Bus privatisation a ‘masterclass in how not to run a public service’, report finds July 19, 2021 The privatisation of the UK’s bus industry three decades ago has proved a “masterclass in how not to run an essential public service”, a new report into the sector has found. Philip Alston, a law professor and former UN special rapporteur for poverty, said that since Margaret Thatcher’s reforms in 1985, the country had been [...]
TfL launches campaign to rally confidence in commuters and fill-up tubes July 19, 2021 In its bid to breathe the capital back to life, Transport for London (TfL) has launched its largest campaign since the 2012 Olympics to rally confidence in commuters. Tube and bus networks have been far quieter than they were 16 months ago, so TFL’s ‘Welcome back London’ campaign seeks to highlight what Londoners have missed [...]
Freedom Day: Where do I need to wear a face mask from today? July 19, 2021 Across England, the final remaining coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. From today, people are no longer required by law to wear masks. The government has said, however, that people will still be expected to wear face masks in certain situations while some businesses, travel operators and local politicians have said that masks will still be [...]
Londoners may be set for bumper 5 per cent TfL fares hike in 2022 July 15, 2021 Londoners could face a 5+ per cent hike in Tube fares next year as Transport for London (TfL) is forced to adjust its prices to ballooning inflation. Under the terms of TfL’s most recent government bailout, the transport body has to increase its prices each year by 1 per cent more than the retail price [...]
Hammersmith Bridge to reopen to pedestrians and cyclists this weekend July 15, 2021 The Hammersmith bridge will reopen to pedestrians and cyclists this weekend, Hammersmith & Fulham council have announced this afternoon. Last August the crossing was closed to all users amid fears of a “catastrophic failure” after a heatwave enlarged cracks in the structure. But after a series of safety investigations and the introduction of a temperature control [...]
Two-thirds of adults in the UK are now double-vaxxed July 14, 2021 Two-thirds of adults in the UK are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, health secretary Sajid Javid has announced. “Two thirds of adults across the UK have now had two jabs. We have beaten our target by almost a week – this is a huge achievement,” Javid said in a tweet. “Thank you to everyone who [...]
Face masks to remain compulsory on London Tube and buses July 14, 2021 Face masks will remain compulsory on London Tube and bus services despite the wider easing of lockdown measures under new plans unveiled by mayor Sadiq Khan. While the legal requirement to wear face masks will end on 19 July, the mayor said he was “not prepared to stand by and put Londoners, and our city’s [...]
Check your hub: All of the Northern Line station closures in 2022 July 13, 2021 The Kennington to Moorgate branch of the Northern Line will be shut for 17 weeks from next January so TfL can finish its redevelopment of Bank station. The £700m upgrade will see the station, one of London’s busiest, made 40 per cent larger. Four of the eight stations on the Bank branch of the service will be [...]
Masks, mass events and more in the office: What Freedom Day means for you July 12, 2021 Millions of Londoners will enjoy a range of new liberties from 19 July, after Boris Johnson this evening announced the coronavirus restrictions that will be lifted as planned. Back in February when the PM outlined the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, he told MPs that step four would entail “all legal limits on social contact” [...]
Government scraps TfL bus service review due to extra restrictions July 12, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) will no longer have to carry out a review of bus services levels in July after the government agreed to waive the step after concerns were raised. Under TfL’s latest six-month funding package, the transport operator had to undertake a review of bus passenger numbers in both July and September. But [...]