Cost overruns mean London may suck up benefits of HS2 and short-change the north, Lords warn May 16, 2019 London risks reaping all the rewards from HS2, leaving the north "short-changed", a stinging House of Lords report has warned today. The costs of the £56bn railway "do not appear to be under control" and the government must find ways to reduce them so that the second phase of the railway, based in the north, definitely gets built, [...]
Union bosses suspend three-day Tube strike over FA Cup Final weekend May 14, 2019 Union bosses have called off a major Tube strike that was set to cause havoc during the FA Cup final this weekend. Read more: Commuter chaos: Severe delays strike four Tube lines The Rail, maritime and transport (RMT) union claimed victory today as it cancelled the London Underground strike, saying transport chiefs had caved in [...]
Underground misery strikes commuters as severe delays hit four Tube lines May 14, 2019 Severe delays hit four Tube lines this morning as signal failures brought commuters’ journeys into London grinding to a near standstill. Read more: Multiple Tube lines struck with severe delays Disruption plagued the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines after a signal failure at Farringdon this morning, with Transport for London (TfL) advising passengers that [...]
Vinci completes takeover of majority stake in Gatwick after £2.9bn deal May 14, 2019 French group Vinci Airports has completed its takeover of a majority stake in London’s Gatwick, it said this morning, making it the world’s second largest airport operator. The £2.9bn deal, which was announced in December, gives Vinci a 50.01 per cent stake in an airport used by 46m passengers every year. Read more: Gatwick sold [...]
Churchill knew that design was crucial to Britain’s global future – and so should we May 14, 2019 In 1944, when the UK was facing extremely uncertain times, Winston Churchill’s government founded the Council of Industrial Design. The plan was to invest heavily in design to ensure that we were making the best quality products that would allow us to win major industrial contracts in post-war Europe. It worked. Even after an election [...]
My Sporting Life: Southeastern Rail managing director David Statham on Crystal Palace, Dulwich Parkrun and the power of sport May 13, 2019 Southeastern Rail's managing director David Statham on his love of Crystal Palace, starting the weekend with Dulwich Pakrun, trekking and the power of sport. What is your sporting passion? I live in south London, support Crystal Palace and I’m a regular at Selhurst Park – so I’ll be hoping the Eagles soar next season. I’m [...]
TfL did not see controversial Garden Bridge construction contract, boss reveals May 13, 2019 Transport for London (TfL) did not see the contract that the Garden Bridge Trust signed with a construction company for its proposed crossing over the Thames, which was later scrapped to the tune of £53.5m. The Garden Bridge project, which was backed by former mayor Boris Johnson and whose trustees included Joanna Lumley and former Labour minister [...]
The real revolution in electric vehicles… May 13, 2019 Electric vehicles (EVs) have reached a clear inflection point. Product quality has improved and consumer availability is expanding rapidly. Perhaps most importantly, the cost of electric car ownership is finally approaching parity with traditional combustion engine cars. The colourful stories within the industry have also helped generate interest: the spectacular and turbulent growth story of [...]
Tube delays: Commuters suffer severe delays on key London Underground lines May 13, 2019 Commuters were set to face a painful journey to work this morning as a signal failure and police investigation led to disruption across multiple Tube lines. Read more: DEBATE: Should industrial action on the Tube be banned? Severe delays struck the Bakerloo Line after a signal failure at Warwick Avenue, with Transport for London (TfL) [...]
Tube chaos to hit commuters next week in three-day strike by 1,200 London Underground staff May 12, 2019 Severe delays are expected to hit London’s Tube next week as around 1,200 engineering staff walk out on strike. Read more: DEBATE: Should industrial action on the Tube be banned? Union RMT said its members were going on strike after what it called “serious and damaging cuts” to preparation and inspection schedules. The three-day strike is [...]