Thameslink owner Go-Ahead Group’s profits climb despite London Midland franchise loss September 6, 2018 Govia Thameslink owner Go-Ahead Group reported higher profits this morning despite losing a franchise and dealing with timetable chaos. Shares in the company jumped 9.4 per cent in early trading as management signalled that performance for next year would be "robust". The figures Revenue for the year to 30 June fell 0.6 per cent to [...]
Crossrail’s delay sounds depressingly familiar September 3, 2018 With a plethora of talented engineers at our disposal and a rich history of leading the world in pioneering rail projects, it is depressing to witness Britain’s clumsy approach to improving the country’s transport links. Commuter services into the City still woefully under-serve the UK’s economic engine. Meanwhile, news has broken that Crossrail has succumbed [...]
No end in sight for Crossrail fiasco as budget overshoot could surpass £1bn September 2, 2018 Crossrail's budget overshoot could surpass £1bn as the flagship project works towards a new 2019 deadline. Last week it was confirmed that the £15.4bn Elizabeth Line, which stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, has been delayed by almost a year over safety issues and will now [...]
Focus On Knightsbridge: Who actually lives in the land of Harrods and what homes are set to be ‘superior’ to One Hyde Park? August 31, 2018 Fast cars, flagship designer stores and fancy restaurants are all things that characterise Knightsbridge in the London hive mind. But who actually lives amongst this finery where, according to Hamptons International, the average home goes for £3.5m? “Vietnamese, Turkish, American, Bahrani, French, Italian…” reels off Charlie Willis, head of London residential agency at Strutt & [...]
Focus On Covent Garden: The tourist trap turned foodie hotspot also does homes August 31, 2018 Who lives in Covent Garden anyway? To most Londoners, this historic 17th century piazza is synonymous with street performers and burger bars. It’s always been a place to pass through on the way to the theatre, rather than a place to spend much time in or, god forbid, live in. But all that is changing [...]
TfL and Network Rail urged to stop ‘passing the buck’ over failures on Gospel Oak to Barking line August 30, 2018 Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail have been urged to stop "passing the buck" over continuing failures on the Gospel Oak to Barking line. Commuters using the London Overground line have endured repeated delays to the introduction of new Class 710 electric trains, which manufacturer Bombardier has blamed on software problems. The trains were [...]
Toyota invests $500m in Uber to propel self-driving cars into reality August 28, 2018 Japanese motoring giant Toyota has renewed its dedication to creating a self-driving car network on our streets, to the tune of a $500m (£387.6m) investment in ride-hailing firm Uber. The company said late last night it will expand its partnership with Uber in an effort to bring to market "autonomous ride-sharing as a mobility service at scale", at a time [...]
City blues: Meet the Tories hoping to take on Sadiq Khan in the 2020 race for City Hall August 27, 2018 The spectre of the 2016 mayoral campaign still hangs over the capital’s Tories. The crass, dog-whistle tactics deployed by Zac Goldsmith’s team failed to prevent Sadiq Khan receiving more votes than any of his predecessors, and left a bad taste in Londoners’ mouths that remains even now. The memory clearly weighs heavy on the three [...]
Thames river bus buoyed by rising tide of London commuters August 27, 2018 Commuting by boat in London hits a major milestone this week with the capital’s river bus service set to carry its 40 millionth passenger. The landmark figure comes at the end of a bumper summer for MBNA Thames Clippers, in which a combination of hot weather and growing waterside property development has increased passenger numbers [...]
TfL welcomes Uber’s embrace of bikes over cars for future strategy August 27, 2018 Transport for London (TfL) has welcomed Uber's announcement that it will shift its focus from cars to electric bikes and scooters, saying it wants to encourage growth in a vital market for the capital. Electric bikes and scooters have become a boom market in London, with the city seeing a number of companies including Ofo and [...]