Significant increase in Tube graffiti, TfL says

Reports of increased graffiti on Tube trains, in particular on the Central and Bakerloo lines, have prompted Londoners to complain to the transport authority.

One passenger told Transport for London (TfL) that the Bakerloo line's carriages had become "very dirty" and "covered" in graffiti.

In a Freedom of Information request, passengers asked what was being done to clean them.

Earlier this month, TfL said in response that its automatic train washer breaking down was partly to blame, but added that it had also seen an uptick in vandalism incidents.

The washer issue "limited our cleaning capacity as we were only able to clean trains by hand which takes a significantly longer amount of time", TfL said.

It added: "The track defect was rectified approximately two weeks ago and since then we have been using the train wash as normal. All our fleet has been washed externally and the overall condition of the fleet is beginning to improve.

"Seats across the Underground fleet are brushed and checked daily prior and post going into service."

Despite this, TfL said it was were seeing an increase in graffiti incidents, and City Hall has urged the authority to adopt "a zero-tolerance strategy" to vandalism.

Bassam Mahfouz, a Labour member of the London Assembly, said he heard about the issue through his Ealing and Hillingdon constituents, who regularly use the Central line.

"The recent surge in graffiti on Central line trains is concerning and costly," said Mr Mahfouz.

"Londoners have become used to, and deserve, a clean, safe, and reliable transport network, yet these vandalised carriages are an affront to the eye and leave passengers feeling less safe.

"The Central line is clearly being targeted. It's costing Londoners in clean-up costs and pride in our city. The only way to really address such a scourge is to adopt a zero-tolerance strategy to stamp out graffiti for good.

"Only then can we restore the Central line to the standard passengers expect and ensure London's transport system remains a source of pride, not frustration."

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