TfL spends thousands on cabs while we struggle on public transport

2:04pm Thursday 14th August 2008 in Where I Live By Eleanor Harding

TfL have spent more than £14,500 on taxis TfL have spent more than £14,500 on taxis

London’s transport boss spent over £1,500 on taxis last year while his passengers struggled into work on tubes, trains and buses.

Peter Hendy, commissioner for Transport for London (TFL) spent the equivalent of £29 a week of public money on taxis.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance condemned the findings revealed this week through a Freedom of Information request by the Borough News.

Spokesman Corin Taylor said: “It speaks volumes about how good a job TFL are doing that their own executives are choosing to shun tubes and buses and make the taxpayer fork out for their taxis.”

Mr Hendy spent more on taxis than all nine of his fellow chief officers put together, with three spending nothing at all.

As a whole TfL staff claimed around £14,500 in expenses for taxis, and this figure does not include costs paid in advance.

Most London transport organisations claimed less than £3,000, with London River Services claiming just £16.08.

Commuter Sarah Dawson, an NHS manager from Balham who uses the Northern Line every day, said: “It’s outrageous. I work long hours and I have no choice but to use the tubes and buses. I don’t particularly feel safe at night.

“A taxi would be nice but as a public sector worker I feel it’s wrong to use taxis and then claim it back on expenses.”

Local transport campaigner Mark Clarke said: “It shows they are out of touch. If they can opt out of the tubes they don’t see the pain people go through. No wonder things don’t get better.”

A TfL spokesman said: "Company policy does allow for the use of taxis, for example London Underground staff may travel by taxi on very early or late finishing shifts because no other means of transport is available.

“Peter Hendy travels to and from work by public transport and on the vast majority of occasions whilst travelling the capital on business.

“He is overseeing the delivery of a ten-year £39billion budget to deliver the upgrade of the tube, preparations for the 2012 Games and Crossrail and there are occasions when his full schedule and late hours necessitate the use of taxis.”

Comments(15)

cr2 says...
2:48pm Thu 14 Aug 08

THis really is bad news.Please can we stop the greed as this is what this is also prestige they dont want to be seen as normal comuters.Thank you

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jb1 says...
5:02pm Thu 14 Aug 08

This is really a good news story. TFL ONLY spends an average of £29 a week on taxi fares for the Commissioner. Which means he must be using public transport for the majority of his travel.

Well done TFL.


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adrianshort says...
6:18pm Thu 14 Aug 08

Peter Hendy earns a basic salary of £320,000 a year. By my very rough calculations that means he costs us around £184 an hour.

If he needs to get a cab so that his time and our money is better spent, that's fine by me. £29 a week on cabs isn't much in the context of 15 minutes of his time costing £46 in salary alone.

Most executives at his level have a full-time car and driver.

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ladyl says...
10:45am Fri 15 Aug 08

maybe they should go on the underground and get squashed and then have to stand on the train/tube while there are delays like a heard of cattle. Still nothing is being done yet they are just as bad as before, but no, take the easy way out and grab a cab why dont you.

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gertrude grendal says...
10:38pm Fri 15 Aug 08

Does this 'gentlemanl have an Oyster Card as part of his salary package, or does he actually pay for it? He should take the 209 bus from the horrible new bus station at Hammersmith. Open to the wind and rain, and nasty sarcastic inspectors standing around with clipboards, whilst few drivers will have the decency to open their doors to allow passengers to take cover. This is the infamous 209 line that destroyed the lives of a family at Mortlake. Mr Hendy, you should try this 209 bus service. When they finally let you get on, they don't give people a chance to sit down, and the bus shoots off sending elderly people and other passengers flying.

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ric says...
10:33am Mon 18 Aug 08

why are people sticking up for them?

your happy that the people running out transport system dont even use it?

and you wonder why its rubbish?

thats like being the manager of mercedes and turning up to work in a BMW.

and the comment about them getting to work quicker so our money is better spend.....are you stupid?

how bout the whole of london getting to work quicker, getting more work done so our economy gets bigger and better.

open your eyes.

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adrianshort says...
4:39pm Tue 19 Aug 08

People are "sticking up for them" for two reasons:

1. Cabs are public transport. It is a service regulated by TfL so that people without their own vehicle can easily make unscheduled point-to-point journeys.

2. Most people can see the wisdom of spending £10 to get someone who earns £184 an hour to a meeting on time where necessary even if you can't.

If you go into London you'll see an awful lot of cabs about. Generally, they provide a good service. Most people wouldn't commute to work in one, neither does Mr Hendy. But there are times when only a cab will do, and given that he has responsibility for cabs as well as the other forms of public transport, it's important for him to use them regularly too.

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gertrude grendal says...
9:10pm Tue 19 Aug 08

Dear adrianshort,
Do you truly believe Mr Hendy is worth £184 per hour? The carers who perform the most intimate and unpleasant but life-saving chores for the sick and helpless would be more than happy to get £18.40 per hour! From the way the transport company is managed, an executive who ran such a sick ship (TFL is like the Titanic) would be kicked out. You wrote, in your first letter that most executives at his level would have a car and driver. Question one: would any top company want these public transport clowns? Question Two: Just because some jobs are grossly overpaid, does it make it right?

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adrianshort says...
7:46am Wed 20 Aug 08

1. Mr Hendy spent the first part of his career in the public sector, then worked as an executive for a private transport company before returning to lead TfL. I think we can safely assume that he's fairly employable in private businesses.

2. Is Mr Hendy overpaid or are some other people underpaid? Social value and economic value don't always coincide. If you think he's overpaid then perhaps you could suggest a system for setting his salary and recruiting someone with the necessary experience to run this £5 billion a year operation more cheaply.

Senior public sector jobs are open to market competition and the candidates for them nearly always have better-paid options in the private sector. Would you run the risk of wasting millions or billions of public money by saving a couple of hundred thousand on chief officers' salaries? Wouldn't that be the same kind of false economy on a much worse scale as Mr Hendy wasting £50 of public money by waiting for a bus instead of paying £10 for a cab?

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gertrude grendal says...
8:59am Wed 20 Aug 08

Thanks adrianshort for taking the time to reply to my two questions. That is your opinion, but I remain unconvinced. If this Mr Hendy is so efficient and right for the job, why is TFL i such a horrible state? His 'fine' influence hasn't altered the disorder which is rampant. Of course, you may not agree, and find public transport safe, reliable and pleasant to use.....

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ric says...
9:04am Wed 20 Aug 08

i never said cabs were a bad i dea did i.

im saying you should use the transport your selling.

that way you can learn how to improve it.


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adrianshort says...
10:51am Wed 20 Aug 08

Ric,

Try reading the bit of the article that says,

"Peter Hendy travels to and from work by public transport and on the vast majority of occasions whilst travelling the capital on business."

and the section of TfL's website where they talk about how they manage London's cabs:

http://tinyurl.com/2
7r239

For black cabs, TfL regulates who can drive, the fares they charge and the condition of the vehicles. They also apply lighter regulation to minicabs.

You can find a detailed and useful discussion of the relationship between taxis and other forms of public transport in chapter 9 of Terence Bendixson's "Instead of Cars".

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ric says...
11:59am Wed 20 Aug 08

i've tried to read the article and i couldnt manage it.

sorry


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gertrude grendal says...
3:47pm Wed 20 Aug 08

How many people are actually satisfied with TFL and think they run a safe, efficient and comfortable service?

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gertrude grendal says...
11:19am Thu 21 Aug 08

I was hoping to hear how people feel about TFL. Is adrianshort's high opinion of TFL and Mr Hendy typical of users of this transport, or is he the exception? In the meantime, did some research and Mr Hendy appears to have a record that is arrogant and insensitive to travellers. He has friends in high places, political contacts etc. but indifferent to the suffering of ordinary customers of TFL. It's worth checking out Google, for full details.

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