A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…
London Underground
Clapham Junction will be connected to the Northern line, according to London Assembly member Richard Tracey. Local Guardian
Gardeners from West Six Garden Centre have created a display of shrubs at the entrance to Ravenscourt Park Tube station. Fulham Chronicle
The Northern line upgrade will be completed next summer, six months ahead of schedule, transport chiefs have announced. Evening Standard
An art event is taking place in the disused Aldwych tube station later this year. IanVisits
Crossrail
Four companies have been named as bidders to run the Crossrail concession when the service goes live. Rail News
Crossrail is already starting to appear on rail maps. IanVisits
The government is to allocate funding for the preliminary planning stages for Crossrail 2 Independent – BBC News
In contrast to the impressive design work that’s going into the Crossrail stations themselves, the surface-level buildings that will be sprouting up above ground continue to be uninspiring. Londonist
Design changes have generated savings of 15% on Crossrail’s Whitechapel station project, according to the project team. New Civil Engineer
Mainline/Overground
A replica of a Heathrow Express train made entirely from cake has been unveiled to mark the 15th anniversary of the airport service. Going Underground
DLR
After a lengthy campaign, cyclists will be able to take their bicycles on Docklands Light Railway trains during off peak times for a six-month trial period starting next week. East London Lines
Miscellaneous
A “red plaque” has been shown off at Victoria Coach Station to mark the heritage of the transport location. Leon Daniels
Old Oak Common, just north of Wormwood Scrubs could get a £10 billion office complex if/when HS2 is approved. Evening Standard
A Daventry mum and daughter are planning a charity walk along a London Underground line in aid of Heart Research UK. Northampton Chronicle
New York’s former transport boss has said that the right way to handle Tube strikes is to make them illegal — and put militant union bosses in jail. Evening Standard
Tube Station, a limited edition print by English artist Cyril Edward Power in 1932is being sold at auction. Paul Fraser Collectibles
Hundreds of Transport for London staff earned more than £100,000 in the last year, the organisation’s accounts have revealed. BBC News
Aldwych tube station turned into swimming pool — in an architectural fantasy. RIBA
Boris Johnson claimed to have won a ‘unprecedented’ transport settlement in the UK Government’s latest spending announcement. Mayor Watch
Thanks for these roundups. Very useful.