Sadiq Khan calls for coronavirus inquiry into BAME deaths May 17, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called for a government inquiry into BAME deaths from coronavirus. Khan today called the higher rate of deaths among BAME ethnicities “shocking” and called for Boris Johnson to set up a public inquiry. Numbers published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this month revealed that black men and women were four-times [...]
Central London’s streets to be car-free under new mayoral plan May 15, 2020 Miles of London’s streets will be car-free under a new plan announced by the mayor to encourage cycling and walking and to help the transport system cope with social distancing. Sadiq Khan said the plan would transform parts of central London into one of the largest car-free areas in any capital city. “Covid-19 poses the [...]
Sadiq Khan: London transport fares will increase after £1.6bn TfL bailout May 15, 2020 London mayor Sadiq Khan has said that he will be forced to increase fares on the capital’s bus and rail services after agreeing a £1.6bn bailout for network operator Transport for London. In a statement, the mayor said that he had “no choice” but to accept the offer, which was the “only deal the government [...]
Congestion charge set to rise 30 per cent after TfL bailout May 15, 2020 London’s congestion charge is set to rise to £15 a day from 22 June, it was revealed today, as a consequence of the government’s bailout of Transport for London. From next month, a 30 per cent increase would see the daily charge rise from £11.50 to £15. The scheme’s operating hours will also extend to [...]
The office is changing – and that means a shift in the real estate market, too May 15, 2020 When businesses emerge from lockdown, many will seek ways to reduce their operating costs to maintain margins in a post-COVID-19 world, when revenue generation is likely to be appreciably more challenging. Real estate often represents the second largest operating cost of most businesses, after staff salaries. It’s regrettably very likely, then, that headcount and office [...]
Video-by-default and a silver surfer generation: Predicting a post-pandemic tech world May 15, 2020 Everybody is in the business of prediction these days. The path of the pandemic, and its impact on health services. The shape of the impending recession, the stock market or the oil price. Unemployment figures or the size of the national debt. As a venture investor, I can’t predict the future better than anyone else. [...]
National Express running at 50 per cent revenue in April May 15, 2020 Coach operator National Express has said that it is currently operating at half its normal revenue due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel. In a trading update, the firm said its revenue in April was 50 per cent what it was in the same month last year. However, the coach company said [...]
TfL agrees £1.6bn bailout deal with government May 14, 2020 TfL tonight agreed a £1.6bn bailout deal with central government after London mayor Sadiq Khan warned that without an emergency cash injection the transport system would run out of cash. The bailout is made up of £1.1bn in cash with a £500m loan. Number 10 has attached a number of conditions to the bailout including [...]
Grant Shapps ‘optimistic’ of TfL bailout deal, but signals potential fare rises May 14, 2020 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said he is “optimistic” a deal can be struck to rescue struggling Transport for London (TfL), while signalling that fare hikes may be a condition of any bailout. Shapps said at today’s press briefing that a bailout was on its way for TfL, just hours after Sadiq Khan said he [...]
UK government kick starts £2bn transport spending spree May 14, 2020 The government has begun a £2bn spending spree on the UK’s transport infrastructure, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps said at today’s press briefing that the government had begun a slew of road and rail projects, which were first announced in the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto. Shapps said the government was in the process [...]