UK power cut: Ofgem demand blackout explanation as disruption continues August 10, 2019 The UK’s energy watchdog Ofgem has demanded answers from the National Grid after a power outage on Friday plunged nearly 1m people into darkness. People from various areas across England and Wales were affected in the bizarre incident that occurred around 5pm on Friday as commuters tried to get home from work. Traffic lights, train [...]
Scrapped: Government cancels bidding for Southeastern rail franchise as fresh search for operator begins August 7, 2019 The government has faced accusations of running Britain’s railways “on the hoof” after it scrapped the bidding process for the Southeastern rail franchise, making it the latest botched procurement by the Department for Transport (DfT). Officials will now have until 1 April 2020 to choose the next franchise operator. Go-Ahead Group, which currently operates the [...]
Government loses bid to throw out legal challenges against franchise snubs August 4, 2019 The government has lost a bid to strike out legal challenges from three rail firms that are contesting its handling of controversial franchise bids. Last week The High Court gave Virgin, Stagecoach and Arriva Trains the green light to challenge former transport secretary Chris Grayling’s decision to ban them from bidding for the East Midlands, [...]
Union ballots staff over ‘deeply damaging’ nationwide rail strike June 28, 2019 Train drivers are set to vote on the first nationwide rail strike in a generation as union bosses lashed out against the government over pension arrangements. Read more: Londoners brace for summer Tube strike The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will ballot thousands of members on whether to hold national industrial action over fears [...]
Tube drivers get ear defenders for ‘screeching’ Underground lines June 27, 2019 Transport for London (TfL) has offered Tube drivers ear defenders to protect them against high levels of noise from new sections of track, after their union threatened a strike. Drivers on the Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Piccadilly, Bakerloo and Northern Lines will receive the mufflers to cope with noise levels that reportedly reach up to 109.5 [...]
Tube delays: Severe delays hit commuters on two Tube lines June 26, 2019 Commuters faced a morning of disruption today as Tube delays struck two key Underground lines. Read more: Tube delays strike Northern Line amid rail flooding cancellations Severe delays hit the Circle Line clockwise route after a faulty train at Latimer Road earlier this morning. The Circle Line is running a good service anti-clockwise, however, But [...]
Tube delays: Severe delays hit Northern Line as train routes flooded June 25, 2019 Commuters faced a miserable commute to work this morning as the Tube’s Northern Line was hit with severe delays. Read more: Londoners brace for summer Tube strike chaos Severe delays hit commuters between Morden and Camden Town northbound via the Northern Line’s Bank branch this morning following a fire alert at Morden. That had a [...]
Victoria station evacuated over ‘faulty’ fire alert: June 24, 2019 A fire alert at Victoria station caused rush hour misery for commuters this morning as authorities evacuated the major London travel hub. Passengers struggled to get to work as the Victoria Line, Circle Line and District Line did not stop at the station after the incident, which took place around 7am. Read more: Londoners brace [...]
Londoners brace for summer Tube strike chaos June 24, 2019 Londoners are braced for misery as the RMT rail union prepares to ballot its members on a summer Tube strike on Wednesday. The RMT claims it is being hurt by staff job cuts and privatisation under Transport for London’s (TfL) cost-cutting programme, which has seen it slash back office costs by about 30 per cent [...]
There’s a first time for everything… including marrying your friends June 21, 2019 Over the years I’ve ticked off most of the public speaking formats. I’ve enjoyed after dinner speeches, panel discussions, debates and events of all sizes. Last week, I ticked off another category of performance by conducting my friends’ wedding. The only other time I’d been as surprised at a suggestion was when the proprietors of [...]