Uber and other private hire firms want to act as taxis, but without the costs: This is why Black Cab drivers are protesting TfL’s private hire review today February 10, 2016 A taxi demonstration is being held in Whitehall today in protest at this government’s intervention in proposed changes and updates to the private hire act 1998. Many proposals were both sensible and in the public interest. One of the changes was that any “app” may not display the whereabouts of an available vehicle in law this [...]
Network Rail’s “hybrid” system must go, says IEA report – and abolishing it would save each family £180 a year February 10, 2016 Jeremy Corbyn's crowd may be calling for the UK's train network to be fully nationalised – but a new report is arguing the reverse would lead to cost reduction, better services and the ability to improve the system for future usage. Abolishing the "hybrid" Network Rail would save households £180 a year – and make the [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin says government won’t pay for Labour candidate Sadiq Khan’s fare freeze February 9, 2016 A Cabinet minister has rejected Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan's proposals for freezing Transport for London (TfL) fares until at least 2020, saying central government will not pick up the bill for any unfunded City Hall schemes. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin attacked Khan's fare pledges today, saying they would put infrastructure projects in the capital "at [...]
TfL Tube strike 2016: First of seven 24-hour London Underground strikes to run from Friday 12 February – here is everything you need to know February 9, 2016 The first of seven 12 and 24-hour strikes is scheduled to take place this Friday in a fight over "basic safety issues". Commuters might have breathed a sigh of relief when first the Night Tube and then the ticket closure strikes were called off at the last minute – but this action is entirely separate, and likely [...]
Uber lets Londoners book black cabs without charging drivers as olive branch in regulation row, but industry and Hailo reject offer February 9, 2016 Black cabs will be available to passengers through the Uber app in a significant move aimed at dispelling tensions between tradition and technology on London's roads. Uber will make the app available for black cab drivers to find fares with no commission fee for the first 12 months, allowing them to pick up passengers in the same way as Uber drivers [...]
London Bridge disruption causes commuter misery for second day in a row, as emergency incident blocks South West Trains line February 9, 2016 Commuters were facing more travel chaos this morning as Overground trains into London Bridge were disrupted yet again. Disruption to mainline trains into the terminus, as well as Charing Cross and Waterloo East, was apparently being caused by Storm Imogen, which yesterday caused the roof to blow off, affecting train operators including Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink. [...]
London Bridge station roof “blows off” causing travel chaos thanks to storm Imogen – Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink trains at Charing Cross, Waterloo East and Cannon Street disrupted February 8, 2016 Storm Imogen has caused travel chaos at several central London stations after the high winds caused part of the roof of London Bridge station to come loose. Trains between Charing Cross and London Bridge were closed after part of the roof became loose just before peak rush hour. The line has now reopened, however, commuters have been left facing severe [...]
Rush hour chaos for London commuters as Storm Imogen as high winds close Charing Cross and cause delays at Victoria station, London Bridge station, Waterloo East station and Cannon Street station February 8, 2016 Londoners were facing misery on their evening commute as high winds from Storm Imogen caused delays across the London travel network. Southeastern Rail warned that although Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations had reopened after lines were blocked earlier, there were still delays and disruption to services. It also urged commuters using Cannon Street to allow extra [...]
UK weather: Storm Imogen to batter London, south east and south west of England with 80mph winds causing travel delays and flooding February 8, 2016 Imogen is the latest storm to hit the UK, bringing with it heavy rain and winds to London and the south east the Met Office has said, with the potential to disrupt the rush hour commute and flooding. Forecasters have warned of disruption to travel and power supplies across the region as winds could hit speeds of [...]
As east London’s population explodes, we must build more tunnels and bridges to connect north and south communities across the Thames February 8, 2016 London’s population is booming and nowhere more so than in east London, which is expected to see its population increase by 600,000 in the next 15 years. It is a region ripe with opportunity – hundreds of thousands of new homes and jobs can be created in the area. But with just three road crossings [...]