Increased graffiti on Tube trains, in particular on the Bakerloo line, has prompted some Londoners to take matters into their own hands by giving carriages a scrub themselves.
Defaced carriages have become a common sight in recent months, with graffiti often found on the outside and inside of Underground trains.
But why is there so much graffiti on the Bakerloo line?
Firstly, the age the trains are a contributing factor. The Bakerloo line trains have been in continuous service since 1970, making them the oldest rolling carriages still in use in Britain today.
Because the trains are old there is a shortage of them, meaning it is hard to take them out of action for repairs and a clean without severely reducing the service of the line.
However, the issue has extended to other tube lines and more recently-built trains. Last year, even the new Piccadilly line carriages were covered in graffiti before they were even put into operation.
TfL stated last month that the increase in graffiti seen on trains was partially caused by a malfunctioning automatic train washer, although they later emphasised that the issue had been fixed.
City Hall has called on TfL to implement “a zero-tolerance strategy” on vandalism.
Now, Londoners are beginning to take action themselves in a volunteer effort led by Looking For Growth founder Joe Reeve.
The 28-year-old told the Standard: “I take the Bakerloo line every morning and I see someone push past the barrier.
“Then when I get down to the Tube, every single carriage is full of graffiti. It feels like no one is doing anything to make the city better.”
According to Mr Reeve, the volunteer work is a means of "taking action when leadership doesn't".
The writing that was plastered on the carriages' doors, floors, and ceilings were removed by his crew using an eco-friendly water-based graffiti cleaner.
But it is not just the Bakerloo line which has been hit with a spate of graffiti.
“The recent surge in graffiti on Central line trains is concerning and costly,” said London Assembly Labour member Bassam Mahfouz in a statement.
“Londoners have become used to, and deserve, a clean, safe, and reliable transport network, yet these vandalised carriages are an affront to the eye and leave passengers feeling less safe.
“The Central line is clearly being targeted. It's costing Londoners in clean-up costs and pride in our city. The only way to really address such a scourge is to adopt a zero-tolerance strategy to stamp out graffiti for good.”
According to TfL, it aims to remove graffiti as soon as it’s feasible, but in order to keep trains running, it will initially cover any areas of graffiti that are difficult to remove or are offensive, before being fixed during operating hours.
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, policing and enforcement said: “The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority.
“We are working closely with the police to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour on the network, with over 2,500 police and police community support officers and 500 TfL enforcement staff patrolling the network at all times.
“We work hard to ensure that our customers and staff feel safe when travelling on the network and continue to strengthen our capability to deter and detect fare evaders and ensure our trains and stations remain a pleasant and clean environment for passengers.”
