Transport secretary Grant Shapps and London mayor Sadiq Khan have agreed that central government emergency funding for Transport for London (TfL) will continue for seven weeks on the existing terms.
Mr Shapps linked the extension to the Government’s ‘roadmap’ for exiting lockdown; however the cash will also take funding for transport services in London to 18 May, beyond the mayoral election that month.
With a fall in passenger revenue being at the root of TfL’s financial crisis, the transport secretary also suggested that by May he would have a better idea of how many passengers were using services.
Last week a spokesperson for Mr Khan said City Hall would consider whether the deal being offered was 'in Londoners’ best interests'.
Confirming the deal on Monday, he again called for TfL’s longer-term funding issues to be resolved. He said: ‘This seven-week extension will enable TfL to carry on running the safe, reliable and frequent services that will be vital as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.
‘These discussions will continue as it is essential that TfL has further financial support and a long-term capital funding deal that will allow it to support a strong and robust recovery for London and the UK.’
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