More proof Southern’s still a total basket case after timetable changes August 14, 2016 After a week of travel misery among commuters with strikes on Southern Rail, commuters who feel like they're getting a raw deal will be unsurprised to hear that new figures show the operator continues to be beleaguered by cancellations and delays – despite efforts to improve. One in five Southern services are still not running on time, just [...]
Banning diesel cars is the wrong way to tackle pollution in London August 12, 2016 Everyone reading today’s copy of City A.M. wants clean air. But reducing pollution in our great city is a complex problem deserving of careful consideration and the adoption of a range of solutions. There is no magic bullet. Reducing emissions from all sources – whether planes, trains, cars or buses, or the polluting systems that [...]
Opinion: Law firm TLT outlines the challenges facing Sadiq Khan if he wants to keep his housing promises August 11, 2016 Targets have a way of tripping politicians up and Sadiq Khan may regret some of the ones he proposed in the run up to the election to help ease the housing problem in London. His campaign pledge to set a goal of 50 per cent affordable homes in any new development now seems better politics [...]
TfL offers weekend of free Santander Cycles access to celebrate sixth anniversary August 9, 2016 It is the "Boris Bike's" birthday this weekend, and to celebrate Londoners will be able to access the bicycles free of charge. Transport for London (TfL) and Santander are making the bikes free for use for this coming weekend for journeys up to 30 minutes. Read more: Santander and Blaze team up to make cycling on [...]
Uber just renewed its feud with London’s regulators August 8, 2016 Uber is turning to its customers to help it fight "bureaucratic" new rules imposed by Transport for London, including an English exam "harder than the test for British citizenship", renewing its feud with regulators in the capital. The billion-dollar company said the rules would "threaten the livelihood of thousands of drivers", reducing their numbers and thus increasing the [...]
Business groups slam RMT’s strike on Southern Rail August 8, 2016 Business groups have hit out at RMT's strike on Southern Rail, which parent Govia has said will bring misery to hundreds of thousands of commuters. London First said the strike is "totally unjustified" and punishes commuters. David Leam, infrastructure director at business group London First, said: "The RMT's strike is totally unjustified. It punishes the many commuters [...]
RMT has just offered to suspend next week’s Southern strike – but only if it matches an offer by ScotRail August 5, 2016 The RMT union has offered to suspend strikes on Southern Rail planned for next week – but only if Southern meets certain conditions. In an open letter to Southern managing director Charles Horton following two days of Acas talks, the union said it will suspend strikes as long as the company matches an offer made by [...]
Focus On Archway: Will a new road system, public square and revamped tube station boost house prices in N19? August 4, 2016 Legend has it that when Dick Whittington was on his way out of London, he reached Archway, heard the peal of the Bow Bells and decided to return to the capital. Its reputation as a hinterland, a border, endured for centuries afterwards. Known originally as Highgate Archway – as in, the place you pass through [...]
TfL are cracking down on illegal taxis and minicabs, but unions says it’s failing to look at “e-hailing” services like Uber August 2, 2016 Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans to crack down on illegal taxis and minicabs – but transport union RMT has complained the drive will fail to look at smartphone services like Uber. Transport for London (TfL) will hire an additional 250 hi-vis wearing compliance officers by September 2017, quadrupling the number available to tackle illegal cabs at sites across London including Kings Cross, [...]
Travel sickness: Tube staff took over 163,000 sick days last year, the highest level in five years August 2, 2016 Tube staff took over 163,000 sick days last year, the highest level in five years and more than twice the national average. Figures obtained by City A.M. show that staff working for London Underground took 163,152 days off sick in 2015, a year plagued by the threat of strike action as the Night Tube battled opposition [...]