London-wide + Richmond stories
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.
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.
Assembly Lib Dems celebrate Dee Doocey's appointment to the House of Lords
19 November 2010 - 11:16pm — AdministratorThe Liberal Democrat Group on the London Assembly is today celebrating the appointment of Dee Doocey AM to the House of Lords.
Commenting on Dee’s appointment, Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly said:
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.
South West Trains must start selling Oyster tickets
7 October 2010 - 8:46pm — AdministratorFollowing questions put by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, the Mayor of London has admitted that South West Trains are the only train operating company in London now refusing to sell Oyster tickets or provide Oyster top-ups for passengers. The Mayor also admitted that South West Trains do not even have any plans to start selling Oyster tickets in the near future.
Caroline presses the Mayor again on Richmond transport accessibility
2 October 2010 - 6:00pm — AdministratorThe Richmond and Twickenham Times, whose campaign for accessible transport Caroline Pidgeon supports, reports that Transport for London bosses are refusing to meet local campaigner Clare Watson, who uses a wheelchair and has been repeatedly denied access to buses.
Caroline will be pressing the Mayor once again to meet with disabled transport users in the Borough.
The Mayor must rectify appalling treatment of disabled Richmond passengers
7 August 2010 - 5:33pm — AdministratorThe Richmond and Twickenham Times newspaper is campaigning for Boris Johnson to meet disabled bus users from Richmond and hear from them at first hand about the inadequate public transport services they have to use.
Caroline Pidgeon is supporting the campaign and says:
I hope Boris Johnson, who is chairman of Transport for London (TfL), comes and hears at first hand about the appalling treatment facing Clare Watson and many other disabled people.
The Mayor must now take a lead on this issue and ensure that bus services across London really are accessible for everyone.
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