Forget disastrous Heathrow and build a more efficient hub to London’s east July 28, 2013 AIRPORT policy is getting a lot of headlines, as different organisations (including the airports themselves) make their submissions to the Airports Commission. That attention is well-deserved, because it is a subject that is critical to our economy and its future. Much of our most valuable trade moves by air, and relationships with emerging markets are [...]
Where to Drink July 28, 2013 TOAST the arrival of the Royal Baby at one of London’s new bars and clubs. Ascend to the rarefied heights of Aqua Shard, where it’s claimed a generous amount of space for its standalone lounge bar. Situated in a three storey atrium with immense windows bathing the room in light, it’s the perfect place to [...]
Boris losing battle over London rail | City A.M. July 28, 2013 BORIS Johnson has failed to convince Whitehall that he should be given control over suburban rail services in London, with civil servants in the Department for Transport fighting a rearguard action to block his bid for control of routes into Liverpool Street, Cannon Street, and London Bridge. City A.M. understands that the Mayor’s ambitious proposal [...]
Focus on: Chiswick July 25, 2013 NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT DESPITE being known as the a go-to destination for foodies, there’s more to Chiswick than its impressive stable of quality delicatessens, greengrocers and top-notch eateries. The affluent west London suburb is one of the top commuter hotspots due to its close proximity to central London and offers large properties [...]
London makes up the lion’s share of overcrowded trains July 24, 2013 THE DEPARTMENT for Transport yesterday confirmed what most of the city’s commuters already know: that London-bound trains make up the most overcrowded services in the country. A fifth of passengers, or around 100,000, were forced to stand during the peak of a typical morning rush into the capital in 2012. The DfT said this has fallen [...]
Commuter crush: Seven out of 10 most overcrowded trains in Britain go to London July 24, 2013 The latest figures from the Department for Transport show that of the 10 most overcrowded train services in Britain, seven are London-bound. All of the worst journeys started at or ended in the capital last spring. Services running during spring and autumn of 2012 were monitored by the government, and this top 10 list represents [...]
London risks its prosperity if it fails to join the global rise of the airport city July 21, 2013 THE deadline has now passed for interested parties to lodge their proposals with the Airport Commission for increasing Britain’s airport capacity. Much has been said of the virtues and vices of each idea, but the basic reasons why London so desperately needs this expansion are equally important. Transport and connectivity are inextricably linked to the [...]
Bombardier and Hitachi sign up to build trains July 18, 2013 THE EAST COAST Main Line and the Thameslink route are both in line to run new trains after separate deals were agreed yesterday. The Department for Transport and Hitachi’s European transportation division have agreed a £1.2bn contract to build 30 nine-carriage electric trains for the East Coast route. In a separate deal, train company Southern [...]
The Treasury will gain nothing from property tax hikes June 25, 2013 A S THEY consider a “back-door” mansion tax and another increase in stamp duty in today’s Autumn Statement, George Osborne and Vince Cable should take a quick look at a dramatic drop in tax receipts after the last Budget. In March, stamp duty was hiked to 7 per cent for people buying property over £2m [...]
Battle of the cabs: Hailing competition in London’s transport June 22, 2013 WHEN I lived in Monaco, I had Ferraris. Now, living in London, I have a basic car but barely use it. The hassle of parking and traffic have made me a cab and minicab user, and I’ve recently noticed interesting things going on in their business world. Cabs have had two unique selling points. Unlike [...]