Caroline Pidgeon has written to the Office of Rail and Road, opposing plans to weaken the requirement for train companies to provide timetables 12 weeks in advance.
Caroline pointed out that this will give less ability for passengers to plan ahead, deterring them from using the train – as well as giving less access to cheaper advance fares.
Caroline had a useful visit to Wimbledon to meet with local residents and councillors John Braithwaite, Klaar Dresselaers and Paul Kohler and discuss the ongoing problems of tube noise and vibrations around South Wimbledon station. Lots of actions to take forward.
Caroline Pidgeon has written to Transport for London in response to their plans for the junction of King's Cross Road and Pentonville Road – currently a dangerous and hostile junction for cyclists and pedestrians.
Caroline welcomed TfL's attention to the junction, but highlighted the shortcomings in the plans, which could have achieved much more to make a safe and pleasant environment.
As Greater Anglia announced that it will stop running all its services through Edmonton Green station, Caroline Pidgeon commented:
“This news will come as a hammer blow for those in Edmonton.
“This station is already one of the busiest on the line and the withdrawal of Greater Anglia services will place increased pressure on other services.
“The Mayor needs to think again and to work with Government to provide vital rail services on this line."
Responding to the confirmation that HS2 is to pause work on the Euston Tunnel, Caroline said:
“This news only goes to show that the Conservative Government is incapable of learning from the failures of past infrastructure projects.
“Changing your mind half way through a project and pausing individual sections only leads to increased costs in the long-term alongside significant eyesores in local areas.
Responding to the news that Sadiq Khan’s expansion of ULEZ will face a judicial review, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon AM said:
“We all agree tackling air pollution is one of the most important issues for Londoners. Poor air quality is literally costing lives.
“However, any expansion of ULEZ should come with investment in public transport to offset the costs for communities in outer London.
Writing for the OnLondon website, Caroline Pidgeon advocates for more use of the railways for freight, to reduce the numbers of heavy vehicles on the road.
Caroline says:
With a long-term, ambitious target, freight’s impressive track record of delivering for London and the country and be extended further, in the process – most importantly for Londoners – delivering the clean air and healthy streets we all desire. More rail freight really is a win-win for London.
Caroline Pidgeon has written to Transport for London to respond to their consultation on lorry safety in London.
Caroline stressed the importance of introducing some key measures: automatic emergency braking, intelligent speed adaptation, and compulsory driver training on safe urban driving.
With the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion imminent, Caroline Pidgeon pushed the Mayor to reinstate the buses that were cancelled in Richmond during the pandemic – but he could not commit to even reviewing the issue.
Caroline said:
Residents in Outer London will be really concerned. They want more buses, not fewer, across London.
The Mayor and Transport for London have claimed that there will be two new buses in the Borough of Sutton. Unfortunately, as Caroline Pidgeon's questioning of the Mayor revealed, there are no new bus routes – just tweaks to existing ones.
