Transport workers from countries competing in this summer’s FIFA Men’s World Cup gathered at Wembley Park Underground station as Transport for London (TfL) prepared for what is
expected to be one of the busiest summers for late-night travel in recent years.
With international football screenings, concerts, outdoor events and extended pub opening hours set to draw millions across the capital, TfL says evening and overnight journeys are likely to rise sharply in the coming months.
The warning comes after a series of exceptionally busy weekends on London’s transport network. TfL estimates that more than 5.8 million Tube and bus journeys were made on Sunday 24 May during the final day of the Premier League season, making it one of the busiest such days in recent years. The London Marathon in April also generated millions of journeys across the network.
Further pressure is expected from Arsenal’s planned victory parade on 31 May and from fan events linked to the Men’s World Cup, despite matches taking place overseas. Large screenings, late-night hospitality venues and concerts across London are all expected to contribute to increased demand.
Wembley Park station, one of the network’s busiest event hubs, was chosen to highlight preparations for the summer period and the international make-up of London’s transport workforce.
Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said the capital’s diversity was reflected in the staff keeping the network running.
“London is a truly global city, and that is reflected in the diversity of our brilliant transport workforce,” he said. “Our teams work around the clock to keep customers moving safely and reliably — whether they’re heading to a concert, watching football with friends or enjoying a night out.”
Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance said London’s status as a global cultural and sporting destination would place extra demands on public transport throughout the summer.
“Whether you’re attending a World Cup screening, a headline concert or dining al fresco with friends, TfL will ensure you can travel around the city safely, efficiently and reliably,” he said.
TfL is also introducing a new “Weekend Hopper” fare during the school summer holidays. The scheme will allow passengers to make unlimited bus and tram journeys on Saturdays and Sundays for the price of a single fare across six weekends between 25 July and the end of August, including the Notting Hill Carnival bank holiday weekend.
The transport authority said it would partner with entertainment venues including Boxpark and Toca Social to provide travel advice during World Cup screenings.
In addition, TfL is launching a multilingual Elizabeth line information service aimed at international visitors arriving via Heathrow Airport. From June, passengers will be able to access live travel updates, disruption alerts and journey information in 38 languages by scanning QR codes displayed at stations and on promotional material.
The service, available across all 41 Elizabeth line stations, will also include accessibility information such as live lift status and step-free travel guidance.
London was recently named the world’s leading cultural capital by Time Out, ahead of cities including Paris and New York, adding to expectations of a busy summer for the capital’s transport network. Photo by Matt Buck from London, United Kingdom, Wikimedia commons.
