A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…
22 photos of the new Thameslink Train
London Underground
Drivers on London Underground are to be balloted for industrial action in a dispute linked to the Night Tube. ITV
Union boss accuses London Underground of “playing politics with passenger safety” by slashing track spending Mayor Watch
More large screens for advertising on the London Underground Diamond Geezer
Crossrail / Elizabeth line
Crossrail 2 seeks £13m injection ahead of Budget decision Construction News
Mainline / Overground
Delays and drips mark Great Western Railway’s new train launch The Guardian
Borehamwood commuters will be able to air their grievances with Thameslink at an upcoming meeting. Local Times
Southern rail drivers are to be balloted on a proposed deal to end their long-running dispute, Aslef has said. BBC News
The details for two new stations for the London Overground have been announced, with each of them serving separate branches south of Willesden Junction. IanVisits
The new Thameslink train service has been criticised by some commuters because they fear there will be fewer seats and trains. Cambridge News
London Overground testing screens that show how crowded each carriage in the train is Diamond Geezer
While Blackfriars Station has recently had a massive makeover, it retained a little noticed entrance that has been little changed since the 1970s. IanVisits
DLR
ISS wins 4-year contract to provide cleaning, security and revenue protection services. FM World
Miscellaneous
A key model of levering cash for infrastructure will not generate enough money for major transport schemes in the capital, London’s deputy mayor has said. Planning Resource (£)
TfL bans ads displaying Palestinian objections to Balfour declaration The Guardian
TFL has banned adverts featuring BBC star Gary Lineker naked Attitude
And finally, meet London’s most powerful people: Sir Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail, reveals how he keeps the capital on track Homes & Property
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Image above is from Jan 2014: 22 photos of the new Thameslink Train
It seems the new IEP trains have been withdrawn from service on GWR following the problems encountered by one on Mondays launch day.
As well at the water leak it seems problem was encountered in switch between diesel and electric operation something these trains will need to do more often thanks to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling brilliant idea called ” discontinuous electrification!”