Transport for London (TfL) has today (Monday 27 January) begun celebrating its twenty-fifth birthday.

TfL came into being as part of the creation of the Greater London Authority (GLA). In its early years, it had to deal with the controversial Public-Private Partnership on London Underground, which eventually collapsed.

TfL highlights its many achievements over the last quarter-century, including:

• the Elizabeth line – now the busiest railway service in the country
• the Croydon tram system, which opened in the same year that TfL began
• the London Overground, a rebranding of existing national rail routes which had been brought together under TfL’s stewardship
• Night Tube and Night Overground
• the creation of pay-as-you-go with Oyster and contactless payment
• increasing accessibility, with more than 200 of TfL’s 400+ stations now step-free

London’s Transport Commissioner Andy Lord and twenty-five buskers launched the celebrations at Liverpool Street Underground station today. They revealed a new roundel and series new posters.

TfL’s busking scheme was introduced in 2003, and last year hundreds of musicians auditioned for a licence. New pitches will be introduced on the Elizabeth line this year.

Public address announcements from London-born pianist and Britain’s Got Talent winner Tokio Myers, and with National Teacher of the Year and rapper MC Grammar, are being broadcast at Liverpool Street station.

London Transport Museum is to mark TfL’s 25th anniversary with a series of events and activtieis which includes:

• a creative competition for schools
• school holiday activities for families
• Museum Depot Open Days, the first of which will run from 4 to 6 April in Acton, west London.

In June, it will open a photography exhibition, and is inviting members of the public to submit photographs. For more information, [email protected].

“London’s transport network – and the thousands of colleagues who keep London moving every day – are part of the fabric of all our lives, and since 2000 we have delivered momentous positive change across the city and on our services. TfL 25 will showcase the many ways we have improved the lives of all Londoners socially, culturally, economically and environmentally, with an exciting year of activity planned for everyone to enjoy.”

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner