Focus on Victoria: Once just a train station, this central postcode now has an identity all its own October 25, 2019 There was a time not so long ago when Victoria was a train station, not an area. You could be ‘near Victoria station,’ but not ‘in Victoria’. Happily, it’s now made the transition thanks to an explosion of new bars, shops, offices and restaurants which have put the district firmly on the map. “For many [...]
Let’s use Tube tunnels to boost London’s broadband connections October 24, 2019 One of London’s biggest infrastructure challenges is how to spread gigabit connectivity far and wide. Today, because of the way connectivity has been managed nationally, the vast majority of Londoners still get their broadband services through a ‘last mile’ of copper connections, with full fibre only reaching around 10 per cent of households. Read more: [...]
The UK’s AI talent race just stepped up a gear October 24, 2019 Technology has the power to improve lives and tackle the great challenges of our time. At the University of Exeter, for example, Tim Dodwell is about to start a five-year project looking into how technology can make the aviation industry more sustainable and safer. He is one of the first five recipients of a new [...]
Self-driving startup FiveAI launches commuter trials on London streets October 24, 2019 British startup FiveAI has today announced the launch of commuter research trials for its self-driving car technology, alongside motor insurance giant Direct Line. As part of the Streetwise Consortium, which also includes TRL, a 19km self-driving research route featuring human passengers will be launched in Croydon and Bromley to test out the technology. The invite-only [...]
Citymapper’s London travel card will expand to zones three and four October 23, 2019 London commuter app Citymapper is set to expand its contactless transport pass to more parts of the capital. The Citymapper Pass was introduced in February to cover travel on the Tube, buses, trains, Santander bikes and its own Citymapper Ride shared taxi service in zones one and two. Read more: Uber rival Kapten teams with [...]
On the right track: We take the world’s slowest express train linking the plush ski resorts of Zermatt and St Moritz October 23, 2019 You could almost feel our compartment teeter over the edge of the crossing as the whole carriage readied cameras and phones to capture the iconic photograph. The Landwasser Viaduct on the Swiss rail network’s Glacier Express is the pièce de résistance of the journey between swish alpine resort towns of Zermatt and St Moritz. And [...]
Back to the future: London unveils first fully electric taxi since… 1897 October 23, 2019 A completely electric taxi hit London’s roads today, although the first fully electric vehicle came to the capital more than 100 years ago. The zero emissions Dynamo Taxi, made from a converted Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV, was unveiled as a part of the International Clean Air Conference at City Hall. Read more: Electric taxi cab [...]
Crossrail at risk of facing further delays October 22, 2019 Crossrail is increasingly likely to face further cost blowouts and delays, according to a new report. The £15.9bn underground rail line was due to open in December 2018, but now has a target date of between October 2020 and March 2021. Read more: Crossrail to renegotiate pay with Bechtel However, a new report from Jacobs [...]
It’s not modern alchemy, carbon capture is a key weapon in the fight against climate change October 22, 2019 While the protesters may have gone for now, the memory of the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations across London lives on. Their presence amid the bracing weather over the past two weeks serves as a fitting testament to the growing public demand that climate change must be addressed. Spurred by public opinion, businesses worldwide are seeking to [...]
Mercato Metropolitano’s founder is a man on a mission October 21, 2019 The words Elephant & Castle and trendy food market don’t normally go together. It’s an area that’s unfortunately more associated with crime and poverty than gourmet dining. But since 2016, a patch of unassuming land around the corner from the Ministry of Sound has played home to Mercato Metropolitano. This upscale hotspot has around 50 vendors [...]