Reports of trains covered in graffiti have spiked over recent weeks, prompting complaints to TfL from Londoners, reports Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

A Central Line train covered in graffiti (credit Bassam Mahfouz)

A “surge” in graffiti on parts of the London Underground network has sparked concerns at City Hall, as Transport for London (TfL) is urged to adopt “a zero-tolerance strategy” to vandalism.

Reports of trains covered in graffiti – in particular on the Bakerloo and Central lines – have spiked over recent weeks, prompting Londoners to complain to the transport authority.

One disgruntled passenger told TfL that the Bakerloo Line’s carriages have become “very dirty” and many are “covered” in graffiti. In a Freedom of Information Act request, they then asked what was being done to clean them.

Earlier this month, TfL said in response that “a track defect in the depot meant we were unable to use our automatic train wash for a few weeks”. This is said to have “limited our cleaning capacity as we were only able to clean trains by hand which takes a significantly longer amount of time”.

They 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.”

But TfL also admitted: “The fleet has recently seen a significant increase in the number of graffiti incidents. Our cleaning supplier works to remove all graffiti, with offensive graffiti removed with a matter of urgency.

“We have a well developed anti-graffiti strategy to prevent and tackle graffiti vandalism. A core element of TfL’s strategy is not to publicise tactics.”

Bassam Mahfouz, a Labour member of the London Assembly, said graffiti has also recently been an issue for 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 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.

“I welcome TfL’s recognition of the problem and their commitment of additional resources to tackle this blight. But 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.”

When TfL was first created in 2000 and was led by commissioner Bob Kiley, the organisation had a ‘broken window’ policy when it came to acts of vandalism. Kiley was previously in charge of the New York Subway, and had used the approach there. In broad terms, the policy stated that if one deals with small instances of crime and disorder on the transport network, more serious examples are less likely to arise.

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