Business anger at plans to hike congestion levy January 6, 2014 LONDON’S congestion charge could rise from £10 a day to £11.50, under plans revealed yesterday by Transport for London that were criticised by hauliers and some business groups. The levy on motorists in central London has already doubled from £5 a day when it was launched in 2003, though TfL said the charges have been [...]
The super-duper Uber app April 30, 2014 Alex Dymoke on the minicab app that helped Londoners through the strikes THIS is my second day on Uber. I went for my test day and they said I was ready to start right away,” Omar my minicab driver tells me excitedly. He is polite and chatty, reminiscing about the days before sat-nav and waxing [...]
Crossrail is hailed for being on track even with funding setbacks January 23, 2014 CROSSRAIL has been praised for sticking to its budget and overall schedule by the National Audit Office, despite a smaller-than-expected contribution from the private sector. With the £14.8bn railway across London now half-built, the spending watchdog said Crossrail was set to provide good value for money. “The sponsors and Crossrail Limited have so far done [...]
Tube and bus fares rise in line with inflation December 3, 2013 THE COST of public transport in London will rise by an average of 3.1 per cent in January, the Mayor of London announced yesterday along with a claim that the change represents a real-term price freeze. Some tickets, including the single bus fare paid in cash and pay-as-you-go daily caps, will be kept at 2013 [...]
Crossrail nears its final stretch March 31, 2014 The head of London’s newest railway hopes he sets a precedent for other big projects AS CONSTRUCTION on London’s newest railway reached the halfway point earlier this year, a steady stream of hard hat-wearing politicians ventured into the tunnels to be seen backing Europe’s biggest infrastructure project. Crossrail boss Andrew Wolstenholme, meanwhile, has a map [...]
Boris let loose on London in a green cab January 16, 2014 (Laura Lean/City A.M.) Boris Johnson took a spin in a new, green black cab this lunchtime as he announced plans to force new taxis to operate with zero-emissions by 2018. The mayor of London, who has admitted in the past that his driving skills are awful (see the video below), took the white Metrocab for [...]
Sponsored tube stations could fund free 4G, lifts, TV screens and underground toilets October 30, 2013 Sponsorship of the Oyster system and other sponsorship opportunities could allow Transport for London (TfL) to actively improve stations – introducing free wireless and 4G connectivity, TV screens, lifts, and even toilets for passengers. The report “Sealing the Deal: TfL sponsorship feasibility study” by Gareth Bacon of GLA Conservatives says that there is a potential [...]
Nissan’s black cabs look green but electric launch faces hurdles January 6, 2014 NISSAN has hailed its new black cab as a greener, cheaper alternative to the traditional Hackney carriage – but warned an electric version will only launch in London if the city installs more charging points. A spokesperson said the petrol engine NV200 will appeal to London’s 25,000 licensed taxi drivers when it hits the roads [...]
More passengers set to feel the squeeze on London’s busy buses October 28, 2013 THE CITY’S buses will become more crowded unless Transport for London adds more services to meet soaring demand, a report out today from the London Assembly claims. The assembly has called on the Mayor of London and TfL to pinpoint which routes they would improve in the coming years. The number of bus trips rose [...]
Introducing: the designs of the year March 18, 2014 The ingenious creations that are set to define tomorrow’s world MOST museum shows look back to the past. With flying cars, floating schools and wheelchairs that grow with the owner, this one is all about the future. Next week the seventh Designs of the Year exhibition opens at the Design Museum, and the broad selection [...]