Journalist Andrew Gilligan has long argued for a slower, cheaper rail line to be built
The prospects for survival of the high-speed rail line HS2 look slimmer after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, appointed an arch-critic as transport adviser.
The journalist Andrew Gilligan, who was cycling tsar in Johnson’s London mayoralty, has long opposed what he says is a “disastrous scheme”, arguing for a slower, cheaper line to be built instead.
Continue reading...Weather may spark storms, travel delays, and power cuts as temperatures head towards 39C
Britain could bake under record-breaking heat as temperatures could potentially climb to 39C on Thursday.
The scorching conditions may spark thunderstorms which could trigger travel delays, flash flooding, and power cuts.
Continue reading...Passengers treated for coughing and shortness of breath at Oxford Circus station
Police are looking for two male suspects after gas was released in a tube train carriage in central London.
A number of people were treated at the scene by paramedics at Oxford Circus station for coughing and lack of breath.
Continue reading...Services began again at 7.10pm but airport warns that there may be further delays
Gatwick airport suspended all inbound and outbound flights for around two hours on Wednesday due to an “air traffic control system issue”.
Eight flights into Gatwick, in West Sussex, were cancelled and 26 diverted before operations resumed at 7.10pm and passengers were warned there would be further delays into the evening, with the airport advising them to check with their airlines.
Continue reading...Public accounts committee says plan at mercy of spending review delayed by Brexit
A £2bn project to open a road tunnel beneath the Stonehenge world heritage site in 2026 is being put at risk by uncertainty over how it will be financed, MPs have warned.
Ministers have claimed the scheme is affordable, deliverable and will improve Stonehenge by taking the sight and sound of lorries and cars away from the ancient monument and reducing traffic congestion.
Continue reading...Rail firm privately backtracks on vow to MPs that fleet would be retired by end of year
Northern rail promised MPs last week its fleet of hated “buses-on-rails” would be retired by the end of the year, but it has emerged the firm had already privately warned the transport secretary it might have to keep some of them in service well into 2020.
Rob Warnes, the rail firm’s network planning director, told the all-party parliamentary group (AAPG) on rail in the north that all of its antiquated fleet of Pacers would be gone by the end of the year, according to Ian Mearns, the Labour MP who chairs the AAPG.
Continue reading...Exclusive: FoI request reveals proposal was at advanced stage after lobbying by Tottenham Hotspur football club
The public will be given a say on controversial plans to rename a train station near Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium after it was revealed the proposal was at an advanced stage after intensive lobbying by the club.
The Guardian reported in March that White Hart Lane station was to be rebranded after the football club lobbied the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL). The transport body had been insisting the club should pay more than £14.7m for the privilege, in the face of vigorous resistance from Spurs.
Continue reading...CBI among industry groups to sign open letter amid concerns over project’s future
Business leaders are calling on the next prime minister to commit to completing HS2, adding that if they do not they risk blocking future investment in the north.
In an open letter, more than 20 figures from industry and commerce have called for the next Tory leader to back the project in full.
It comes amid speculation that the next prime minister – with Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson now the final two MPs vying for the position – could decide to axe the second phase of the project due to concerns over spiralling costs.
Johnson is reported to have asked a former boss of the £56bn scheme to carry out a review if he is made prime minister, while Hunt has said HS2 is “absolutely vital” and he would not scrap the project in its entirety.
Signatures of the letter include the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and London First, the BBC reports.
Continue reading...Ride-hailing company hopes to expand to other London boroughs if local trial goes well
Uber is to launch its electric bike hire scheme in the UK, trialling Jump bikes in London through its app.
The global ride-hailing firm will be battling with Lime for the e-bike market, after the retreat of dockless bicycle firms from the UK.
Continue reading...Electric scooters could be on roads by June, leaving UK last major European country not to have approved use
Germany’s upper house of parliament is due to vote on Friday on whether to allow electric scooters on to the country’s roads, following a feverish debate spanning everything from road safety to air quality.
The transport minister is behind the plan, but he has faced a barrage of protests from lobby groups, representing both car drivers and bike riders, who have warned of chaos and accidents if the so-called e-scooters – known locally as e-rollers – are allowed.
Continue reading...Britain’s net zero by 2050 goal may have impact on whether existing policies are reassessed
Britain’s move to “net zero” carbon and the declaration of a climate emergency in parliament will be “given careful consideration” in deciding whether to grant a review of Heathrow airport’s expansion, the government has said.
The new approach falls well short of any commitment to review Heathrow’s expansion, but means the decision on whether to grant campaigners’ request for a review will include the net zero target and the climate emergency among its criteria.
Continue reading...Climate protesters warn they will escalate action after blockading capital’s landmarks
Climate change protesters, who police say have caused “serious disruption” affecting half a million people in London over the past two days, have said they are planning to escalate their protests to disrupt rail and tube lines.
Thousands or people have taken part in the civil disobedience protests, blockading four landmarks in the capital in an attempt to force the government to take action on the escalating climate crisis.
Continue reading...Almost 1,000 people a year in London are hospitalised with asthma caused by pollution
London is preparing to enforce “world-leading” vehicle pollution restrictions from Monday as the capital attempts to clean up the toxic air blamed for thousands of premature deaths.
The ultra-low emission zone, or Ulez, will launch at one minute past midnight, imposing a £12.50-a-day charge to drive into central London in all but the cleanest cars and vans.
Continue reading...I enjoyed Ian Jack’s article on the branding of railway station names (From Singer to IBM, branding the railways is nothing new, 23 March). He might also have mentioned Chiltern Railways’ renaming of Bicester Town station, on the opening of the Oxford to Marylebone service, as Bicester Village in recognition of its proximity to the shopping outlet of the same name. Locals were furious, but it was canny, ensuring trains were well used throughout the day.
Nick Chadwick
Oxford
• I have often wondered why some bus stops are named after stores and others not. On the number 94 route, which goes down Oxford Street and Regent Street in London, there are stops called Selfridges and Hamley’s Toy Store. Do these pay Transport for London for this exposure?
Edward Smith
London
Rail Delivery Group says lessons have been learned following last summer’s chaotic timetable overhaul
Passengers face “teething problems” on the rail network when new timetables are introduced in May, the organisation that represents the industry has warned. However, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said that the introduction of more than 1,000 extra services will help to tackle overcrowding.
Last May there was chaos when Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) – the parent company of Southern Rail, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern – and Northern overhauled their timetables with the aim of laying on hundreds of extra trains a day.
Continue reading...Concorde, whose maiden flight was 50 years ago this month, was the world’s first supersonic passenger plane. Its was taken out of service in 2003, but its delta-wing design and drooping nose cone still make it instantly recognisable even to people who have never seen one in person
Continue reading...Passengers describe ‘huge bang’ followed by evacuation of Vienna-bound flight
Flights were temporarily suspended at Stansted airport after an aborted takeoff by a Vienna-bound plane on Friday evening.
A spokesman for the Essex airport said the incident had happened shortly after 8pm and that all passengers had been safely evacuated. The runway was reopened around three hours later.
Continue reading...Alicante airport is likely to be worst affected, says consumer group Which?
British tourists to Spain could face airport queues of five hours or more after a no-deal Brexit, according to analysis by Which?, and the consumer group suggests travellers should take food, water and even nappies to survive prolonged delays.
Alicante airport, which serves Benidorm and other Costa Blanca resorts, is likely to be the worst-affected airport, and Which? said visitors to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Málaga were also facing “life in the slow lane”.
Continue reading...Buildup of freight at Channel tunnel might affect services into capital, operator warns
Rail passengers commuting into London could have services disrupted by freight trains if a no-deal Brexit causes logjams at the Channel tunnel, it has emerged.
Go-Ahead, the company behind the rail operator Southeastern, said it was working with the government to try to ensure commuters were not affected.
Continue reading...Police given powers to stop and search and use warrant to access drone electronic data
Flying drones will be illegal within five kilometres (3.1 miles) of airports after ministers decided to widen the no-fly zone to try to prevent a repeat of the chaos at Gatwick.
The enlarged zone will come into force from 19 March ahead of new drone legislation, which will give police new powers to stop and search those they believe are misusing the devices and a power to access electronic data stored on a drone with a warrant.
Continue reading...