...but their tweets do give an insight into what the organisation is thinking. Or at least what their social media managers are thinking, which is generally differently-focused and only rarely about transport.
In the first two weeks of March @TfL tweeted 22 times.
Three of those tweets were about safety on public transport.
»Did you know trams can travel at over 40mph at parts on the tramway... » If you feel it's safe to do so, you can be an active bystander... » We like what Sam has to say. Share this with a friend...
Three tweets were about International Women's Day.
»Ever wondered what it’s like to be a train driver... » We spoke to Katie Kelleher, crane operator, about her career... » Katie Kelleher, a crane operator, speaks about her career...
Two tweets promoted TfL tools.
»We have lots of tools to help on our website plus our handy TfL Go app. » ...discover cycling routes with our interactive map!
One tweet was genuinely useful.
»Tube and national rail strikes will affect TfL services Wednesday 15 – Saturday 18 March
So far so good.
The dangleway got two big-ups.
»Top things to do on a day out in Greenwich! Hint: our favourite is a ride on the IFS Cloud Cable Car, of course » 'It's a pretty sick view, isn't it' @GuvnaB joined us for our first episode of Conversations in the Cloud live from the IFS Cloud Cable Car!
Conversations in the Cloud is TfL's latest attempt to make the cablecar relevant to da yoof. In the 20 minute video a top rapper gets interviewed in the time it takes to cross the river and back. It's not aimed at you so don't sneer. But it's not reaching its target audience either because the full video's only been watched 310 times in two weeks. If you were hoping TfL's YouTube channel was full of transport videos you'd be wildly disappointed.
But about half of this month's tweets were promoting TfL's 'partners'.
»We’ve teamed up with Merlin to offer discounted entry... » Ahead of springtime we’ve partnered with Kew Gardens... » We’ve teamed up with the British Heart Foundation... » To support you with your @TheBHF London to Brighton training... » Introducing the latest additions to the #TfLBookClub... » We've partnered with Jennie Becker’s Sliding Doors podcast... » Pocket Living has received planning approval for 100% affordable scheme in Snaresbrook... » Wherever you are in the city, you’ll be sure to find somewhere to work with @WeWork... » Our Stuart Ross interns repping the @jumpman23 x TfL collection! Find out more about the collaboration and how it's encouraging young Londoners to go on their own journey to greatness
That last tweet is particularly finger-down-throat, a collaboration between a designer trainer brand and a fawning TfL commercial posse. Anyone who can write"Once again two authentic London brands have collaborated to create a collection that embodies TfL as the beating heart of the city" can clearly gush meaningless bolx with ease. But because Merlin, Kew Gardens, Hodder & Stoughton, WeWork, even IFS Cloud, are all throwing cash at TfL they get the privilege of a tweet and the actual transport network gets none.
@TFL's Twitter presence remains a dead useful way to talk to customer service staff about ongoing issues, for example today's tube strike. But the main feed has regressed into puff and branding froth, indeed very much 'ephemeral in nature'.
