Survivors of accidents across London’s transport network today accused TfL of being “rotten to its core” over a failure to “adequately address safety issues” on buses and trains across the capital.
Speaking at a press conference in Westminster this morning, survivors and bereaved relatives called on the government to launch an immediate “comprehensive safety review” of the transport network, after new figures revealed 86 people died or were seriously injured in bus accidents within the last three months of 2023-24 – with London among the worst performers for bus collisions when compared to 12 other world cities.
Leading campaigner Sarah de Lagarde – who lost her right arm and leg after being run over by two trains in 2022 – criticised the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for failing to apologise on behalf of TfL, warning “if change doesn’t happen, someone else could be seriously injured or killed”.
De Legarde added her meeting with then-Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer last year also led to no further action.
Campaigners fear London's transport network is currently unsafe
GB NEWS/PA
Fellow campaigner Sally Sivas also attacked the Mayor for insisting he had “no concerns” about bus safety just a day after her friend Kathleen Finnegan died after being hit by a double-decker bus at Victoria Station earlier this year.
Calling Sadiq Khan’s statement “ridiculous and insensitive”, Sivas joined Sarah de Lagarde in demanding a “duty of candour” from TfL, saying they “just want [TfL] to say sorry”.
Sarah Hope MBE - who in 2007 was involved in a bus collision in which her mother was killed, Hope herself was seriously injured, and her 2-year-old daughter lost her leg – told GB News: “TfL have to start listening, and they have to adopt the safety procedures.
"We’ve got to stop these [accidents] happening... I’m very worried that we are not helping enough people, not helping enough families... the victims in these crashes really matter. We shouldn’t be the forgotten victims.”
Asked if they believed London transport was currently safe, both Sally Sivas and Sarah Hope said no.
TfL’s head of bus service delivery Rosie Trew said yesterday: “Safety is our utmost priority and we are committed to learning from every collision as part of our Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury on the network.
"This includes our comprehensive bus safety programme, which is driving major safety improvements across our network and funding specific interventions to reduce collisions.”