TfL Faces Criticism Over Graffiti Vigilante Allegations

TfL is facing intense criticism after its chief claimed that anti-graffiti volunteers might be responsible for the vandalism they remove, sparking a heated debate across London. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Speaking at the London Assembly, TfL Commissioner Andy Lord urged volunteers to stop cleaning trains and suggested some could be creating graffiti before scrubbing it off, a statement that fueled outrage.

For months, activists have launched campaigns to clean Tube carriages under slogans like “Doing what Sadiq Khant,” hoping to improve the city’s image. Instead, they now face allegations that resemble conspiracy theories.

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TfL Accusations Trigger Public Outrage

Mayor Sadiq Khan supported Lord’s remarks, arguing that volunteer clean-ups destroy evidence needed for prosecutions. Critics called this reasoning flawed, accusing TfL of shifting blame instead of improving maintenance and addressing vandalism effectively.

Nick Dixon, a leading campaigner, called the claims “absurd,” while GB News presenter Tom Harwood labeled them “extraordinary conspiracy.” Both dismissed the accusations as attempts to cover operational failures at TfL.

TfL Faces Pressure Over Service Standards

Lawmakers stress that graffiti undermines passenger confidence and basic safety. With CCTV and a $1 billion cleaning contract in place, critics question why vandalism persists and why TfL targets citizens who try to help.

As tensions rise, the credibility gap between TfL leadership and Londoners widens. Volunteers continue to clean trains while demanding transparency, leaving many to wonder if leadership, not graffiti, is the real stain on the system.

Source: www.railtech.com

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