Revealed: Testing delays mean Crossrail may not open until October 2021 December 18, 2019 The central section of Crossrail may not be open before October 2021, despite claims it could be launched in the first quarter of that year. The project has been cursed with endless delays and budget blowouts, with its cost now expected to be £18.25bn – £3.4bn over its original costings. Crossrail bosses announced in November [...]
Experts unsure about the effect of air pollution on the Tube December 18, 2019 The effects of the high levels of dust and air pollution throughout London’s Tube system is unknown, according to a new report. A London Assembly report into Tube dust confirmed that “concentrations of particulate matter on underground platforms” are much higher than outside. Read more: London Underground has the city’s highest level of air pollution [...]
Shipping sector proposes $5bn fund to cut emissions December 18, 2019 The global shipping industry will this morning submit a proposal to form a $5bn research and development fund for decarbonising the industry. Shipping currently accounts for two per cent of all global emissions. Read more: Global banks are leading the charge to decarbonise shipping The fund, which will operate over a ten-year period, is designed [...]
Software error scuppers space rocket’s search for Earth-like planet December 17, 2019 An IT glitch has scuppered the launch of a space rocket designed to study exoplanets after the craft’s automated take-off sequence was interrupted. The Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (Cheops) is a European Space Agency mission dedicated to studying nearby exoplanets, those outside the solar system, in search of a new Earth. It was the first mission [...]
Person dies after being hit by train at Harringay station December 17, 2019 A person has died after being hit by a train at Harringay station in north London this morning. In a statement, British Transport Police confirmed that officers were called to the station shortly before 11.50 this morning following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics were also in attendance, but the person was pronounced [...]
RMT pledges to fight Tory plans for ‘minimum service’ during strikes December 17, 2019 The boss of the RMT transport union has hit out at government plans to pass legislation to ensure commuters to can get to work during strikes. Responding to the proposed legislation, general secretary Mick Cash said: “It hasn’t taken long for the true colours of this new Tory government to emerge. Read more: South Western [...]
Exclusive: Crossrail safety issues spiral in 2019 with record rate of near-misses December 17, 2019 High risk incidents in the construction of Crossrail doubled this year, in a trend that an engineering company contracted by Transport for London (TfL) has described as “worrying”. Crossrail records the number of incidents that could, in different circumstances, have caused death or serious injury. This year, Crossrail workers have been involved in 50 of [...]
Boeing halts production of 737 Max planes December 17, 2019 Boeing has announced that it will halt production of its grounded 737 Max jet in January, after the US aviation regulator said it would not approve the aeroplane’s return to service before 2020. The decision was made by Boeing’s board last night following a two-day meeting in Chicago. Read more: Boeing 737 Max: Grounding could [...]
Tube delays: Central, District and Circle Lines suffer rush hour misery December 17, 2019 Commuters were left to endure a torrid rush hour journey to work this morning after Tube delays hit three Underground lines. A signal failure at Aldgate and an earlier one at Hammersmith have brought the Circle Line to a halt in the anti-clockwise direction, as well as running with minor delays the other way. Read [...]
Trainline revenue surges to £198m on £2.9bn ticket sales December 17, 2019 Trainline enjoyed a 26 per cent jump in revenue in the first nine months of its current financial year, it revealed today. The ticket-booking app saw total group revenue hit £198m after international income soared 90 per cent year on year to £20m and UK consumer revenue leapt 31 per cent to £133m. Read more: [...]