line for TFL? 

Before I talk about the TFL funding crisis, here is the infographic as you can see it above.

The comparison between London Underground and other city underground networks in 5 other cities. 

London being compared with New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris, and Madrid on funding models. London is mostly funded in passenger fares while most of cities (5 included) are funded in other taxes/subsidies.

Now you may be wondering what is got to do with the Transport For London funding crisis? Well last year March 2020, the coronavirus pandemic had severely impacted all sectors of the global economy including the UK economy. That had severely impacted TFL network. From buses to Tube trains. 

From last year to early this year, the government had agreed the bailout package for TFL three times. Well now there are few days left until the recovery package on 11th December 2021. Time is really running out.

For me personally as a train lover, I am not really surprised. Look at how the central government in Westminster behaved with their refusal to save cross channel train rail operator Eurostar as an example (which eventually, received a rescue package from French rail operator SNCF) & that I talked about it earlier this year Now they (the govt) are doing it again. This time with metro subway train network (TFL = Transport For London). 

Scary forecast in case if the govt doesn’t get their act together & not messing around with Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London) given TFL does need more money to keep it afloat due to the effects of the covid pandemic & if the rescue funding package is indeed finished within the next few days, this will definitely affect the likelihood of tube drivers & bus drivers and that it could really mean the end of the entire Underground & bus networks & TFL. 

It is time that Transport For London gets more money for long term post pandemic without anymore expiry dates that would raise the alarm & potential headaches for London Mayor & TFL. 

I hope and pray that will not be the case so it won’t have to be the end of the line. 🚇