A memorial garden will be created in Aldgate to pay tribute to the Transport for London family of transport workers who sadly lost their lives as a result of the pandemic

The memorial will honour the 98 Transport for London (TfL) transport workers who sadly died as a result of the coronavirus pandemic including a number of Taxi and Private Hire drivers.

TfL wants to honour all of the heroic transport based key workers who worked so hard to keep London moving through the global pandemic and sadly lost their lives as a result. 

Last week the Transport Commissioner personally wrote to the families of those who have died to offer his condolences and to let them know about their plans to build a memorial garden.

The permanent space will be in a central location within the city on a pedestrian plaza on Braham Street in Aldgate.

The garden intends to offer a place for quiet contemplation and remembrance. The memorial will feature a plaque honouring Londons transport workers and will include benches and a cherry blossom tree which will echo those planted in the new public garden of blossom trees in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park which is in remembrance of Londoners who lost their lives to coronavirus.

TfL has released designs for the memorial and following feedback from the families of those who tragically lost their lives, aims to present their planning application to Tower Hamlets Council during the early part of 2022.

Subject to the plan’s approval, TfL hopes that the memorial could be unveiled by the summer of 2022.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am devastated that 98 London transport workers have died from Covid, and each and every one of them will always be in my thoughts. As the son of a bus driver, this is deeply personal to me, and I can’t help but think how it could have been my dad or his colleagues or friends.

“I hope that the new permanent memorial in the middle of our city will be a place where those that have lost loved ones will find solace, and be a reminder of the heroic key workers who have made it possible for us to come through the pandemic by keeping our city moving.”

London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Byford, said: “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of all transport workers across London who have sadly lost their lives to coronavirus. Their tragic loss is devastating for us all, we owe them our gratitude and this memorial will ensure that we never forget them.

“I also want to personally thank all front-line staff on our bus, Tube and rail services who kept our city moving through the dark period through which London has come, the maintenance teams who kept the network safe, the taxi and private hire drivers who helped people continue to attend hospital appointments during the pandemic and all the cleaners who ensured the network is clean and safe to use. Without you – the city could not have got through the pandemic.”

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs said: “TfL staff have been dedicated in keeping our city moving through the pandemic and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their service to Londoners. Very sadly a number of transport workers have passed away due to coronavirus, it’s fitting that we remember them with this memorial and my sincere condolences go out to their families. Next week in Tower Hamlets we will also be holding a number of events to mark the pandemic and remember those who have lost their lives to this virus.”

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