What would you do to improve the London Underground?

[JulienD]

Basically any possible improvements to the Underground to make it better, more frequent, more reliable, and just better!

 

[Mojo]

Signs up in the cars to make it clear people shouldn’t be playing videos, music, or making phone calls, out loud.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Basically any possible improvements to the Underground to make it better, more frequent, more reliable, and just better!

New trains for the Bakerloo line.

Euston/Euston Square connected underground (unless Warren St works better)

Is suggesting crossrail 2 too far?

 

[JulienD]

Signs up in the cars to make it clear people shouldn’t be playing videos, music, or making phone calls, out loud.

They could buy the signs and put them up while the trains are in the depots overnight.

 

[bramling]

Basically any possible improvements to the Underground to make it better, more frequent, more reliable, and just better!

Decoupling from the mayoralty, and a complete draining of the TFL swamp to produce an organisation competent and dedicated to running trains and delivery of an advertised timetabled service.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

delivery of an advertised timetabled service

That's a good point, the timetable could do with being a good bit easier to read, the one on bustimes.org is a mess (especially trying to figure out which trains connect to the Hainault loop services)
The ultimate position would be if they were on Realtime trains (with allocations) but that's obviously not going to happen.

 

[bramling]

That's a good point, the timetable could do with being a good bit easier to read, the one on bustimes.org is a mess (especially trying to figure out which trains connect to the Hainault loop services)
The ultimate position would be if they were on Realtime trains (with allocations) but that's obviously not going to happen.

In theory the latter is actually viable. What I want to see is TFL consider their top priority is to actually deliver what they advertise - none of this “delays due to train cancellations”, turning up and the first train is 9 mins when the service is supposed to be every 3 mins, no journey taking 10 minutes longer than it should because the driver is deliberately crawling around (Piccadilly Line), etc etc.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

What I want to see is TFL consider their top priority is to actually deliver what they advertise - none of this “delays due to train cancellations”, turning up and the first train is 9 mins when the service is supposed to be every 3 mins, no journey taking 10 minutes longer than it should because the driver is deliberately crawling around (Piccadilly Line), etc etc.

Yes, while I understand things can be hectic during disruption, 'minor delays' can mean a lot
Intertube is a lifesaver.

 

[Thirteen]

Signs up in the cars to make it clear people shouldn’t be playing videos, music, or making phone calls, out loud.

That needs to across the TfL Network and every form of public transport, not just the Tube.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

That needs to across the TfL Network and every form of public transport, not just the Tube.

Not just TfL, everywhere!

 

[z444z]

More step-free access.

 

[richardderby]

Decoupling from the mayoralty, and a complete draining of the TFL swamp to produce an organisation competent and dedicated to running trains and delivery of an advertised timetabled service.

Definitely London Underground operated better as a Limited company, Mayors just waste money on silly projects. the 'Managed Decline' under the past two mayors is starting to show...

 

[MatthewHutton]

Definitely London Underground operated better as a Limited company, Mayors just waste money on silly projects. the 'Managed Decline' under the past two mayors is starting to show...

I really don’t think TfL is particularly badly run compared to our peers.

Perhaps the projects are a bit on the expensive side - but that is also a general issue.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2026 ==

New trains for the Bakerloo line.

Euston/Euston Square connected underground (unless Warren St works better)

This and more disabled access.

 

[cle]

I think LUL is pretty well run. Stations, staff, tech, signage, cleanliness, safety - it's far better than the railway...

I would complete the signalling projects:
Picc updates done in full to increase service and speed it up
4 Lines throughout to ensure 30tph on the northern circle, and at least 8tph Richmond and Ealing. Wimbledon is obv far higher already.
Northern line upgrades and full split - raise to at least 32tph on Bank/Barnet and 24tph Edgware-Battersea. Do Camden. Look at line speeds, it's slow. This is top priority - for equity - as the other main South London tube line (Vic being in ship shape)

Before getting into extensions, fanciful or more logical. Getting the most out of what we've got probably leans to Bakerloo (has Central London capacity and nice cross-platform interchanges, needs new trains, would help areas that need it, and relieve NR) - - - - - Northern to Clapham Junction seems an easy add and good for connectivity. The upgraded line could handle the usage, it'd be less than e.g. Vauxhall.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Northern to Clapham Junction seems an easy add and good for connectivity. T

In theory if you were to run the Northern to Clapham Junction it'd be better to have that link to the bank branch to offer it as a 1 connection service instead of the Waterloo and city line.
Although the current tunnel layout makes that unreasonable since it'd cross over the other branch.

 

[swt_passenger]

Northern to Clapham Junction seems an easy add and good for connectivity. The upgraded line could handle the usage, it'd be less than e.g. Vauxhall.

But it’s not, is it.

TFL have said it can’t be done until after Crossrail 2, because a Northern branch terminating at Clapham Junction would be overwhelmed from Day 1, and the mainline station couldn’t cope with the attempted interchange numbers.

 

[JCO1406]

If I had infinite amount of money, I would do the following:

• Install Platform Screen Doors on all underground and overground stations.
• Purchase new trains for the Bakerloo, Central, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City lines.
• Upgrade the signalling to allow for ATO operations and 36tph where needed.
• Finish the Four Lines Modernisation project.
• Remodel Camden Town and split the Northern line in 2, each branch having 36tph capabilities with the new signalling.
• Remodel stations that do not have capacity for future growth and create better interchanges where needed.
• Raise/lower all platforms to allow for level boarding, and make all stations step free.
• Build Crossrail 2 and extend the Northern line to Clapham Junction.
• Build platforms at Blackfriars for the Waterloo & City line.
• Order more trains and increase frequencies on all overground lines, imo a train every 15 minutes is not turn up and go, I would have it as 10 minute frequencies.

 

[D1511]

Reduce the number of Londoners on it.

 

[bramling]

Reduce the number of Londoners on it.

There’s the winning answer!

 

[Recessio]

Extend the Northern line from Morden, down to the TfL owned land at North Cheam, via Morden South and Stonecot.

I may or may not currently live along this route!

 

[cle]

But it’s not, is it.

TFL have said it can’t be done until after Crossrail 2, because a Northern branch terminating at Clapham Junction would be overwhelmed from Day 1, and the mainline station couldn’t cope with the attempted interchange numbers.

I think it absolutely could do. Yes 1-2 hours a day, it'd be busy - same as other places, including Brixton - but it won't be tons faster on the NLE than Vauxhall/Vic/staying on to Waterloo - people will do different things (much like at Finsbury Park or Stratford which have various routes to Kings X/Liverpool St) - so I couldn't expect a full exodus. Would get far more usage out of the Northern line's Charing X branch which is a little underused.

If it was doing 30tph, comfortably it could.

Putting CJ on the tube network would be massive too. And SWT is operating under capacity anyway, since the pandemic - as is CJ itself.

 

[simonw]

Reduce the number of Londoners on it.

Reduce the number of our of towenrers using it unless they have passed level 5 underground user.

 

[cle]

In theory if you were to run the Northern to Clapham Junction it'd be better to have that link to the bank branch to offer it as a 1 connection service instead of the Waterloo and city line.
Although the current tunnel layout makes that unreasonable since it'd cross over the other branch.

You can't get from Battersea to the Bank branch...

The depots determine the split - Morden has to go to High Barnet, as Golders Green would have to service Battersea. Whether they can both carry the more trains required for higher frequency, that I have no clue on.

Operationally, ECS etc - the links would still remain out of hours, of course.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

You can't get from Battersea to the Bank branch...

Ah indeed, I thought the crossovers were on the other side of the station.

The depots determine the split - Morden has to go to High Barnet, as Golders Green would have to service Battersea.

If we have a lot of money we could do Edgeware - Bank - (new under/overpass at Kennington) - Clapham Jn and Morden - Waterloo - High Barnet to keep 1 depot on each route.

Would interchange to the Northern line at Clapham Junction be that busy when you could just stay on the train to Waterloo (or jump on a SWR) and end up a couple trains ahead?

Whether they can both carry the more trains required for higher frequency, that I have no clue on.

I think any increased frequency proposition for any line is gonna need more depot space.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

In addition to the improvements to service frequency and rolling stock quality... put the trains back into the proper Underground Red livery.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Run the Waterloo and City line on weekends

 

[mangyiscute]

Increase the frequency of the circle and h&c trains so that Kings Cross to Paddington is better than every 5 mins - its so frustrating having to wait and knowing you're missing the earlier train from Paddington especially when a train just decides not to show up and there's a 10 min gap

 

[CarrotPie]

• Make the deep tube lines quieter so that people (especially kids) can travel on them without being in pain or needing ear defenders
• Refurbish the S Stock
• Run the W&C seven days a week
• Buy the rest of the 2024TS

 

[cle]

Would interchange to the Northern line at Clapham Junction be that busy when you could just stay on the train to Waterloo (or jump on a SWR) and end up a couple trains ahead?

This is exactly why I don't think it'll be that big a problem. For Waterloo itself, you wouldn't bother.

Also if you were going to the West End, you'd probably still (if on SWT and calling there) grab the Vic at Vauxhall. Southern people will get the Vic at Vic. Northern line is so much slower. Same for Warren St/Euston/KXSP. So it wouldn't be a mass exodus.

Leicester Square, Charing Cross and Embankment would be popular flows. You might get some changing at Kennington for the Bank branch. Eg for London Bridge - far better than the change to Jubilee at Waterloo! But Bank - you'd go via W&C. So it depends..

I see more outbound demand interestingly, and intra-London use (Battersea area residents would stay away from short NR hops to Victoria/Waterloo and use this)

 

[CMS1]

Make the Waterloo & City battery and driverless