A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…
London Underground
After nine-month closure, repaired tube lift ‘a crumbly box of doom’ Islington Tribune
The Piccadilly Tube Line has been hit with major delays after half its trains were taken out of service as wet leaves on the track damaged their wheels. BBC News
24-hour tube gives nearby homes 10% uplift says data consultancy Estate Agent Today
RMT calls for urgent talks with rail bosses as travel chaos continues ChiswickW4
Man arrested over racist ‘P***mon’ stickers found on Tube network Standard
TfL issues £4.8m flooring contract for Piccadilly Line rolling stock RTM
Big screens in Canary Wharf dimmed following complaints Wharf
Crossrail / Elizabeth Line
London’s Night Tube service could be extended to Crossrail MayorWatch
Electricians down tools on Crossrail site Construction Enquirer
Prince William in Derby – future King visits city train-maker Bombardier Derby Telegraph
TfL has spent nearly three-quarters of a billion pounds on land and property for the Crossrail scheme. Development Finance
Crossrail art goes on display IanVisits
Mainline/Overground
Southern rail drivers vote to strike in run up to Christmas CityAM
Southern rail operator launches legal action in attempt to stop strike The Guardian
Thameslink blasted over poor rail service – voted worst performing in the country Bedford Today
Test trains launched on Oxford to London Marylebone link RTM
London mayor pledges to protect Caterham and Tattenham Corner train lines Surrey Mirror
HS2 planners ‘incompetent’ and failing to deal fairly with land owners, CLA says FarmingUK
Miscellaneous
Old Gatwick Express trains could be used to relieve overcrowding in Wales WalesOnline
Rail passengers warned of Christmas disruption ITV
An important public sculpture by Eduardo Paolozzi, located outside Euston station, is at risk of decay because neither the Network Rail nor its leaseholder would take responsibility for it. ArtNet
Bond Street tube station’s private tunnel to Selfridges IanVisits
Explore Tube-style map of Huddersfield pubs Huddersfield Examiner
The Sun unpublished and corrected a story that suggested a train driver crashed his train near Paddington because he had been fasting for Ramadan. iMediaEthics
And finally, the annual Xmas Quiz from London Reconnections
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The image above is from December 2014: A history of Pubs on the London Underground