Chris Grayling: All rail commuters will be able to use Oyster-style cards by 2018 December 6, 2016 Chris Grayling's announcement on splitting up Network Rail's dominance over track maintenance has caused a stir, but it's not the only change the transport secretary has unveiled. Rail commuters will be able to use an Oyster-style pay-as-you-go smart card to travel anywhere in the country by the end of 2018. Writing in the Telegraph, Grayling said: "We [...]
Southern rail strikes by drivers and conductors cause fresh travel disruption for long-suffering commuters December 6, 2016 London Underground passengers might have got some respite after today's Tube strikes were called off yesterday, but there was no such joy for Southern rail commuters. They're facing yet more delays today as the latest three-day strike got under way: with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walking out at midnight over the ongoing [...]
Southern Rail and Tube strikes: Everything you need to know December 4, 2016 Industrial action across key routes into London are set to bring misery for commuters heading to the capital this week and beyond. Drivers on the Piccadilly, Hammersmith and City and Circle London Underground lines will strike from Tuesday evening onwards, while conductors on Southern trains will walkout on the same day. Here's what you need [...]
Chris Grayling set to strip Network Rail of its dominance over rail maintenance December 3, 2016 Chris Grayling is set to to hand over power of Britain's train tracks to operators in a speech next week. The transport secretary wants take away the state-owned Network Rail's sole control of the nation's rail infrastructure and share it with private firms in what would mark a huge change in how Britain's rail network [...]
Network Rail pays £316m in penalties for planned engineering works over the last year December 2, 2016 Network Rail has revealed which rail companies benefit the most from penalty payments for planned engineering works. And London's commuters may be shocked to hear the name that isn't at the top… No, neither Southern nor parent company Govia top the pile of operators which receive handouts from the publicly funded body in charge of Britain's rail infrastructure. [...]
Tube ticket offices were closed prematurely but don’t need to be reopened, says independent review by London TravelWatch December 2, 2016 A review into the impact of Tube ticket office closures has found offices were shut prematurely. It doesn't though, call for the reopening of ticket offices. The independent review by travel watchdog London TravelWatch was commissioned by mayor Sadiq Khan after Tube ticket offices were closed under his predecessor Boris Johnson's tenure. The decision did not [...]
Train fare rises 2017: Here’s how much train ticket prices are going up next year December 2, 2016 Brace yourselves commuters, for train fares are set to go up next year, rail industry leaders have confirmed. On average, train fares will increase by 2.3 per cent (and that covers all national rail fares from 2 January 2017). Firms can increase regulated fares – including season tickets – each year by no more than [...]
Southern rail commuters offered a Christmas windfall December 2, 2016 Over 84,000 Southern rail commuters will be offered a Christmas windfall following months of disruption. Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, and the government are attempted to appease long-suffering passengers on the beleaguered line. Read more: Govia launches legal action against Aslef union to stop industrial action Season ticket holders on Southern will be able [...]
Network Rail rakes in £1.4m from Victoria Station toilet as Southern strikes roll on December 2, 2016 The delays and disputes are bad enough. Now, City A.M. has found out that Network Rail is making 67 per cent more on its toilet in Victoria due to the Southern strikes. Network Rail owns the loos in Victoria station, which hosts the Southern train service. This year, Network Rail’s takings at the toilet have [...]
Govia launches legal action against Aslef union to stop industrial action on Southern rail December 1, 2016 Govia Thameslink Railway, the parent company of Southern Rail, has launched legal action against Aslef union to stop industrial action. The union has planned strikes on the Southern Rail line in the days before Christmas, and will also stage a walk out in January next year. In the vote, the results of which were announced on [...]