TfL has also become a partisan issue because the Conservative government sees it as an arm of the usually Labour controlled Greater London Authority. For instance, when commuters were begging for TfL to take control of the garbage South Eastern routes in the South East of London during Boris Johnson's Majorship (the area most neglected, transport wise), the transport minister at the time vetoed it because it could mean it fell into the hands of a Labour GLA.

I'd say TfL is far far more popular than any of the private companies and for good reason.

If we funded it properly and extended this approach (running things for the people, not for shareholders) to the rest of Britain it would be a good thing.