Customers at Oxford Circus station are now benefiting from a more efficiently lit station as part of TfL's continuing work towards decarbonising its operations by 2030.
"Increasing energy efficiency in London Tube stations reduces the carbon footprint of our transport network. These planned upgrades at Oxford Circus station and other stations will lower our overall energy consumption and make stations brighter and better"
Shirley Rodrigues
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy

The work, which forms part of TfL's Corporate Environment Plan, has seen lighting throughout the station upgraded to Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, which uses up to 60 per cent less energy than traditional lighting. The upgraded lighting also makes the station brighter and more welcoming, providing a better customer experience to people travelling to and from the West End.

Currently, more than a third of Tube stations across London - such as Clapham North, Golders Green and Old Street have been converted to LED lighting, with further stations, such as King's Cross, Bank, Monument & Westminster planned for conversion in the coming years. By 2032, TfL aims to have all stations converted to LED lighting, which will deliver a significant saving in associated CO2e and support the Mayor and TfL's wider work for London to be net-zero by 2030.

Due to the scale and nature of the work, it can only be carried out when stations are closed and power is switched off, which on a 24/7 operational network means very few windows to carry out the work. It also is further complicated by the range of lighting assets across our stations given some are heritage stations which need special consideration.

TfL is also working to convert depots to lower-energy-consuming LED lighting and utilising smart technology so that it can continue to operate the network but in a more energy efficient way. Work has recently been carried out at Neasden and Ruislip Depots and in the Wheel Lathe Shed at Upminster depot, which have not only reduced associated energy consumption for lighting, but also provided a better lit working environment for train maintenance teams who work to keep trains in active service across the network.

Glynn Barton, interim Chief Operating Officer at TfL, said: "Reducing carbon is a critical part of our work to reduce the impact of public transport on climate change. Upgrading stations to LED lighting not only provides a brighter, more welcoming environment for our customers, but it also helps us reduce maintenance costs, and helps make London a greener and more sustainable city for us all.

"The conversion to LEDs is one of many measures we're taking across our transport network and buildings to help further decarbonise public transport. London leads the way towards achieving net zero and we are committed to doing what we can to ensure our services are the most sustainable way to move around the city."

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues, said: "Increasing energy efficiency in London Tube stations reduces the carbon footprint of our transport network. These planned upgrades at Oxford Circus station and other stations will lower our overall energy consumption and make stations brighter and better. The Mayor and I will continue to work with TfL towards decarbonising its operations as a crucial part of the Mayor's mission to make London net zero carbon by 2030 as we build a better, Greener London for all."

Earlier this year, TfL announced that all lighting in bus shelters, including those used in advertising panels, will be converted to LED lighting by the end of March 2024. Currently, around 90 per cent of lights in bus shelters have been converted, with the new lighting using around 57 per cent less energy while providing 10 per cent brighter light. This means the shelters are less expensive to operate while being more welcoming and safer for everyone across the network. Around 60 per cent of all lamp posts on our roads now also use LED lights, with work under way to convert more of these lamps as soon as possible.

In recent years, the lighting at 27 tram-stops along the London Trams network in south London have also been converted to LED lighting, helping to improve safety of customers late at night as well as reduce the amount of light pollution to nearby areas. The Bakerloo and Central line trains are also currently both being upgraded to have LED lighting within them to help reduce the power consumption and allow for further wider improvements for customer information systems to be delivered.

For more information about TfL's continuing work to be environmentally sustainable, go to: tfl.gov.uk/sustainability

Notes to editors

  • TfL's 2021 Corporate Environment Plan sets out its ambitions to address the climate crisis and support London's green and inclusive recovery so the capital can become an even more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable place to live, work and visit - https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tfl-corporate-environment-plan-29-september-2021-acc.pdf
  • The GLA Group, including TfL, now publishes information about measures to tackle climate change as part of its annual budget.
  • As part of London Climate Action Week 2023, the Mayor announced his Green Finance Fund, which will lend up to £500m to projects that help London meet its net zero ambitions. The aim is to accelerate decarbonisation by lowering the cost of borrowing for eligible organisations. As part of this, the fund recently committed £34m of finance to TfL for decarbonisation of its estate, which could be used to finance more LED replacements across its network alongside other decarbonisation programmes.