London-wide + Hounslow stories
Chiswick residents get review of Turnham Green Piccadilly line hours
3 April 2012 - 2:03am — AdministratorAfter questioning from Caroline Pidgeon on behalf of Chiswick residents, the Mayor has indicated that Transport for London will hold a consultation on extending the hours that Piccadilly line trains stop at Turnham Green.
Caroline asked the Mayor:
Further to my previous questions supporting Piccadilly Line trains stopping at Turnham Green throughout the day, will you review TfL's position on the hours that tubes stop, to improve the service for local residents around Turnham Green? When can we expect the outcome of any review?
The Mayor replied:
Good news on Waterloo ex-Eurostar platforms - but we need more
12 January 2012 - 11:50pm — Administrator
Speaking as the government announced that one of Waterloo's former Eurostar platforms can be used from May 2013 for commuter services, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"It is clearly good news that at least one platform is now to be brought back into use to help relieve overcrowding.
"We now need to see a timetable for when the other platforms will be open."
Read the South London Press's coverage here.
Reopening of former Eurostar platform at Waterloo is a welcome step
23 December 2011 - 9:23pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport spokesperson, today welcomed the announcement by Transport Secretary Justine Greening MP that passengers on some lines serving commuters on a number of the busiest rail routes from south west London into Waterloo are set to benefit from extra carriages to ease overcrowding, and that one platform at the former Waterloo International Station is to be reopened for commuter services.
Commenting on the decision, Caroline Pidgeon said:
River Thames is a great opportunity for transport
23 December 2011 - 8:55pm — Administrator
The River Thames is a forgotten highway, a tube line effectively, across the centre of London and yet under-resourced in terms of transport.
In January, the London Assembly Transport Committee is looking into river transport services - so Caroline and other Committee members spent a chilly morning in early December out and about on the river with Thames Clippers from Putney to Erith, looking at the challenges and opportunities to really expand river transport services for Londoners.
Mayor is out of touch on Chiswick roundabout hoardings
30 November 2011 - 10:05pm — AdministratorAt Mayor's Question Time in November, Caroline Pidgeon pressed the Mayor around concerns about the safety and environmental impact of TfL's large intrusive advertising panel at Chiswick roundabout:
Caroline Pidgeon:Are you satisfied that TfL’s new advertising panel on Chiswick roundabout on the elevated section by the M4, will not cause an adverse distraction and safety risk for drivers changing lanes to use the Junction Two exit from the M2?
Boris Johnson:TfL does not consider the proposed advertising panels to be a safety risk to drivers. The planning application was submitted to the local planning authority on 11 October 2011.
Caroline backs campaign against Feltham station parking rip-off
23 November 2011 - 10:49pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, has recently presented a petition to the Mayor of London calling for him to work with Hounslow Council to ensure that a rarely used bus stand at Feltham train station is turned into a short term drop off/pick off point for rail passengers.
The demands of the petition are backed up by powerful evidence that a huge number of local residents are being hit by penalty charges following the introduction of cameras by Hounslow Council. A recent freedom of information request and further inquiries have confirmed that there have been a total to date total of 7,119 penalty charge notices at this location. The total income received has been £337,724.48; with an additional £68,856.52 currently outstanding from 549 PCNs.
Making London's roads safer for cyclists
30 May 2011 - 3:39pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon is continuing to support action to tackle the high number of accidents and fatalities that face cyclists on London's roads. London faces an especially serious problem with accidents involving collisions between lorries and cyclists at junctions.
A recent question asked by Caroline to the Mayor revealed that in 2009 six cyclists were killed on London's roads in accidents involving a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), and with a further two cyclists killed in accidents involving a refuse lorry and a cement mixer. In 2010 there were two cyclists killed in accidents involving vehicles and two further two fatal collisions including a skip lorry and a cement truck.
Caroline has already given her full support to the campaign by the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) for better training for lorry drivers and recently received the petition that had already gathered more than 10,000 signatures. Read more information about the campaign here.
South West Trains passengers must wait months for Oyster top-up
26 May 2011 - 10:45pm — AdministratorSouth West Train passengers may face a wait of many more months before they can finally obtain Oyster top-up from station ticket machines in the London area, Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, has been informed this week.
Both South West Trains and Transport for London declared back in November 2010 that by May 2011 all ticket vending machines within the London Travel zone would allow passengers to top-up their Oyster cards. The latest delay has been explained as being due to technical problems facing Cubic, the technical supplier of Oyster to Transport for London. At present South West Trains are unable to give any indication to Caroline Pidgeon as to when the technical problems will finally be resolved.
Caroline Pidgeon welcomes South West Trains' backdown on Oyster
13 November 2010 - 12:42am — AdministratorSouth West Trains’ decision to start equipping their ticket machines to sell Oyster PAYG top-up at their stations in the London area has been warmly welcomed by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group.
Just weeks ago Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, told Caroline Pidgeon that South West Trains was the only train operating company in London refusing to sell Oyster tickets or provide Oyster top-ups for passengers. At the time the Mayor also stated that South West Trains did not even have any plans to start selling Oyster tickets in the near future.
MP backs Caroline's call for South West Trains to support Oyster
25 October 2010 - 9:36pm — AdministratorThe Hounslow Chronicle reports on Feltham and Heston Labour MP Alan Keen's support for Caroline Pidgeon's campaign to push South West Trains to support Oyster cards properly.
Caroline has criticsed the "raw deal" that SWT offer their customers, and said:
"It is time South West Trains caught up with the other train operating companies in London and provided a proper service to their customers."
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