Network Rail fined £53.1m for trains running late July 7, 2014 Network Rail has been handed a record £53.1m fine for missing punctuality targets, the industry regulator reported today. In its assessment of the company that runs Britain's tracks, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) criticised Network Rail for falling "significantly short" of the funded 92 per cent average punctuality targets, achieving just 87 per cent. [...]
David Cameron’s £6bn growth gamble on jobs, transport and construction July 7, 2014 David Cameron is today pledging £6bn to boost regional jobs, transport and construction in a bid to boost growth across the country in the run up to next year’s election. The biggest chunk of spending nationally under the three-year scheme will be £3bn on transport, with major links being built between northern cities. The capital [...]
Ten times faster wi-fi in £90m upgrade for commuter trains July 7, 2014 COMMUTERS can look forward to wi-fi speeds 10 times faster than they currently receive on trains as part of Department for Transport £90m plans, paid partly from a fine on Network Rail. Some of the first routes likely to benefit from the faster wi-fi service will include passengers travelling into London from Bedford, Brighton, Kent [...]
Tour de France: Where to watch in London July 6, 2014 The Tour de France arrives in London after Le Grand Depart in Yorkshire, and Londoners will be able to catch a glimpse of the elite cyclists on Monday afternoon. The fastest cyclists are expected to enter London at around 3pm heading through east London and the City to the finish line on The Mall at around [...]
Cash fares no longer accepted on London buses July 6, 2014 London buses will no longer accept fares paid in cash in a move that Transport for London (TfL) says will save the capital £24m a year. From today, passengers will only be able to pay for bus fares using an Oyster card, contactless credit or debit card or travelcard ticket. TfL estimates less than one [...]
Serco fails to win rebid for Docklands Light Railway July 4, 2014 Troubled outsourcing firm Serco has received yet more bad news today as Transport for London informed the company it had failed in its rebid to operate and maintain the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). After 17 years of running the DLR Serco will hand it over to a venture between Keolis and Amey. However, Serco was [...]
TfL court ruling delayed as Uber drivers are sued July 3, 2014 The battle over Uber’s controversial car hire app escalated yesterday as Transport for London (TfL) said its attempt to get a High Court ruling on the dispute would be seriously delayed following news that the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) was taking its own legal action against Uber drivers. The dispute focuses on whether Uber’s [...]
City Moves for 04 July 2014 | Who’s switching jobs July 3, 2014 Saffron Tax Partners The tax partnership has appointed Nicholas Hughes as partner. He qualified as a solicitor in 1984, and was previously a partner at BDO. Hughes is also a former director at the Chiltern Group, and advises private clients in relation to trust and estate planning matters. Invesco Perpetual The investment manager has announced [...]
Uber saved from London court battle and is operating within the law says TfL July 3, 2014 Transport for London (TfL) has announced that the High Court cannot proceed with a case regarding taxi app service Uber because the magistrates courts are deluged with cases concerning individual Uber drivers. Furthermore, as far as TfL is concerned, Uber is acting within the law by using an app to calculate fares based on the [...]
Labour’s cities plan marred by statistics row July 1, 2014 LABOUR leader Ed Miliband’s plan to devolve financial power to cities and regions around the UK was marred yesterday by a row over statistics. Miliband launched the policy in Leeds with Lord Adonis, following a year-long review into how to boost the UK’s regional economies and bring them into line with London. The pledge could [...]