A row broke out today as figures showed a big increase in overcrowding at Tube stations.
City Hall figures revealed that passengers were stopped from accessing platforms due to overcrowding 559 times in 2018-19, up 48 per cent from 378 the previous year.
London Assembly Conservatives claimed Sadiq Khan’s four-year partial fares freeze and alleged mismanagement of Transport for London’s finances had starved the Underground of investment.
Capacity upgrades of Camden Town and Holborn stations have been delayed indefinitely, but Victoria has been expanded and Bank is midway through a major upgrade.
Highbury and Islington was the worst affected station, with 104 incidents last year, compared with 39 in 2017-18. Finsbury Park was second worst with 49 incidents.
London Assembly Tory member Keith Prince, who obtained the figures, said: “The Mayor has consistently starved the transport budget of revenue while splurging cash on frivolous waste.” Mr Khan’s spokesman said: “The Mayor and TfL are investing record amounts in modernising and increasing capacity.”
