RMT has kicked off balloting for two sets of London Underground strikes November 2, 2016 Balloting has begun this week for two separate disputes on the London Underground, ahead of possible strike action. Around 4,000 members of station staff are being balloted by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union over the impact on safety from the axing of nearly 900 front line workers alongside the closure of Tube ticket offices. [...]
Waterloo Station is getting a revamp and this is what it will look like November 2, 2016 Waterloo Station is getting a flashy revamp. Lambeth Council have awarded planning permission to a project from London and Continental Railways (LCR), the Department of Transport and Network Rail that will bring the former Eurostar terminal back to life after a decade. There will be 135,000 square feet of office space with high street food and [...]
RMT rally outside parliament against guard-less trains on Southern Rail services November 1, 2016 A national protest against Southern Rail's plans to cut guards on trains took place in London this afternoon, as conductors are set to strike again later this week. Up to 200 opponents of the rail firm's plans organised in Old Palace Yard before making their way to a committee room in parliament. Speakers were due to [...]
Southern Rail owner Govia Thameslink is the only division of Go-Ahead not to be growing revenues November 1, 2016 Government payments to the owner of Southern Rail have been slashed due to the network's under-performance in the wake of its ongoing battle with unions over the role of guards on its trains. Govia Thameslink passenger revenue fell three per cent in the three months to the end of September and the number of passenger journeys fell by 0.5 per cent. [...]
Commuter group sets out legal grounds for judicial review against DfT November 1, 2016 Pressure group the Association of British Commuters (ABC) has sent a letter before action to transport secretary Chris Grayling. That's ahead of bringing a judicial review of the Department for Transport (DfT) for its handling of the Southern Rail franchise. The letter sets out the legal grounds on which the group is applying for permission to [...]
This week’s Southern strikes are set to go ahead with RMT dismissing Govia deadline as “more threats and bullying” October 31, 2016 Govia Thameslink Railway (the parent company of Southern Railway) is playing hardball. It's now told the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union it will rescind its "full and comprehensive offer" if strike action, planned for later this week (4 and 5 November) goes ahead. Essentially, it's the last chance for RMT to accept GTR's previously [...]
Here are all the rail and station closures in London over Christmas October 31, 2016 Brace yourselves, commuters. There have been many headlines about incoming Christmas travel chaos, and now Network Rail has announced major station closures as an extensive programme of rail improvements goes ahead, it looks like there'll be a few more yet… Read more: Could Network Rail have to go cap in hand to the government? Rail [...]
Now Tube workers on the Piccadilly line are voting on strikes October 27, 2016 The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has been busy. Yesterday it announced it was balloting Southern Rail drivers over the long-running dispute on the role of guards, and 3,500 London Underground staff following a security incident at North Greenwich Tube station. The union said the incident had put safety "back at the top of the agenda". Read [...]
Combined Tube and Southern strike action to set up Christmas chaos October 26, 2016 More good news for Christmas commuters: not only has the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union confirmed it will ballot 3,500 London Underground workers for strike action, it’s also balloting drivers on Southern Rail. The ballot will open next Friday on the 4 November and close on the 18 November, mirroring the timetable planned for [...]
House on the Southern Rail network? Here’s how property values have changed over the last three months October 21, 2016 The Southern Rail debacle has been raising the blood pressure of many commuters into the square mile every day. Late to work, late back home has become a common routine and with three more blocks of industrial action, and no end in sight to the current deadlock, the future looks bleak. Read more: Southern rail operator Govia bills Network Rail [...]