Tuesday 27 Jun 2017 @ 15:10
Transport for London
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Tube to get cleaner air

The Mayor has launched a new plan to improve air quality on London Underground.

More testing is to be carried out, more cleaning, and passengers given more information.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has instigated a new review of air pollution levels on the Underground network, introducing a series of measures to minimise dust levels to make sure staff and passengers breathe the cleanest air possible.

At the same time, TfL is taking action to bring immediate improvements to air quality on the Tube, including:

  • Monitoring air quality and publishing information on the TfL website
  • Carrying out tests at more than a dozen Tube stations to monitor how dust levels change at different times and locations
  • Cleaning around 50 stations and five tunnel sections with industrial vacuum cleaners and magnetic 'wands' this summer, which will collect metal particles and ensure tunnel walls are left clear of dust, oil and grease

Review

The work is part of a wide-ranging review the Mayor is undertaking across planning, housing, construction, transport and river services to address London's filthy air and to protect Londoners from the impact of air pollution which can damage people's health.

The Mayor and TfL have more than doubled investment in tackling air quality, with £875 million being committed over the next five years. It includes the introduction of the £10 Toxicity-Charge (T-Charge) from October to reduce vehicle emissions, the launch of the world's first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in 2019 (subject to consultation), and the cleaning up of London's public transport fleets such as buses and taxis.

Committed

The Mayor said: 'Air quality is one of the biggest health challenges of this generation and I'm committed to doing everything in my power to tackle it both above and below ground. I've introduced new measures to lower emissions from cars and buses, and it is now time to focus on wider sources of pollution including the Tube, river transport and construction sites.

'Tube staff and the millions of passengers who use the Underground regularly deserve to breathe the cleanest air possible. TfL's new Underground air quality programme will help ensure dust and particles are kept to an absolute minimum. But I want to leave no stone unturned and I've also asked for an updated scientific analysis of pollution on the Tube so we can fully assess the air quality levels and take appropriate measures to ensure that the air is clean.'

 

Channel website: https://tfl.gov.uk/

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