A land of conquest, casinos and copious wine, Georgia is perhaps Europe’s most surprising destination July 5, 2018 It has been said that Georgians ‘think with European minds and feel with Asian hearts’. Their nation, clamped between Russia and Turkey, is neither fully European nor Asian but rather in a category all of its own. If one symbol encapsulates the Georgian psyche it is the Kartlis Deda “Mother of Georgia” statue, which towers [...]
Govia launches new compensation scheme for commuters disrupted by May timetable mayhem July 4, 2018 Thameslink and Great Northern passengers will be able to claim more money back following the May timetable shambles after Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and the Department for Transport (DfT) agreed to a special compensation scheme for those most severely affected by the changes. Compensation will be paid to qualifying season ticket holders according to the [...]
London’s new deputy mayor for transport Heidi Alexander calls for Transport for London to take over Govia Thameslink Railway franchise July 4, 2018 London’s new deputy mayor for transport Heidi Alexander will today call for Transport for London (TfL) to take over parts of the trouble-hit Govia Thameslink Railway franchise after a train timetable shake-up caused chaos. In her first major public speech in her new job, Alexander will say today that TfL should take over parts of [...]
Tesla Model S 100D review: Only famous for its unpredictable boss or genuinely good to drive? July 2, 2018 If the scent of lavender and the feel of Lycra on clammy flesh are your kind of thing, you won’t find anywhere better than cycling mecca La Coquillade. Set in the hills of the Petit Luberon, a rosé-growing idyll between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, this hotel has been created by a Tour de France team owner [...]
Citymapper adds ‘floating’ transport into its app, with partner support for Ofo, Mobike and Santander July 2, 2018 Citymapper has added dockless cycles and scooters across London and other cities into its app, in a move to update your daily commute with what it calls ‘floating transport’. From today, users will be able to see transport options from dockless bikes, scooters and mopeds inside the Citymapper app, with journey times including how far [...]
Westminster City Council sets out next steps for Oxford Street pedestrianisation alternative to tackle Elizabeth Line crowding July 2, 2018 After the controversial decision to put the brakes on Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans indefinitely, Westminster City Council will meet to discuss its alternative plans for the London shopping hotspot next week. The council's cabinet will meet on Monday 9 July to consider a report setting out the next steps for transforming the Oxford Street district. [...]
Govia Thameslink faces loss of franchise if service does not improve July 1, 2018 "Tough action" promised by the government against rail operator Govia Thameslink could extend as far as removing franchises unless it improves its dire recent performance for commuters in the South East. Transport secretary Chris Grayling could strip franchises within weeks, after the introduction of a new timetable on 20 May caused widespread disruption, the BBC [...]
Oyster card hits the 15 year mark: Five things you didn’t know about the London smartcard June 30, 2018 As the Oyster card celebrates its fifteenth birthday, we've built a list of five things you might not know about Transport for London's smartcard. By 2041, Transport for London predicts that there will be a staggering 32 million trips will be made on the Tube each day. You may already know some more common facts [...]
Virgin Atlantic has said it will no longer carry out forced deportation flights for the Home Office June 30, 2018 Virgin Atlantic has said it will no longer carry out involuntary deportation flights for people deemed to be illegal immigrants. A spokesperson for the airline said it had already informed the Home Office of its decision, which was made “in the best interest of our customers and people”. The decision follows months of controversy following [...]
Last Week in the City: Amazon buys a pharmacy June 29, 2018 Garry White, chief investment commentator, looks at the market-moving events that have shaped the UK equity markets this week (25 to 29 June 2018). The FTSE 100 traded little over the week, despite a rally in oil prices. There was more bad news from the retail sector after The John Lewis Partnership warned on profits [...]