Welcome aboard, this is a driverless train: unions begin their own demise June 22, 2022 As the summer sun makes the UK feel like a Mediterranean resort, we are also about to see the perils of the labour problems that Southern Europe was so often bedeviled by. Trains have ground to a halt, the London Underground has stopped, and buses are stuck in their depots. Millions of pounds will be [...]
The prodigal daughter returns: a love letter to the Northern Line after four long months May 17, 2022 Being grateful for the Monday morning commute is normally the purview of yoga bloggers or influencers, not journalists. But yesterday was a moment to rejoice as the Bank branch of the Northern Line finally reopened its doors after four long months of stasis. The closure of the Moorgate to Kennington service was announced last year [...]
TfL rolls out new trains on the London Overground March 3, 2020 A raft of new trains will be rolled out on the London Overground from today. Transport for London (TfL) announced today that the new electric trains will increase capacity by 10 per cent and replace the oldest rolling stock on the network. The new trains are on overground routes from Cheshunt, Chingford and Enfield Town [...]
Londoners crazy about e-scooters as TfL trial exceeds half a million trips February 1, 2022 The e-scooter trial launched by Transport for London alongside micromobility operators Lime, TIER and Dott has exceeded more than half a million trips. According to data, since the trial began in early June 180,000 people have made 585,000 trips, for a total of 300 trips per person. October was crowned the busiest month as people [...]
UK government kick starts £2bn transport spending spree May 14, 2020 The government has begun a £2bn spending spree on the UK’s transport infrastructure, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps said at today’s press briefing that the government had begun a slew of road and rail projects, which were first announced in the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto. Shapps said the government was in the process [...]
Sadiq Khan is fighting London’s pollution problem but it’s the capital’s infrastructure that must be the priority January 21, 2022 Last week, millions of Londoners were advised to stay indoors – this time not because of a Covid-19 lockdown, but because pollution in the capital was at the highest possible level. For a country supposedly leading the way in net zero climate action, this is an alarming indication of how far its capital still needs [...]
Face coverings mandatory on TfL network from 15 June June 4, 2020 It will be mandatory for commuters to wear face coverings on all English public transport networks from 15 June, including on Transport for London (TfL). Transport secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement at today’s press briefing, adding that non-compliance would lead to a refusal of travel and fines. Shapps said there would be exemptions for [...]
TfL funding package expires as talks continue on short-term rescue deal May 29, 2021 The emergency funding support programme agreed between Transport for London and the Department for Transport has come to an end, with discussions continuing on an extension. TfL were forced to go cap-in-hand to central government after passenger numbers collapsed at the start of Covid-19. A funding deal was struck in November 2020 to finish in [...]
Whoever wins the fight over housing and energy will hold the key to victory September 5, 2023 With Parliament back, both parties need to focus on what's going to matter to voters in the next months: housing and energy prices will be top issues, together with questions on net zero, writes Elena Siniscalco
Coronavirus: Government U-turns on face mask advice May 11, 2020 People in England have been told to wear face masks on public transport and in some shops after the government reversed its decision on personal protective equipment (PPE). In a 51-page document published this afternoon, the government said face coverings should be worn in situations where social distancing is not always possible. According to the [...]