London’s weekly railway news #142

A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…

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London Underground

Night Tube services to start in late July, says mayor BBC News

London Underground has shown off the two new tunnel boring machines that will soon start chewing through South London to dig the Northern line extension. IanVisits

A change to escalator etiquette on the Piccadilly line reveals a good deal about society and individualism Independent <– story about Holborn, illustrated with picture of Piccadilly Circus.

Disused tunnels to be reopened at Knightsbridge tube station IanVisits

London Underground’s ‘lack of procurement skills’ blamed for ill-fated Bombardier contract MayorWatch

TfL given the greenlight for development above future Nine Elms Tube station TfL

Marylebone residents in battle with TfL over Tube noise ‘as loud as a jet’ Standard

A Northern line tube driver took matters into her own hands and kicked off five ‘tissue beggars’ off in one day as police battle to deal with the issue. LBC

London’s new Night Tube staff are getting unionised before 24-hour service launches IBTimes

TfL has named the new line-up of subcontractors it will use to deliver civils work during the London Underground modernisation programme. Construction Enquirer

Boris Johnson today pledged that deep-level Underground trains will get air conditioning as he claimed engineers have “cracked” cooling on the lowest lines. Standard

Crossrail

Plans to build a Crossrail station in North Kensington are being resurrected by London Mayor Boris Johnson. GetWestLondon

Osborne ‘green light’ for HS3 and Crossrail 2 Passenger Transport

Mainline/Overground

Train staff have been tasked with monitoring a South London bridge which has been hit more than 10 times by lorries since September. Sth London Press

London Overground to be extended to Barking Riverside under fast-tracked plans B&D Post

Trains on Britain’s HS2 rail scheme are at risk of derailment and catastrophic track failure, according to previously secret research commissioned by HS2 itself. Telegrapgh

New Gatwick Express fleet heralds start of airport’s rail revolution – with tube-like frequency and doubling of capacity in just two years CILT

Eurostar is considering launching a new service linking London to Bordeaux in under four hours. Standard

Commuters who use London’s Thameslink train services have described it as “inhumane” and “the worst service in the world”. Times Series

Boris greenlights Barking Riverside London Overground extension MayorWatch

Miscellaneous

TfL commits £100m to extending tram network from Wimbledon to Sutton Local Guardian

Am investigation has been launched into claims that British Transport Police officers racially discriminated against an African man and used excessive force during his arrest at St Pancras station. The Voice

Eurostar travel could be affected over Easter after staff vote to strike Standard

TfL appoints Exterion Media to £1bn rail advertising contract The Drum

London Underground turns green for St Patrick’s Day celebrations Irish Post

And finally, Japan tube drivers seek damages after bonuses trimmed over refusal to shave off beards South China Morning Post

The image above is from Oct 2012: Take a trip on a miniature steam railway near Heathrow