A new app has launched to solve that ever awkward question: “Should I give up my seat on the Tube?” January 23, 2017 Many of us have had the awkward moment of hovering awkwardly out of a Tube seat. To offer or not to offer? Does that person need a seat? Well, fear not, hesitant commuters. For a new app launches today aimed at helping pregnant women specifically get seats on public transport. It's called Babee on Board. [...]
Estée Lauder: The woman behind the brand May 2, 2017 Estée Lauder's story could have started on the stage. Before her head was filled with visions of making women beautiful, the woman who would revolutionise the cosmetics industry wanted to be an actress. But, the business of beauty pumped through her veins. Stage Gem Estée toyed with becoming an actress, as she believed that “actresses [...]
Embattled Southern rail operator Govia bills Network Rail for more than £48m October 21, 2016 The owner of Southern Rail, the operator at the centre of a bitter industrial dispute, stung Network Rail for more than £48m in fines during the last fiscal year. Govia – which runs the beleaguered Southern Rail network as well as the Thameslink, Southeastern, Gatwick Express, London Midland and Great Northern lines – billed Network [...]
Rebuffed by unions: The government did offer to get involved in the Southern dispute last week December 12, 2016 The trade unions at the centre of the Southern rail dispute refused to respond to approaches from the transport minister to avert this week's industrial action. Economics minister Simon Kirby today received a letter from Chris Grayling revealing the reticence by the unions to get round the table and the threats by drivers union Aslef for [...]
Southern Rail plan to run 60 per cent of services during the RMT strike September 5, 2016 Southern Rail plans to run six out of every 10 trains normally timetabled during the 48-hour strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union that commences in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The franchise said that it would use "contingency conductors", adding that there would be extra staff at stations to help passengers and "arrangements [...]
Face-to-face talks between Southern Rail and RMT break down October 12, 2016 Talks aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute over the role of guards on Southern Rail have broken down without agreement, the Rail and Maritime Transport (RMT) union said. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said Southern Rail boss Charles Horton was "refusing to stick by the assurances he gave to the media yesterday that he can 'absolutely' guarantee a [...]
Network Rail scraps loo charge at London Victoria after flushing out £1.4m for the year in toilet takings December 9, 2016 It's victory for those frustrated by having to spend a penny at rail stations – particularly suffering Southern commuters waiting around for delayed trains. For Network Rail has now ditched its toilet charge at London Victoria and Charing Cross stations. Read more: Taking the piss: How Network Rail is cashing in on the Southern strikes Earlier this [...]
London Luton Airport’s passenger numbers were up 13 per cent in November December 12, 2016 London Luton Airport (LLA) had a record-breaking month with 13 per cent passenger growth in November. This month was the London airport's 32nd consecutive month of passenger growth, following its milestone in October of 14 million passengers. LLA is currently investing more than £110m to increasing the airport's capacity from 12m to 18m passengers per year by 2020. The upgrades include improvements [...]
Passengers will be able to claim compensation for trains that are 15 minutes late October 13, 2016 Rail passengers will soon be able to claim compensation if their train is more than 15 minutes late. The Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced a new compensation scheme – Delay Repay 15 – which will be launched on Govia Thameslink Railway services, including Southern, within the next few months, and then rolled out across the [...]
DfT will publish rail franchises’ performance against benchmarks after Southern chaos November 8, 2016 The department for transport (DfT) has said it now intends to publish actual performance against the contractual benchmarks for each rail franchise. Performance figures against contractual obligations will be published for every franchise every four weeks to provide frequent updates on performance to "give commuters real insight into the quality of the service they pay [...]