London’s weekly railway news #142
A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…
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
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The image above is from Oct 2012: Take a trip on a miniature steam railway near Heathrow
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