Transport articles

Caroline presses the Mayor again on Richmond transport accessibility

The 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.

You can read the full story here.

Transport for All’s protest against ticket office closures

Caroline joined members of Transport for All outside City Hall on Wednesday 8th September as they protested against the proposed cuts to staff at tube stations. The Mayor is looking to reduce ticket office opening hours by around 7500 hours every week across the capital, and up to 800 staff may lose their jobs.

“For many people with disabilities and those with other mobility issues, the idea of reduced staffing at stations is simply unacceptable. The suggestion that machines can substitute someone in a ticket office when, for example, you might have a problem with your Oyster card, or need a boundary ticket, is just wrong. I am very supportive of flexible staff who can be out in the ticket hall helping passengers and then go into the ticket office to issue a ticket and help with fares advice as needed. The Mayor and TfL need to rethink their plans now” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

Arrogant high-speed rail company fails to consult Camden residents

Speaking to the Camden New Journal, Caroline Pidgeon has criticised the arrogance of HS2, the company set up by the government to develop a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham, in failing to consult and communicate with residents who will be affected by its plans.

Caroline said:

Not only have residents not been contacted, but as the vice chair of the transport committee I have been given no information from HS2 – that is just completely unheard of for a project of this scale. It shows a worrying degree of arrogance.

Passengers and London’s economy pay a heavy price for unnecessary strike

Speaking ahead of the industrial action starting later this evening on the London Underground network, Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Deputy Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:

“This is a strike that should not be taking place. Both London Underground and the unions are guilty of failing to put passengers first.”

“For too London Underground have tried to claim that most ticket offices provide no useful purpose and that many stations sell fewer than 10 tickets an hour. In reality this only applies to eight stations. The savage reduction of office opening hours at 90% of ticket offices on the Tube network will inconvenience many passengers, especially disabled people and visitors to London. Some vulnerable people might even be deterred from using the tube.

“However the TSSA and RMT unions are failing to make their case to Tube passengers. Strike action will not help keep ticket office hours open. By striking they are just throwing away a great deal of goodwill from the traveling public.”

High Speed 2 concerns in Primrose Hill

Caroline joined local Camden Lib Dem Cllr Chris Naylor on Friday 3rd September on a visit to look at the possible route for High Speed 2 from Euston north, under many homes in the Primrose Hill area.

Chris and Caroline met some local residents who are active in the Primrose Hill HS2 Group to discuss the plans and hear their many concerns about the lack of consultation, the depth of the proposed tunnels and the quality of the proposal to date, which appears to have little evidence base.

"I believe that High Speed Rail is a good development in terms of cutting reliance on internal flights and those over to the continent. However, we have to ensure that the impact of high speed rail on local communities is minimised. I am concerned about the potential impact this will have on Primrose Hill - both in terms of planning blight and actual physical damage - if it goes ahead as planned” commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

Video: Hounslow Community Land Project

Caroline joined local Lib Dem campaigner Andrew Dakers on 2nd September when they visited Hanworth Road in Hounslow to meet residents who have been living on a piece of derelict land since May. The land which is owned by Transport for London, used to be used for drug dealing and taking and has been reclaimed by members of the community. There are now up to 20 people living there where they have created an artists studio, a vegetable spiral and other planting has taken place. They also hold open community events.

Put passengers first – Caroline Pidgeon urges both sides to back down over dispute on ticket office closures

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and deputy chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, commenting on the news that talks have broken down between London Underground and the unions with a series of strikes now expected to start on Monday, said:

“There are legitimate concerns about TfL's plans to slash the opening hours at so many ticket offices across the Tube network, but taking strike action is not the way forward. The unions are running the risk of losing all public sympathy on this issue.

Surrey Canal Road station campaign must continue – Caroline Pidgeon

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, has received final confirmation this week that the Department of Transport will not provide £7 million in funding required to build a new train station at Surrey Canal Road.

Funding for the proposed station on the second phase of the East London Line has been considered by the Department of Transport over an extensive period of time. After lengthy delays in making a decision both Boris Johnson and Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, wrote on the 14th December 2009 to the previous transport minister urging that a final decision was made .

Commenting on the Minister’s reply Caroline Pidgeon, who is deputy chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:
“It is a great shame that after so many delays and passing of the buck that this situation has arisen. A crucial window of opportunity has long passed to quickly build a station. Sadly it is no longer possible to build a station and ensure its opening coincided with the opening of the second phase of the East London Line.

New name for Blackfriars station could provide huge boost to Bankside - Simon Hughes MP and Caroline Pidgeon AM

Key local attractions such as the Tate Modern and the Globe as well as the many businesses on the South Bank could be set to receive a huge boost if Network Rail agrees to change the name of the new Blackfriars station to Blackfriars & Bankside.

Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, and Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Leader, have now received an assurance from Network Rail that serious consideration is being given to the proposal. Ian Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail has stated that he is “sympathetic” to the proposal and has initiated further work to be carried to examine the practical implications of the name change.

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