Sadiq Khan to boost share of London council tax by nearly 10 per cent January 8, 2021 Sadiq Khan today announced that his share of council tax will increase by nearly 10 per cent from April in order to keep funding public transport services. Under the proposals, the average bill for Band D will increase by £2.63 a month – £31.59 over the whole year. Of the increase, £15 will go towards [...]
Scandinavian fund EQT join race for First Group’s US businesses January 7, 2021 A Scandinavian fund has joined the bidding for transport operator First Group’s US assets, which are valued at £2.5bn. Sky News reported that EQT Infrastructure made a $3.7bn bid for the First Transit and First Student in the days leading up to Christmas. The fund, which is run by one of Scandinavia’s most powerful equity [...]
Mayor of London election to still go ahead in May January 6, 2021 The London mayor election is set to go ahead as planned in May, the government has confirmed. The election, along with a swathe of other local elections across the country, were postponed for a year last May due to Covid-19. The election will pit incumbent Labour mayor Sadiq Khan against Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey. The [...]
Tube and bus passenger numbers plunge as lockdown begins January 5, 2021 There were 200,000 journeys made on the London Underground on the first morning of the latest national lockdown, figures from Transport for London (TfL) showed today. As of 10am this morning, passengers made a total of 400,000 entrances and exits to the Tube network, which is the equivalent to 18 per cent of pre-pandemic demand [...]
On track: First passenger trains run on Northern line Tube extension January 4, 2021 The extension to the Northern line came a step closer to completion over the Christmas period as the first passenger trains completed journeys through the new tunnels. Test trains entered the 3.2km of new track at Kennington, passing through Nine Elms station before arriving at the extension’s second new station at Battersea Power Station. The [...]
Rail services to be axed under Government plans: reports December 28, 2020 Reports have emerged overnight suggesting as many as one in five train services could be axed to reduce financial pressure on the network. The Treasury has been propping up rail services throughout 2020 as lockdown restrictions cut passenger numbers. The Telegraph reports that officials want to bring rail capacity down by a fifth to reduce [...]
City Corporation clamps down on illegal street traders, gamblers and pickpockets December 18, 2020 The City of London Corporation will crack down further on illegal street traders, gamblers and pickpockets operating on five London bridges.
Crossrail failed to carry out survey work on historic Soho venue despite ‘high risk’ to punters December 16, 2020 Crossrail failed to carry out survey work on a historic cellar bar in Soho despite receiving warnings from its own contractors that weak vaults posed a “high residual risk” to punters. The report, which was carried out in 2016 by consultants WSP and has been seen by City A.M., says that the vaults in the [...]
Tory mayoral candidate under fire for using fake City Hall logo on campaign leaflets December 16, 2020 The Conservative party’s candidate for London mayor has drawn sharp criticism for using fake City Hall coats of arms on campaign letters sent out to voters. The letters from Shaun Bailey were branded with messages saying “Do not ignore”, alongside fake City Hall insignia with a cod Latin motto underneath. They also warned Londoners their [...]
Rail fares to rise above inflation for first time in eight years December 16, 2020 Rail fares will rise above inflation for the first time in eight years next year, although the hike will be delayed until March. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that fares would be hiked 2.6 per cent next year, despite calls to freeze ticket prices in a bid to encourage people back onto trains after [...]