Skip to content
Wednesday 19 August 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--
NewslettersSearchEN · DE · FR
MorningWire

European business, markets and politics

FTSE 100
10,743.35
+0.14%
DAX
26,088.48
-0.15%
CAC 40
8,527.76
+0.22%
STOXX 50
6,464.01
-0.06%
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Politics
  • Opinion
More
GermanyFranceEU InstitutionsCompetitionPublic AffairsBankingTechnologyEnergy
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • DE
Thursday 21 January 2016 10:15 am

Everyone agrees TfL running London’s trains like the Overground is a brilliant idea

By: Lynsey Barber

Add as a preferred source on Google

It's pretty difficult to bring together political parties and several different parts of government and get them to agree, but now there's one thing that has – an apparent shared dislike of commuter trains into London.

Nothing brings people together like a collective resentment towards train companies such as Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink, and now plans to ditch them and let TfL run the services like the Overground have been met with pretty much overwhelming support far and wide.

City Hall, Transport for London and the Department for Transport have agreed the plans will go ahead.

Labour mayoral hopeful Sadiq Khan is on board:

Finally Govt shows glimmer they get anger of London's commuters – as Mayor I'll fight for full powers Londoners deserve over train services

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 21, 2016

Conservative mayoral hopeful Zac Goldsmith is too:

I've been working with Government to resolve this as MP & mayoral candidate so I strongly welcome today's news https://t.co/YvO7Z79h0I (2/3)

— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) January 21, 2016

Local councils and London MPs support it:

Very much in favour of devolving London train services, taking them off the hands of these terrible train operators, and giving them to TfL

— ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) January 17, 2016

Really good news for #southeastern sufferers. Detail not clear yet but TfL set to take over all London commuter rail https://t.co/8eccNt9XAf

— Matt Hartley (@MattHartley100) January 21, 2016

Great news for commuters. West Norwood & Gipsy Hill to be taken over by TfL & become part of London Overground. https://t.co/cio6gyR2CI

— Matthew Bennett (@matthewpbennett) January 21, 2016

https://twitter.com/jhoward87/status/690105521664323589

Lord Adonis says it will revolutionise London.

Of course the devil will be in the detail, including agreeing the funding for the project. But for now, commuters are delighted:

https://twitter.com/SerenaCowdy/status/690111963729367040

Such good news prompts my first happy train-related tweet ever https://t.co/92hPFPciZe #solongthameslink #nomoresoutheastern #rollon2018

— Helen in London 🌻 (@Helen_in_London) January 21, 2016

The broad cross-party support for bringing London suburban rail under TfL control shows what a dismal fucking failure rail privatisation is.

— Andy Simpson (@aiusepsi) January 21, 2016

TfL taking over London rail services from Thameslink is *fantastic* news. We need a service that puts customers before shareholders.

— Robin Clarke (@rclarke) January 21, 2016

Although, the grass is always greener

https://twitter.com/andyetc/status/690108410847715332

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Business
  • Transport & Infrastructure

Trending Articles

  • Jobless Banquet: Youth unemployment surge ‘sends Neets to KFC’

  • As it happened: FTSE 100 drops as oil prices rise after Trump makes Hormuz threat

  • US bond market jitters spark UK economy recession warning

  • Amanda Blanc has worked her magic at Aviva

  • City law firm sues prominent Emirati business family

More from Morning Wire

  • Three ways Andy Burnham can avoid Keir Starmer’s mistakes

    Opinion
    Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, speaking at an event
  • No air conditioning on the Tube? Blame Sadiq Khan

    Opinion
    Crowded London Underground platform during summer heat wave, passengers fanning themselves to stay cool
  • Andy Burnham should show London he cares by funding this one transport project

    Opinion
    Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, standing outside 10 Downing Street in a suit and tie.
  • I’m 60, please don’t give me a Freedom Pass

    Opinion
    Close-up of a blue Oyster card against a white background, highlighting its role in public transportation payment systems.
  • TfL greenlights Wayve’s autonomous vehicles in the City

    Tech
    Wayve autonomous vehicle navigating a busy London street with iconic cityscape in the background
  • Councils accused of turning e-bike operators into ‘revenue stream’ as fees surge

    Transport & Infrastructure
    Lime faces growing scrutiny over its safety record.
  • Expanding London airports will help growth take off

    Opinion
    Commercial airplane landing at Heathrow Airport, seen from behind, with a prominent Heathrow sign below.
  • Virgin Trains gets green light for channel tunnel route

    Transport & Infrastructure
    Red Virgin high-speed train on tracks at a station platform, under an arched glass roof, with blurred people.
MorningWire

Independent European business, markets and political news for decision-makers.

Morning Briefing

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • EU Institutions
  • Europe

Business

  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Regulation
  • Competition
  • Public Affairs

Editorial

  • Opinion
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Company

  • About Morning Wire
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 Morning Wire Ltd · Published by Morning Wire Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Privacy · Terms · Cookies · Facebook