A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…
Underneath the Northern Line at Finchley
London Underground
O2 customers will be able to access free WiFi services on the London Underground from 22 July. V3
The contract to upgrade Bank tube station has been awarded. TfL press release – Background
Four teams in for £600m Battersea Northern Line extension Building
TfL appears to have reversed its opposition to selling off Tube station names. Mayor Watch
Crossrail
A plan for an extra Islington stop — at Essex Road — on the Crossrail 2 project has gone before the Islington Council. Islington Gazette
One of two routes under consideration for Crossrail 2 would create the potential for trains from Cambridge to run direct to central London. Cambridge News
‘Luxury flats’ for Centre Point as it gets a Crossrail bounce Homes & Property
A new long-stay car park looks set to be built in a bid to alleviate the impact of Crossrail on traders in Shenfield. This is Total Essex
British Land bought the majority of a Paddington office complex in a bet that Crossrail will boost real estate prices. Reuters
Mainline/Overground
Holborn and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson lashed out at the government for increasing the HS2 railway budget by £10billion at a protest meeting against the plans yesterday. Ham & High
When will an international train stop at “Stratford International”? Lords of the Blog
A six-year campaign has come to a successful close following the Barking to Gospel Oak electrification announcement, but there are still questions to be answered. Waltham Forest Guardian
Southern Rail has been forced to pull down and rebuild part of a train servicing depot at Streatham Hill put up without planning permission. Local Guardian
South Tottenham Railway Station could be upgraded under plans to improve its disabled access. HaringeyIndependent
Bromley North station was evacuated after an unexploded WW2 bomb was found on a nearby building site. News Shopper
More details are emerging of how and when Transport for London (TfL) is going to take over some of Greater Anglia services. BBC News
Miscellaneous
Floral displays to celebrate the Underground’s 150th anniversary in Berkhamsted and also in Ilford.
It has been 10 years since London commuters began using travel smartcards – Oyster cards. BBC News
It’s 80 years since the London Passenger Transport Board took over from privately-owned rail and road operators on 1 July 1933. Railnews
Thomas Cook’s European Rail timetable reaches end of the line – After 140 years, number 1,526 will be the last. The Independent
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said he refuses to buy an Oyster card in case it is used to track his movements. BBC News
How would the tube map look like after TfL’s latest land grab? DiamondGeezer
London Mayor Boris Johnson hints at potential deal to bring Epsom into Zone 6 Local Guardian
These roundups are great!