London’s weekly railway news

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

Heathrow Junction – London’s short-lived railway station

London Underground

TfL discarded toxic chemicals close to Chiswick Park station Chiswick W4

At a visit to a tube train factory, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has called for future tube trains to be driverless to beat the unions. ianVisits

A new tube map has just appeared at stations. What’s unusual is that it’s the May 2020 tube map, and we’re now in July. Diamond Geezer

Elizabeth line / Crossrail

Worries raised over cyber security risk at Crossrail Building

Crossrail plans to pause all train testing in the tunnels during August to allow the construction teams to catch up with the backlog caused by the Covid lockdown. ianVisits

Mainline / Overground

Volunteers revive community garden at Canonbury Overground station Islington Gazette

The entrance forecourt to Watford Junction station is being up enhanced thanks to a scheme by Watford Borough Council. Rail Advent

Eurostar Cancels Ski Train for Next Winter Planet Ski

Could a proposed direct rail link from the West of Britain to Heathrow help unlock Britain’s economic recovery? Business Matters

The on-off plans to reopen Camberwell station in South London are back on again after the government included the station in a list to be considered for reopening. ianVisits

Eurostar will launch direct Amsterdam-London service this year EuroNews

A team of trauma medics are now proving 24-hour cover at London Euston station. Rail Advent

Miscellaneous

Working from home ‘saves London commuters 24 days per year in travel time’ Net Imperative

Get rid of rush hour to make public transport safe again post-Covid, think tank says Telegraph

FirstGroup, the UK’s largest bus company and operator of rail franchises, has admitted it may not be able to continue trading because of the impact of the coronavirus on its business. The Guardian

Why is classical music played on the tube? Classic FM

It’s been confirmed that one of the Isle of Wight tube trains could make a return to London in the near future. ianVisits

Hear from Joshua Burrell (29), senior press officer, Transport for London PR Week (£)

Inside the messy mission to make train travel as easy as flying Wired

And finally: UK’s first statues of black Brits—sited at Brixton station—to be restored after 34 years The Art Newspaper

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The image above is from Jan 2018: Heathrow Junction – London’s short-lived railway station