Transport for London (TfL) is spending up to £11 million each year tackling graffiti on the London Underground, with the Central and Bakerloo lines particularly hard hit, officials have revealed.
TfL Commissioner Andy Lord told the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee that a “spike” in graffiti tagging on Tube carriages is driving the high costs.
“We’re spending between £10m and £11m on a combination of proactive investigation and prevention, as well as cleaning. The two fleets that have been most impacted are obviously the Bakerloo and the Central Line,” he said.
Why is graffiti on the Tube so expensive to remove?
Tube graffiti removal involves more than just scrubbing paint off trains. According to TfL:
- Investigations to catch the vandals
- Preventive measures at hotspot locations
- Cleaning carriages, both in service and when trains are out of service
Mr Lord explained that TfL works closely with the British Transport Police (BTP) to identify serial offenders and “prevent, particularly in the hotspot locations where people are gaining access to the trains.”
Data released earlier this year shows that cleaners are removing more than 3,000 tags every week, which averages to one tag every three minutes.
Which Tube lines are worst affected?
The Bakerloo and Central lines are reportedly the hardest hit. Commuters have described the situation on social media as resembling Gotham City, the fictional home of Batman, due to the sheer volume of graffiti.
Dr Neil Hudson, Conservative MP for Epping Forest, said: “The graffiti on the Central Line trains, both inside and out, is getting worse day by day. It feels like you are travelling in a scene from Batman in Gotham City. Labour and TfL need to get a grip and tackle this issue.”
The problem has prompted discussions on deterrents such as CCTV, signage, and more staff presence on trains.
Can the public help with cleaning?
Some Londoners have attempted to clean Tube trains themselves. A political movement called Looking for Growth made headlines in June when volunteers scrubbed graffiti from carriages.
However, TfL has strongly discouraged this. Commissioner Lord said: “Encouraging people to clean up graffiti leads to fewer prosecutions because evidence is washed away. Guerrilla cleaners could also put themselves at risk and cause inadvertent damage.”
TfL’s priority, he stressed, is to prevent graffiti in the first place, rather than rely on public intervention.
How does this compare to other TfL costs?
The £11m spent on graffiti removal is not the only financial pressure TfL faces. Chief Finance Officer Rachel McLean revealed that industrial action in early September cost the organisation up to £25m in lost revenue.
Despite these challenges, TfL has reported an operating surplus for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, fares on Tube trains and rail are set to rise by an average of 5.8%, while bus and tram fares will remain frozen.
While TfL grapples with graffiti costs and fare changes, many Londoners benefit from concession schemes like the TfL Freedom Pass, which offers free travel on most public transport services for eligible residents.
What does this mean for Londoners?
- Tube passengers may notice that trains are cleaned more frequently, particularly on the Central and Bakerloo lines.
- Efforts to prevent graffiti may include increased security, CCTV, and enforcement actions.
- The rising fares partly reflect the high costs of keeping the Underground safe, functional, and clean.
TfL is spending up to £11m a year on Tube graffiti removal, with the Central and Bakerloo lines suffering the most. Cleaning, investigations, and preventive measures are all part of the cost.
Officials warn that public cleaning efforts could reduce prosecutions and cause safety risks. Despite the expense, TfL continues to maintain a surplus, while fares rise slightly for rail users.
Commuters can expect cleaner trains and more enforcement, but TfL stresses that tackling graffiti is a professional responsibility, not something to attempt at home.
