Mr Johnson, who is seeking re-election in May, also promises to deploy 600 New Bus for London vehicles by 2016.
There are also commitments to continue opposing a third runway at Heathrow and to “lobby Government to change Britain’s strike laws to introduce a minimum turnout in ballots.”
In a statement Mr Johnson says he wants “a new mandate from Londoners to automate the Tube network – to improve journeys, cut delays, drive down costs and keep fares low.”
Such a new mandate would allow him to introduce “driverless” trains “with ‘train captains’ – along the lines of the DLR – with all the efficiency benefits at will bring, and absolutely no loss of safety.”
Despite lacking drivers, the DLR is also subject to industrial disputes and threats of strike action.
The Mayor says TfL “have already begun the process of explaining the plan to staff – and once certain myths are exploded the response is positive.”
Johnson said re-election would also empower him to lobby for minimum turn-outs in strike ballots “so that industrial action can no longer be triggered by a small minority of union members.”
The manifesto also contains a promise to “expand the cycle hire scheme to east and west, and explore expansion to parts of south London”.
Mr Johnson’s campaign say the pledge is “to explore a capacity study of six major town centres – Bromley, Croydon, Hounslow, Richmond, Kingston, and Romford – by the end of the year.”
A spokesperson for Labour candidate Ken Livingstone claimed the Mayor’s manifesto showed he would “continue with his policy of year on year fare rises while Ken will cut the fares saving Londoners £1000 over four years.”
The spokesperson also claimed Mr Johnson “has opted for expensive vanity projects with Londoners paying for the most expensive bus in the world while the Tory Mayor refuses cut the fares and invest in better services.”
Green Party Mayoral candidate Jenny Jones said: “London needs a new vision for transport.
“Instead of wasting tens of millions every year in extra subsidy for a New Bus for London, as Mayor I would focus on lowering fares and making the roads safer. And instead of wasting hundreds of millions on new roads and capacity expansion, I would focus on improving the alternatives to driving and dealing with air pollution.”
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat Deputy Mayoral candidate, said: “There needs to be a reality check with every statement issued by Boris Johnson.
“Four years ago he promised Londoners that the Tube would run for longer at the weekends, that he would end exorbitant train prices and ensure that the bike hire scheme cost nothing to the taxpayer. He even promised to work hard to negotiate a no strike deal with the Tube unions.
“On all these issues the Mayor’s past promises have been broken. Boris Johnson should be judged on his 2008 transport manifesto, not the latest set of false promises he is making to Londoners.”
Candidates for Mayor include Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrat), Jenny JOnes (Green party), Ken Livingstone (Labour), Lawrence Webb (UKIP) and Boris Johnson (Conservative).
Matthew S. Dent says
Interesting. If Boris wins the election (still a pretty big “if”) then he will be mayor until 2016 (unless of course he chooses to resign in 2015 to fight a parliamentary seat in search of that Tory leadership he “doesn’t want”). That gives him four years to introduce these driverless trains. Except: the trains would have to be designed, purchased, built and delivered. The track would have to be completely overhauled and replaced in many places in order to facilitate both the new trains and to allow safe evacuation by passengers in the event of a breakdown.
Given how long it took him to meet a comparatively simple pledge to get rid of bendy buses, does anyone actually think he’s capable of achieving this?
Chris says
This is so insufferably dull. He’s said it before, it’s not going to happen and this is why, it will take decades and cost billions:
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2011/01/boris-driverless-nonsense/
Richard says
@Matthew I believe some lines and trains are already capable of automation?
Chris says
Yes, the Central, Victoria and part of the Jubilee. But to automate the other tracks, especially the ancient and original part of the Tube, the District and Circle lines would require track to be relaid and the entire signalling changed. And new trains. It’s not going to happen and is Boris talking nonsense. Like he is with his airport, like he does with his “cycle safety” rubbish.
Matthew S. Dent says
@Richard Yes, some of them are indeed already automated. But if next time you’re on the DLR you take a look, they all have walkways running alongside, to allow evacuations in the event of a train breaking down, or to allow a member of staff to reach a broken down train. In order to install similar provisions on some of the older, most heavily used underground lines would require extensive, disruptive and costly engineering work on the tunnels themselves. I just can’t see it happening within one term.
Of course, the cynic might suggest that Boris would simply change the job title of the drivers to something different, and claim that he’d met his pledge. But Boris would never do anything like that, right? Right…?
ASLEF shrugged says
The Northern Line will go ATO like the Victoria, Central and Jubilee and the Sub Surface Lines, which are all getting the S Stock currently seen on the Met, will follow by 2018, disasters like the Jubilee Line conversion allowing. However ATO still need someone in the cab to operate it.
A driverless system is being developed and that will undergo full trials on the W&C some time after 2014. If it is successful hen it will be introduced on the Bakerloo, Piccadilly and the Central Lines but by the time that is completed we will be in the mid-2020s.
Matthew, we’ve been Train Operators ever since we went OPO and the driver’s job was combined with the guard’s. The staff on the driverless trains will be Train Attendants., TOps from these lines will simply be displaced to the ATO lines to fill in the gaps left by natural wastage.
Andrew Bowden says
As the Fact Controller blog amusingly pointed out, Boris was promising driverless trains in two years just a month ago!
http://railwayeye.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/bojo-flounders-on-driverless-tube.html
But let’s not beat around the bush. TfL will persue more automation regardless of who is in the Mayor’s office. The Waterloo and City’s probably a perfect testbed for it. I confess it makes me quesy – I’d rather the member of staff be in the cab where they can always be found, rather than wandering pointlessly around an overcrowded train.