Thanks for the interesting link, Bean. Two points from it:

Traffic reduction 25%. Yes, but the first day coincided with the first day of half-term which accounts for at least 15% of that 25%.

Use public transport instead. Yes, fine idea, but our public transport systems are already stretched beyond breaking point. They actually do keep breaking, not just breaking down. The Central Line has been closed for a couple of weeks due to a derailment caused when a motor fell off one unit and on investigation it was found that the bolts and brackets on all units needed to be replaced. Thats 12000 bolts and associated brackets. The derailed train ran onto another line resulting in that also being closed. It reopened today.

Time will tell, but public transport has had little or no investment under successive governments and we are now paying the price for that failure to bite the bullet. Elected governments tend to have a five year horizon I'm afraid.