London's Pulse
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London Transport News: The Tube, trains, buses, roads and planes
16/7/99
Tube Cash Boost
- London Underground gets 517 UKP million
THE GOVERNMENT has announced a one-off 517 UKP million cash injection for London's tube system.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott made the announcement of the finance boost in Parliament yesterday. The money will 'ensure real improvement for passengers' he promised.
The investment will be used to improve services until the planned part-privatisation in April 2001. The finance shake-up then is expected to realise 7 UKP billion of extra cash.
15/7/99
Twin Bridges for Thames
- High-tech pedestrian walkways link Waterloo and Embankment
LONDONERS are set to be spoilt for choice when crossing the River Thames by foot.
Hot on the heels of a new walkway joining Temple and the South Bank by the New Tate gallery, comes the announcement of two more footbridges further upstream.
Plans for the two high-tech structures are to be revealed today by Transport minister Glenda Jackson. They will stand either side of the Hungerford rail bridge which connects Charing Cross with Waterloo.
The two new symmetrical footbridges are part of an ongoing project to revitalise the area. The project is expected to cost 26 UKP million.
Tourists will be able to amble from Trafalgar Square, over the river via the Charing Cross bridges and then on to Waterloo's new IMAX film theatre or to take a train to the continent by Eurostar. Commuters will be able to skip the one-stop train hop from Charing Cross station to Waterloo East and enjoy the evening breeze as they cross the bridges on foot.
15/7/99
Heathrow is Cracking Up
- Runway cracked wide open in heatwave
HEATHROW had to close a runway after it cracked wide open.
The four metre gap opened up in last week's 28° C heat forcing the closure while emergency repairs were carried out. 24 flights were cancelled and dozens others were late.
Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport with 1,250 flights a day. British Airports Authority, the firm which runs the airport, has launched an inquiry into the incident.
5/7/99
Underground Under Fire
- Tube's funding criticised as section of Northern Line
shut
PRIVATE FUNDING for the London Underground has not materialised, admitted Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott today.
Prescott blames 20 years of Tory underfunding which he claims has left the system a 'total mess'. The government had planned to ditch the public's block subsidy of the 'Tube' as private investment came on tap. The final taxpayer's subsidy was due to be made before the Spring Budget in April next year.
That plan may now be put on ice unless new private 'partnership' funding is secured. Insiders claim that the system could not survive without external cash - be it public or private.
The worrying news over funding comes on the same day that thousands of London's weary commuters cope with the closure of a key section of the Northern Line. The line will be closed for nine weeks on 'The City' branch between Kennington and Moorgate.
The shutdown hits an estimated 75,000 commuters, mainly south Londoners. Replacement bus services are operating between the affected stations.
5/7/99
Slow Down, Urge Police
- London's speeding motorists face high-tech crackdown
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE have urged the capital's drivers to slow down in a bid to cut the number of casualties on London's roads.
The appeal comes during National Road Safety Week. This year police are targeting drivers exceeding the speed limit in 30 mph areas. They claim that eighty per cent of accidents in the city occur in these zones.
While police would prefer the public to slow down voluntarily, they are gearing up to improve their surveillance and enforcement methods. Officers will get more state of the art speed cameras to snoop on the accelerator-happy.
The crackdown does not stop with the public, however, as officers themselves will be under greater scrutiny with 'black boxes' are fitted to patrol cars.
16/5/99
Trams Go on Test
- South London tests city's first trams for fifty years
THE FIRST TRAMS to be seen in the capital for nearly fifty years take to the rails today.
The tram units begin tests on three routes in South London; Wimbledon to Elmers End; Croydon to Beckenham; and Croydon to New Addington. The trams should open to the public in November, with a limited Croydon based service. Full services will start next year.
The 200 UKP million cost of the project has been half-funded by the Government.
1/6/99
New Mainline Station Opens
- State-of-the-art facilities at West Brompton
A-STATE-OF-THE-ART mainline station has opened at West Brompton in Fulham.
The new station has been built by Railtrack in association with Hammersmith and Fulham council. The station will ease pressure on match days of nearby Chelsea Football Club.
It also features up to date facilities for disabled passengers including a lift which is automatically linked to a CCTV system. Platforms are level with trains to ensure easy alighting.
1/6/99
Poems for Tube Announced
- Latest verse for underground includes old and new
THE LATEST poems to feature on the tube have been announced.
They include verse from the last thousand years. Poets featured include Chaucer, Shakespeare and modern writers.
The 12 works will be featured on trains as part of the 'Poems on the Underground' series. These are displayed in advertising spaces left unsold.
26/5/99
Fast Ferry Launched on Thames
- From Docklands to Westminster on new service
A NEW FAST FERRY service is launched by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott today.
The new river bus will enable passengers to travel from Docklands to Westminster for a flat fare of 1.90 UKP. There will be stop off points en route courtesy of a 15 million UKP government investment into new piers.
Whitehorse Ferries, who will run the new service, hope to enjoy a more successful river future than their predecessor Riverbus which ceased operation after running into financial difficulties.
14/5/99
Jubilee Line Opens...Well Almost
- Four new stations enter service on troubled 'Dome line'
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER John Prescott has officially opened four new stations on the Jubilee line.
The troubled extension now takes passengers from Stratford to North Greenwich, before a huge gap - due to open early Winter - leading all the way to Westminster. The four stop Stratford to North Greenwich route takes just ten minutes.
Fears continue to mount that the whole remaining ten mile route into town will not be finished in time for the opening of the Millennium Dome on New Year's Eve 1999. The cost of the project has escalated from 2.1 to 3.3 UKP billion.
Millennium Dome - all about the Greenwich 2000 Experience
4/2/99
Fresh Call For Two New Bridges
- East London needs new links fast say London First
CITY pressure group, London First, has made a fresh call for two new river crossings for the Thames.
LF have argued for years that the area between Blackwall tunnel and the Dartford crossings needs two new bridges or tunnels fast. Robert Gordon Clarke of the group has asked Transport Secretary John Prescott to speed up the decision over the two routes.
Prescott has previously announced that the decision should wait until the election of the new London Mayor next year. But Clarke says the crossings are needed as soon as possible and that any delays will set back the development of important East London areas such as Thamesmead.
Clarke argues that funding is not the prime issue as private money should be easy to secure with the promise of lucrative tolls from the two crossings.
1/2/99
Get on Your Skates
- As Tube chiefs admits Jubilee line may not be ready for Dome, new plan revealed to make Thames frozen highway
TUBE bosses have admitted for the first time that the new Jubilee line extension may not be ready in time for the opening of the Millennium Dome at the end of the year.
Delays have dogged the new route, which was originally set to open last year. The line is a vital component of the Government's anti-car policy for journeys to the Dome.
Help may be at hand for Dome Organisers in the shape of a novel idea to freeze over the River Thames and allow people to whizz down the route on ice. If all goes as planned even the Queen could join the convoy swooshing down the river en route to her opening the Dome on December 31st.
(27/1/99)
New York to London in 45 Minutes
- 7,500 mph HyperSoar plane could be tested within 5 years claims
inventor
ATTENTION New Yorkers, fancy nipping over for lunch at the Savoy Grill in London and returning to your Wall Street desk before the boss has time to check your expense account?
According to Preston Carter, of California's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a new hypersonic plane capable of speeds five times faster than the 1,450 mph Concorde could be tested soon. At such speeds the plane, code named HyperSoar, would slash journey times between New York and London to just 45 minutes, allowing jet set culinary diversions.
"This could revolutionise intercontinental flight. No breakthroughs are needed, just improved technologies" claims Carter.
The plane would travel at 200,000 feet above sea-level, with the 500 passengers on board experiencing spells of weightlessness. Once every two minutes it would dip back into the earth's atmosphere to scoop oxygen to feed its 'scramjet' engines. According to newspaper reports a prototype costing 300 million UKP could be ready in just 5 years says Carter.
Up, Up and Away
- Rapid growth for London's airports as Stansted announces
record winter schedule
LONDON's airports are set for another record winter this year.
Alongside established London's giants Heathrow and Gatwick, the capital's other airports are posting record take-off and landing bookings for the coming season. Stansted will see its winter slots increase from this summer's record mark of 319 slots to 388 a day. The Essex airport is benefiting from fierce competition in the budget sector. Both Stansted and Luton airport have many new routes and services from no-frills airlines such as Easyjet and BA's Go!. New routes are planned to Italy, Denmark, Germany and Ireland from Stansted.
Heathrow is already the world's busiest international airport, while Gatwick serves more destinations than any other. Planners have long hoped for the day when the region's other airports would take the strain off the big two. The shift to cheap flights finally seems to be delivering this long held desire. (2/11/98)
Rail crime falls as tube sex attacks rise
THE overall level of crime on the region's rail and tube network has fallen by 7 and 1 per cent respectively. Unfortunately the number of reported sex assaults on the tube has increased by 30 per cent according to British Transport Police figures released today. (4/8/98)
Soho no go
PLANS to exclude vehicles from key ares of London's Soho district have been revealed. Frith Street and Old Compton Street will be among the roads closed off in the new plan. The 100 000 UKP cost of the project will have to be met by local businesses. (23/7/98)
New Hovercraft Service For Thames
- Plans for fast commuting along river corridor
COMMUTERS could soon be hurtling down the Thames at near motorway speeds aboard a new fleet of hovercraft.
Passengers would be able to travel into town from as far afield as Kent and Essex aboard the flying boats. Southend Council has invited proposals from two companies interested in bidding for the Thames scheme.
The hovercraft was invented by Sir Christopher Cockerill and is currently used on the busy Dover-Calais Channel crossing route. Despite the arrival of the Channel Tunnel, the operator on that route, Hoverspeed, still achieves the fastest crossing available (30 mins compared to Eurotunnel's 35 mins).
Details of the new scheme remain under wraps but the plans are bound to meet with the approval of transport guru, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Earlier this week Prescott announced new measures aimed at drastically reducing car use in the region. (22/7/98)
City Car Ban "Elitist and Unfair"
Critics round on Corporation's traffic plans
THE Corporation of London, the rotten borough that runs the City, has come under fire for two new traffic calming proposals.
Option One is for car drivers to pay steep toll just to enter the City of London's road system. Already surrounded by roadblocks following terrorist attacks of recent years, the City is ideally placed to charge commuters for road use say the schemes proponents. The fee for entry into the Square Mile would be 3 UK pounds.
Option Two is for a complete ban on private car use in the City.
Chauffeur-driven cars and limousine services could escape the ban and the charge. Motoring organisation the RAC have condemned both plans as "elitist and unfair".
LondonNet Comment - Stop City Highway Robbery
EVEN the corrupt crowd who ran Stalinist Russia would have been hard pressed to invent a traffic scheme as blatantly elitist as the new plan dreamed up by the Corporation of London
In Soviet Moscow, the work of the apparatchik was deemed too important to be slowed down by mere mortal traffic hold ups so, in their zippy Zil limousines, party busy bodies sped past proletarian pile ups on specially created high speed lanes.
At least the proles of Moscow didn't have to pay for the privilege of watching their masters lord it over them, unlike London's ordinary drivers, who are now set to be charged UKP3 a time for daring to drive on Corporation of London roads. Either that or they could be banned altogether.
The Corporation, the undemocratic authority for London's financial Square Mile, bleats that 75% of traffic on its streets is merely passing through and so is of no direct benefit. For City leaders to play the anti-free trade card is hypocrisy of the highest order. The Square Mile exists only because it represents the interests of the international trading system so is hardly in a position to start imposing import controls on its own cosseted patch.
So what if traffic travels through. That's how roads work, dummies. Funnily enough, 99.9% of the traffic on the bit of the road outside my house doesn't stop to buy shares in dodgy Asian construction projects either, and I haven't set up my own toll system. Yet. (7/7/98)
Blair Opens Heathrow Express Link
- London Paddington to airport in fifteen minutes
- Taxis' protest overshadows opening
PRIME MINISTER Tony Blair has officially opened the Heathrow to Paddington Express rail link.
The 450 UKP million link makes Europe's busiest airport a lot more accessible to Londoners, business travellers and tourists alike. For ten pounds, passengers will travel at speeds up to 100 mph along the 17 mile link, arriving at the airport in just fifteen minutes..
The service operates every fifteen minutes and is expected to attract up to 6 million passengers a year. Up to now the choice has between a 45 minute tube journey or using congested roads by taxi or air-bus.
Rival London airport Gatwick has had a fast rail link for two decades. New kid on the block, Stanstead, had an express link ready and waiting for its revamp several years ago.
Tuesday's opening was somewhat overshadowed by a large demonstration by London taxi drivers. They are unhappy with vehicle access to Paddington station and competition from the fast link.
Billion Pound Boost For Tube
Improvement package for Underground announced
A NEW proposal to improve London Underground has been announced. Named the "Tube 2000 Programme" the scheme will keep the system running until private contractors take over the revamped service.
Stations, trains and escalators are all set for improvements in the ambitious one billion UKP plan. However critics argue that only 350 million UKP is actually new cash.
Other projects will have to wait until the Government finds private sector partners to inject extra cash. The Northern Line could see further delays to its urgently needed spruce-up. The line has many of the oldest trains on the system and stations in desperate need of repair.
Eurostar Beefs Up Security
Fans face alcohol bans on Paris route
FOOTBALL fans travelling to the continent by Eurostar for the World Cup face strict alcohol controls.
Fans are not allowed to take alcohol on board, and face a restricted service from the train's buffet.
"It has been trouble free, colourful and good natured" said Eurostar's Roger Harrison, who travelled alongside fans on the London Paris route.
Meanwhile, last night's spectacular tournament opening celebrations in Paris came to halt last night as riot police reacted to trouble across the city. Many paying-spectators were annoyed that they had no view of the procession. (11/6/98)
Re-name tube stations say locals
LondonNet comment
TUBE stations across the capital could be renamed if residents get their way.
Campaigning locals have already demanded a change in Kilburn (Northwest London) to Mapesbury. Now residents in Bankside (Central London) want the new Jubilee station in their area to be called The Cut not Southwark as already planned. There could be commercial benefits for London Transport, an Australian brewer wants to rename the Oval (South London) to the Fosters Oval.
London Transport say the changes would cost millions and cause confusion. They would have to change existing maps and literature across the system. (11/6/98)
LondonNet comment: We like the idea of citizens having the chance to participate in important decisions in their local areas. Sadly, however, the proposed new names do not accurately describe their areas. The Cut and Mapesbury are names used by (real) estate agents "selling up" otherwise troublesome areas. They are neither names that are well known to many nor are they likely to conjure up a sense of civic pride and history.
Eurostar: Cracks Begin To Show
- Glass roof at Waterloo sealed off for inspection
A DETAILED inspection of the roof at Waterloo International - the London station serving Eurostar - is underway after cracks were discovered in the glass panelling.
Tarpaulins have been hung beneath the underside of the roof to protect passengers and staff below.
Reports in the building press claim that the investigation is looking into damage caused during maintenance work or defects in the glass itself.
Eurostar say they are waiting for the outcome of the investigation before they make any comment.
Heathrow Hoo-Hah
- Terminal Five Inquiry enters fourth year
The long running planning Inquiry for Terminal Five, Heathrow enters its fourth year on Saturday.
The bitter battle between air-chiefs and environmentalists shows no sign of easing off as Friends of The Earth accused Tony Blair's Government of cosying up to the British Airport Authority and British Airways.
BAA has said for years that faced with exploding passenger demand for the London airport, already the world's busiest, there is no alternative but to build a fifth terminal. Business leaders have said the delay is harming British competitiveness.
Regent Street Set to Walk
Into Future
- Trams ready to replace cars on famous old road
WALKING the streets of central London could be made easier if a new plan to pedestrianise Regent Street is given the go ahead.
Currently jammed with traffic for most of the day and night, Regent Street would be transformed into a sidewalk surfer's seventh heaven under the scheme, which envisages the famous old thoroughfare being paved over from Piccadilly Circus to All Saints Church.
There would also be a tram service running the length of the paved area under plans unveiled today. The pedestrianisation project is as yet in its early stages but follows other plans to pave over the entire length of nearby Oxford Street.
Less radical plans to change Regent Street into a more walker friendly road include closing off side roads which lead into it or doubling the width of the current pavement. All schemes have yet to win the approval of both Westminster Council and the police.
Heathrow Flies High for Food
- London airport wins Ronay praise
RESTAURANTS at London's biggest airport have been given the seal of approval by veteran food critic Egon Ronay, it has been revealed. Ronay's new guide to airport food in Britain covers seven of the country's busiest hubs including London's other main gateway, Gatwick, but it is Heathrow which flies highest according to Ronay.
But it isn't all good news for international travellers to the UK. Ronay is known as a stern critic of the nation's eateries and was quick to slam the often "dry and tasteless" fare which doubles for food in many airport establishments.
Thames gets Transport Boost
- New boats and piers for London
TRAVELLERS on the Thames have been handed a boost with the news that a new beefed up river service has been given the go ahead.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, whose baby the project is, said that the new UKP21 million scheme would grow from a mainly tourist facility into a quasi-commuter service within a few years. New piers, starting with one at the newly revamped Globe Theatre on the south bank, will be built for a river bus service which will ferry passengers from central London to the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, south east London.
New boats will also be used to ship punters back and forth across the river to serve London's "string of pearls" of cultural goodies like the Tate Gallery, South Bank arts complex and the Houses of Parliament which hug both banks of Old Father Thames.
New Britain, New Welcome
- Blair plans gateway monuments
- But no welcome for Kosovans
LONDON's main entry points into the UK are set to be dolled up under a new scheme unveiled by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Heathrow airport and Waterloo station are both likely to get a makeover in Cool Britannia style with huge modern sculptures and multi media exhibits on show set to welcome visitors to London and the rest of Britain. Some of the ideas for welcome monuments are to go on show on Thursday as part of the Powerhouse: UK exhibition at London's Horseguards Parade.
Meanwhile, there has been no cosy Blairite welcome for 56 refugees from the troubled region of Kosovo in Yugoslavia. Home secretary Jack Straw has decreed that the Kosovans be expelled within the next few days, despite their claim for political asylum. Italy is the likely destination for the latest victims of Britain's continued hard hearted approach to asylum seekers.
New Tube for Heathrow
- Go-Ahead for Terminal Five Link
Heathrow airport's owners BAA
have announced that a tube extension for the new Terminal Five
has been given the go-ahead.
The 70 million UK Pounds project will be jointly funded by BAA and London Transport. The plans involve expanding the "Heathrow Loop" at the airport and a new station for Terminal Five. All the stations are on the Piccadilly Line, which heads East to London's West End and The City.
For many jet lagged passengers who are already confused by the existing choice of stations (Terminals 1,2 ,3 or Terminal 4), the new one will only add to their misery. On the bright side, the fast new over-ground Heathrow express link from London's Paddington station will be open long before the new tube link sees the light of day.
Railtrack Set for Eurostar
Bid
Chunnel project could be saved
by rail authority
RAILTRACK are rumoured to be considering making an offer for the troubled channel tunnel rail link, it has emerged.
Under the idea being floated in financial circles, Britain's track authority would take over the building and running of the planned fast track scheme between London and the tunnel from London Continental Railways.
The news would make interesting reading for Transport Minister John Prescott who announced Wednesday that he had turned down LCR's request for a further 1.2 billion UK pounds of public money.
The French completed their fast link to Paris before the chunnel was finished. Planning and investment difficulties have delayed the London fast link to a predicted completion date well into the new millennium, maybe 2006 or beyond.
Death crash train company's tube bid
Great Western operators going underground
First Group, owners of Great Western Railways are set to make
a bid for part of London Underground when the system comes up
for sale to the private sector. The Bristol based company also
run Britain's largest bus service
and own Bristol Airport.
They hit the headlines last year when one of their Great Western trains crashed in West London leaving seven passengers dead and dozens injured. Fortunately for them, a senior company executive was on board the most seriously damaged carriage and was able to heroically rescue many travellers.
On the buses - Londoners climb aboard
Good news for public transport protagonists in the Capital, bus use has risen by 8 per cent over the past decade. Passenger traffic on buses elsewhere in the country dropped by 31 per cent over the same period.
Tube sell off announced
THE Government has announced the part privatisation of London Underground , the company who own and run the tube system in the capital.
The tube's tracks, tunnels and stations will be leased to private companies, with a public company retaining control of train services. The leases will run for up to 30 years.
Labour promised not to carry out a wholesale privatisation of London Underground in it's election manifesto last year. The move is being criticised by some passenger groups, but the Government believes that by retaining public control of the services themselves standards can be maintained and improved.
The experience of mainline rail privatisation, undertaken by the Tory Government in the death throes of their stint in office, has been one of poor timekeeping and cancellations. This despite early improvements in the services.
Eurostar's Terminal Failure
Ashford fails to take the strain
CHANNEL tunnel passenger rail operator Eurostar have come under fire from council chiefs for failing to promote a key international station.
Ashford International Station in Kent was meant to take the
strain off congested Waterloo, but so far has accounted for less
than 10 per cent of traffic. Local councillors
had hoped the project would generate a huge jobs boost for the
local economy but this has yet to materialise. They want Eurostar
to increase spending on advertising for the Ashford link.
Orbital rail link planned
MEANWHILE rail chiefs are proposing a new outer London orbital rail link to speed up traffic by-passing the capital. The new line would carry freight to the North and West of the UK.
Lift Off for Heathrow Link
CENTRAL London's new high speed rail link to Heathrow airport underwent more tests this week ahead of its launch this summer. Lucky passengers got to travel free during the short trial.
Normally travellers through Heathrow have to endure either a tortuous cab ride on the packed M4 motorway or brace themselves for a close on 45 minute Tube journey if they want to get to the centre of town.
But the new £440 rail link is set to boast a 15 minute journey time from the world's busiest international airport to Paddington station near the middle of central London.
Insiders on the team developing the link said that tests went ahead without problems and a June opening date is now being predicted.