Which books regularly top the UK bestseller list at Christmas and is there a way to predict it? December 20, 2018 First came Black Friday, then its online equivalent, Cyber Monday, but few outside the publishing industry are aware of its bookish brother, Super Thursday. Usually in the first week of October, the annual event marks the release of big money hardbacks in the run up to Christmas. This year saw 544 new hardbacks released, up [...]
Island Hopping in NYC: How the Big Apple’s revived ferry service kickstarted an unlikely glamping craze January 21, 2019 In the UK, a diamond-mesh fence tends to signify you’ve arrived at the perimeter of a day-release prison or, perhaps, a scrapyard. Not so in America. And especially not in New York: a goodly portion of its waterfront is lined with the stuff. But somehow the Yanks manage to put these utilitarian barriers to use [...]
South Western Railway passenger journeys dropped by 18m last year as franchises veer off track June 14, 2018 Embattled train operator South Western Railway (SWR) saw a dramatic drop of 18m passenger journeys over the past year as it grappled with engineering works at Waterloo, a switch in franchise ownership and industrial action. London's busiest station underwent an upgrade in a bid to boost capacity by 30 per cent, which has largely contributed [...]
Labour wouldn’t offer second vote on Brexit, says John McDonnell September 24, 2018 Labour would not offer a second vote on Brexit, shadow chancellor John McDonnell appeared to admit this morning. The opposition would seek to force a general election over Brexit, but if that is not possible would back a so-called people’s vote, he told Radio 4’s Today programme this morning. Read more: Labour opens new [...]
TfL issues travel advice for Thursday’s 24-hour Tube strike and warns Jubilee Line passengers of disruption June 12, 2018 Commuters on the Jubilee Line are being warned to brace themselves for further strike action on Thursday which will mean no services will be in operation. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is currently in talks with Transport for London(TfL) to prevent the action going ahead. If it does go ahead, there will be [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Chaparral set to Star for frustrated punters October 17, 2018 NEWS that former three-time Hong Kong champion jockey Joao Moreira could return to the city in December, after failing to secure a full-time licence in Japan, will be music to the ears of presently disgruntled, gambling- mad racing fans. Racing fanatics, from market street traders and taxi drivers to professional gamblers, are having a tough [...]
From outcast to linchpin: How Jos Buttler’s brilliant 2018 has helped revive England and redefine Test batting November 28, 2018 When Jos Buttler arrived at the crease with England wobbling and in danger of succumbing meekly in the second innings of the third Test against Sri Lanka last week he had one thing on his mind. His side may have been 39-4, just 135 runs ahead, on day three in Colombo and the hosts’ spinners [...]
Thursday’s 24-hour Tube strike has been called off, as talks between unions and TfL are suspended June 13, 2018 A 24-hour Tube strike on the Jubilee line due to be held on Thursday has been called off, due to a row over timetable changes between theTransport for London (TfL) and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. Two previous 24-hour walkouts, organised by both RMT and train drivers' union Aslef and set for 6 [...]
RMT union to claim higher pay for Network Rail workers following row with Chris Grayling August 28, 2018 The RMT union has said it will lodge a claim to increase the pay of its members working at Network Rail, raising the possibility of a tense standoff that could result in further disruption for British passengers. Relations between the union and the Department for Transport (DfT), which controls Network Rail, are at an all-time low [...]
London needs a new mayor to get the transport show back on the road September 4, 2018 You may remember the old joke about the family who, hopelessly lost in the middle of nowhere, wind down their car window to ask for directions, only to be told “I wouldn’t start from here if I were you”. In the third year of Sadiq Khan’s mayoralty, transport in London isn’t quite that bad, but [...]