Potential problems resulting from Tube Lines takeover by TfL

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

The recently announced takeover by TfL of Tube contractor Tube Lines should be a warning of the perils of playing politics with London’s transport system.

Tube Lines was part of the Public Private Partnership, imposed by Gordon Brown. The danger now is that the focus on impending cuts could cause real problems for our transport system.

First, rail commuters could face huge fare increases. Train operators are presently allowed to increase fares annually by inflation plus one per cent; Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has now refused to rule out scrapping the formula.

Meanwhile the schedule for Tube upgrades remains uncertain, with the programme for upgrading the Jubilee and Piccadilly lines having slipped badly already.

Then there is the chaos caused by roadworks. Central London faces roadworks this summer on an unprecedented scale. The Mayor protests that he cannot stop roadworks organised by the boroughs, and has called for powers to charge utility companies “lane rental”. The Tories promised such powers during the election campaign. But it has emerged that it will not be until late 2011 at the earliest before City Hall gets them. Increased fines for over-runs are coming sooner than that. But the Mayor and ministers misunderstand that we need far more urgent action to tackle the gridlock on the capital’s streets.

Public transport fares are set to rise again

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Public transport passengers in London could face a further hike in fares next year due to inflation. Transport for London told the London Assembly’s budget and performance committee that the rate of inflation was affecting its costs and some of that may have to be passed on to passengers next year.

It is likely TfL will recommend that London Mayor Boris Johnson raises fares by two per cent on top of inflation, which would mean a seven per cent increase based on current estimates.

Fares already increased by an average of 12.7 per cent on buses and 3.9 per cent on the Tube and DLR in January of this year.

John Biggs, who chairs the committee, said: “Londoners have already been hit by a hike in fares this year, particularly bus passengers, who bore the brunt of the rises. We are looking at how the existing fare increases have already affected passengers in the capital and we will also assess whether further rises on the scale suggested today by Transport for London can really be justified.”

Jo de Bank of London TravelWatch said: “We know there is a funding gap but passengers must not be priced out of public transport. People will be left stranded if they cannot afford to travel, particularly on buses, which people on lower incomes tend to use.

Tube to run in full during RMT strike causing safety fears

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Safety risks have been denied by Transport for London during this week’s planned tube strike after London Underground says it will operate a full service across the whole of the network, including Jubilee, Piccadilly and Northern lines maintained by Tube Lines, throughout the duration of the strike. All stations will also remain open.

Tube Lines workers are set to go on strike from 7pm on Wednesday after talks between the company and the RMT union broke down.

The union claims the public will be at risk if under-qualified staff members are put in charge of trains during the industrial action.

TfL has assured the public there will be “no compromise” on safety standards and emergency teams were in place in case there is a problem on the network.

A TfL spokesperson said: “Safety is London Underground’s top priority and we would never run trains if it was not safe to do so.

“Should the action go ahead, we do not anticipate any significant impact to Tube services and London Underground intends to operate a full service on all Lines.”

But RMT general secretary Bob Crow said it was clear the strike would have a “major impact”.

He added: “There’s a real danger that tube officials will take serious risks with safety to try and run trains.

“We welcome the intervention of our colleagues from the Fire Brigades Union to try and stop that from happening. No one should underestimate the safety-critical role of the tube’s maintenance and emergency response crews.”

Contingency measures have been put in place in case the strike does happen, with extra Thames Clipper services dedicated to Canary Wharf and extra bike parking facilities in Cabot Square.

Commuters to face more tube strikes

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Staff on London’s Docklands Light Railway (DLR) are to strike over pay and working conditions,

Carrying commuters to and from the Canary Wharf financial sector in the east of the city, the DLR will see strikes occur for three days from Wednesday, June 23. This walk out by platform and station staff will coincide with a planned strike by maintenance workers at contractor Tube Lines on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly underground lines.

“Our members on the Docklands Light Railway have shown once again that they will not be bullied by management in to taking on more work and more responsibility without being properly compensated by the company,” RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said in a statement.

On Thursday, the RMT announced that workers on Tubes Lines would carry out two 48-hour strikes over pay, jobs and working conditions.

The strikes, from Wednesday, June 23, and Wednesday, July 14, will likely have a knock-on effect on all the system, it added.

Councils to hike up resident parking prices for the most polluting cars

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Eight out of London’s 33 borough authorities have introduced CO2-based parking plans where residents are charged up to three times more for a parking permit if they have a bigger-engined car, in many cases doubling the cost of a resident’s parking permit.

The first increase of this kind was seen in Richmond Borough Council, in affluent south-west London, where overnight the cost of parking – except for those with driveways – went from a maximum of £100 to £300, or a staggering £450 for a second vehicle.

Paul Watters, head of AA’s transport policy comments “There could be worse to come; councils are also keenly monitoring Richmond’s latest wheeze – an electronic card parking scheme that also hits ‘gas guzzlers’. It encourages drivers to register their cars online and after providing their cars CO2 details, they receive a pre-pay card which can be topped up and swiped at street and car parking ticket machines in the borough.

Cars with emissions between 121g/km and 180g/km, including some Ford Focuses, pay 25 per cent less than base rates. But owners of cars emitting more than 181g/km of CO2, such as some Ford Mondeos and many 4×4’s, must pay 25 per cent above standard rates. It is estimated that the move could net the council an extra £800,000 a year.”

Julia Callan, MD at 24 7 Parking says “It is a blatant attempt to squeeze even more cash from London’s motorists. It is unacceptable to penalise a vehicle on its emissions when the car is switched off.”