London is the world’s greatest city because it’s both a cultural and business powerhouse January 9, 2017 "You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” This famous quotation by British poet Samuel Johnson still holds true about our great city some 240 years later. London [...]
Bad news commuters: A 24-hour Tube strike is going ahead from 6pm after unions reject last-ditch offer January 8, 2017 The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has rejected a new offer on jobs from the London Underground in a bid to avoid a 24-hour strike. The union said its members are going ahead with the industrial action from 6pm on Sunday. It comes after the biggest rail union, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, [...]
Five days in to 2017, London exceeded its air pollution limit January 6, 2017 Finding the city smoggier than usual today? It's no wonder. Five days into the year, London has already broken air pollution limits set for the whole of 2017. Brixton Road is to blame. The road exceeded the hourly limit of 200 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre of air for the 19th time last night. Under EU pollution [...]
Sadiq Khan launches a fresh plea for more control over London’s trains January 5, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a fresh appeal for control over the capital’s suburban trains. Khan has published a list of promises to Londoners if rail devolution goes ahead. In December, transport secretary Chris Grayling ruled out City Hall control of services, branding any handover “deckchair shifting”. However, Khan has reiterated his demands for [...]
The Square Mile wants a ban on all diesel minicabs by 2020 January 4, 2017 Leaders in the City are calling on the Mayor of London to ban diesel mincabs in the capital in a bid to reduce pollution. The City of London Corporation wants Sadiq Khan to ban all diesel vehicles used by companies such as Uber and Addison Lee by 2020. New licenses would not be given to [...]
Sadiq Khan’s fares “freeze” fails commuters – and will still hit Tube investment hard January 4, 2017 New Year's resolutions are like the mayor of London’s election promises – often made with good intentions but almost always broken a few months down the line. As we ring in 2017, commuters here in the capital will be seeing the cost of their travelcards go up by 1.9 per cent – the result of [...]
Law Society chief executive hands in resignation January 3, 2017 Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon has resigned today, citing concerns over the speed of governance reform at the solicitors' professional body. Dixon has been in her role for two years and the Society will announce plans for recruiting a new chief exec in due course. Noting he was "extremely grateful" for Dixon's "tireless and effective [...]
This study says Uber-style ride-sharing and carpooling could dramatically reduce city traffic January 3, 2017 London's roads – and the millions of people who travel on them – have reached an unprecedented gridlock. Congestion is estimated to be costing businesses in the capital £237m every year, while Londoners are wasting a week each year, on average, stuck in traffic jams – not to mention the impact on people's health of high [...]
Labour and the Conservatives can’t stop blaming each other for rising train fares January 3, 2017 London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan and Conservative politicians are blaming each other for the rising cost of rail travel this morning. Commuters returning to work this week are set to see their train fares rise by an average of 2.3 per cent. And both sides of the political spectrum have gone on the attack this [...]
Rail fares have increased twice as fast as wages in the past 10 years January 3, 2017 Ah, January. No alcohol, running in the cold – and the traditional annual rail fare increase. This year, fares are set to rise by 2.3 per cent, while Tube fares are also due to rise (despite Sadiq Khan's assurances to the contrary). And if that doesn't make you miserable enough, new research has shown UK [...]