Under-fire HS2 pushes back contract awards for Euston and Old Oak Common stations January 16, 2019 Under-fire transport project HS2 has pushed back the date for appointing contractors to build its stations at Euston and Old Oak Common. HS2 was due to annouce which firms would be awarded the contract to build the two stations at the end of 2018. This has now been pushed back to the first quarter of [...]
Users of Gospel Oak to Barking line brace for more misery as roll-out of electric trains delayed indefinitely January 16, 2019 The planned roll-out of electric trains on the troubled Gospel Oak to Barking line has been delayed indefinitely as manufacturer Bombardier struggles to resolve software issues. Commuters using the London Overground line have endured repeated delays to the introduction of new Class 710 electric trains, which manufacturer Bombardier has blamed on software problems. Read more: TfL [...]
Luton Airport enjoys busiest ever year in 2018 as passenger numbers soar to 16.6m January 14, 2019 Recently revamped London Luton Airport (LLA) enjoyed its busiest year last year, welcoming 16.6m passengers to the airport. The figures are a five per cent increase on the previous year. During December, 1.26m passengers used the airport, an increase of 19.7 per cent on December the year before. The airport unveiled its upgraded terminal after its three-year [...]
Focus On Westminster: The home of Big Ben hasn’t traditionally been home to many Londoners, but nearby Victoria is changing that January 11, 2019 It is a curious truth that while Westminster may be home to the capital’s most famous icons, from Big Ben to the Houses of Parliament, Westminster hasn’t traditionally been home to many Londoners. Its proximity to the seat of government and its grand offices of state inspired companies to sprout up around it, creating a [...]
Sir Terry Morgan hits back at Sadiq Khan over Crossrail delay: ‘I do not suffer from loss of memory’ January 9, 2019 Former Crossrail chairman Sir Terry Morgan has hit back at accusations from Sadiq Khan that he had "misremembered" the events leading up to the announcement of the project's delay, telling the London Assembly: "I do not suffer from memory loss." Morgan appeared before the London Assembly's transport committee this morning to answer to the evidence [...]
There’s only one way to fix the housing crisis: build more January 9, 2019 From free marketeers on the right to proponents of central planning on the left, cries to fix Britain’s broken housing market have become deafening. The solutions, of course, differ greatly depending on where along the political spectrum you stand. Yesterday, for example, Shelter issued its latest call to action, proposing three million new social homes [...]
Sadiq Khan refuses to rule out another fares freeze if he is re-elected as mayor in 2020 January 8, 2019 Sadiq Khan has refused to rule out freezing fares if he wins a second term as London mayor in next year's election. Khan was asked by the London Assembly transport committee chair Caroline Pidgeon whether he would look at freezing fares again if he was re-elected as mayor. Khan replied: "You'll have to watch this space. [...]
Time for a super-ministry to lead the fourth industrial revolution January 8, 2019 When I was elected to parliament, one of the first things that I campaigned on was the need to develop a comprehensive industrial strategy. The future of the country depends on a strong industrial base – not least because this is the starting point for the innovation that will maintain the UK’s position as a [...]
Loan taken out by GLA to save Crossrail would have put pressure on TfL’s credit rating, finance boss admits January 7, 2019 The Greater London Authority (GLA) agreed to take on a £1.4bn loan to save Crossrail to protect Transport for London's (TfL) less robust credit rating, it has been admitted. At a meeting of the London Assembly's budget and performance committee, chair of the transport committee Caroline Pidgeon asked why it was the GLA that was taking [...]
Portland Stone became the building block of London, but does it have a place in modern British architecture? January 7, 2019 There are certain things you stop noticing after a few years in London. The first thing is how busy it is; crowds become the norm. The abominable air quality only becomes apparent when you leave. Another thing is Portland Stone. Chances are, you don’t even know you’re looking at it, but there aren’t many streets [...]