Heathrow calls on government to scrap air passenger duty on domestic flights to level the playing field with Europe in plan for Brexit Britain September 20, 2017 Heathrow has today called for the abolition of air passenger duty (APD) on domestic flights, and improved connections to the capital, in a letter to the chancellor on ways to boost Brexit Britain. The airport said abolishing the tax would level the playing field with Europe. Read more: MPs launch wide-ranging inquiry looking at impact [...]
Transport for London pledges no compulsory redundancies in London Overground overhaul of ticket offices as strike threat looms | City A.M. September 18, 2017 Transport for London (TfL) and Arriva Rail London (ARL) said today that “there will not be a need for compulsory redundancies” in plans to overhaul the London Overground, as unions warned ticket office closures could lead to industrial action. ARL will begin meeting with staff and unions to discuss proposals to improve customer service, including [...]
Southern rail: Transport secretary accuses Labour of stoking up unrest on the railways July 4, 2017 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has accused senior Labour figures of stirring up unrest at Southern rail and encouraging further industrial action on the beleaguered network. Speaking at a House of Commons debate yesterday to discuss the publication of a report into the train operator’s performance by Chris Gibb, a non-executive director at Network Rail, Grayling [...]
Government will pay long-suffering Southern rail passengers over £8m but many more could still claim compensation March 21, 2017 The government will pay out at least £8.85m in compensation to Southern rail annual season ticket holders due to months of disruption suffered by passengers. However, there have only been 36,979 claims so far from passengers for the special scheme to refund a month’s travel; under half of the number entitled to claim the compensation, [...]
Southern rail will agree to fresh talks with the RMT if the union suspends all strike action March 20, 2017 Southern owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has extended an olive branch to the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. Well, sort of. The train company has offered to meet the RMT for fresh face-to-face talks if the union suspends industrial action in its year-long dispute over changes to the role of the guard. Read more: Southern [...]
Transport for London (TfL) has updated its walking Tube maps to cover Zone 3 and National Rail stations March 17, 2017 Transport for London's (TfL) walking maps have just become even handier. The indispensable guides to walking times and steps between stations have been expanded and now encompass Zone 3 and National Rail stations. So they're the ideal tools for when a Tube strike is on the horizon and you need to scope out other options. Read [...]
Southern rail strike saga continues: The RMT union announces a new 24-hour walkout for 4 April March 17, 2017 The RMT union has announced another 24-hour strike on Southern rail for Tuesday 4 April, in a row over the role of conductors. Mick Cash, RMT's general secretary, said: “RMT members on Southern Rail have been fighting for safety and access for nearly a year now and it is disgraceful that we have continued to be carved [...]
The RMT slams Aslef’s fresh agreement with Southern rail as “the old deal in a new envelope” March 16, 2017 Secretive talks to reach a new agreement over the Southern rail strikes came to fruition yesterday, but the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union hasn't been won over. Train drivers' union Aslef and Southern's parent firm Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) had been holding fresh talks in London after a previous agreement was dashed when members turned [...]
Southern Rail and Aslef have agreed to a fresh deal to end strikes, but union members could still reject it March 15, 2017 Southern Rail and train drivers' union Aslef have agreed to a fresh deal, finally resolving their row over driver-only trains. However, it's not quite over yet. Aslef members still need to vote on the new terms, and the result will be announced 3 April. The union's boss is recommending members accept the deal. Mick Whelan, general secretary of [...]
Night Tube drivers vote for strike action over a “block on career progression” March 14, 2017 Night Tube drivers have voted to strike over a "block on career progression", the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced today. The union announced it was holding a ballot over the issue last month, as did train drivers' union Aslef. The result of Aslef's ballot will be announced on Thursday. Read more: A new Night [...]