Exclusive: Uber’s UK boss ‘optimistic’ it will win back London licence July 16, 2020 Uber’s UK boss is “optimistic” that the firm will win back its licence in the capital when courts decide in September. Transport for London (TfL) banned the ride-hailing app in London at the end of last year. It said Uber had unlicensed operators upload photos on other people’s accounts, leading to at least 14,000 trips [...]
Kapten and Free Now launch joint service in bid to topple Uber July 16, 2020 Black cab app Free Now and Kapten have today launched their newly combined service in a bid to topple Uber as the country’s biggest ride-hailing company. The new service, which will be available through a new app under the Free Now brand, will give users access to 35,000 drivers in London alone. It is the [...]
The City View: Jamie Heywood on Uber’s licencing battle July 15, 2020 Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Today Andy Silvester is joined by Jamie Heywood, Uber’s General Manager for the UK, Northern and Eastern Europe. They talk about the firm’s licencing battle, how Covid-19 has affected the company and the future of transportation. Electric cars, charging points, the new Uber boat and congestion charging are all on [...]
Tube cleaners accidentally scrub out Banksy coronavirus artwork July 15, 2020 Artwork worth potentially hundreds of thousands pounds by street artist Banksy was removed from a London Tube carriage accidentally, after cleaners had no idea about the value of the works. Transport for London (TfL) removed the artwork, after the world-renowned artist painted a series of his trademark rats posing with face masks, due to TfL’s [...]
Morgan Sindall lands £250m Lewisham Gateway development deal July 14, 2020 Construction firm Morgan Sindall has received £252m in funding from private landlord Get Living to complete the Lewisham Gateway redevelopment project. The development, which is expected to be completed in 2023, will 649 rentable properties, as well as a combined 50,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and office spaces. It will also contain Lewisham’s first [...]
Fares now reinstated on all London buses July 13, 2020 Fares have now been reinstated on all London buses, Transport for London announced today, with enhanced safety measures meaning that passengers can now enter through the front doors. Travellers will now be required to touch in with Oyster, contactless and concessionary cards on all buses in a return to traditional arrangements, following the suspension of [...]
Transport for London trials thermal cameras to spot Covid symptoms July 13, 2020 Buses operated by Transport for London (TfL) are being scanned with thermal imaging cameras in a new trial aimed at spotting fevers on public transport, as the capital begins to return to life after months of lockdown. Thermal imaging cameras detect small changes in temperature from a distance using infrared technology, and are used to [...]
PM calls for driverless Tube trains in TfL bailout July 6, 2020 Boris Johnson has said that driverless Tube trains should be a condition of any future government bailout of Transport for London (TfL). The government gave TfL a £1.6bn support package in May following a slump in revenue as the coronavirus lockdown prevented commuters from using the service. The funding is due to expire in September. [...]
Super Saturday: Pubs to open as London braces for boozing Brits July 3, 2020 Pubs and restaurants up and down the country are preparing to open tomorrow – dubbed Super Saturday – for the first time since lockdown began, as Brits readjust to life under social distancing. Bars and eateries will be allowed to open their doors for the first time using measures such as table service and visitor [...]
DEBATE: Should the mayor of London move City Hall to the Royal Docks? June 25, 2020 Should the mayor of London move City Hall to the Royal Docks? Joanne McCartney, statutory deputy mayor of London, says YES. The catastrophic economic consequences of Covid-19 have already hit London’s economy hard. Unemployment is rising. Millions are furloughed. Tax revenues have fallen. London councils face a budget shortfall of £1.3bn this year. Transport for [...]