Transport articles

The move to a cashless tube has not been thought through

Caroline Pidgeon has criticised Transport for London's move to end cash payments across all Tube stations, without a genuine consultation process.

Caroline told the Evening Standard:

“I remain concerned that TfL is still planning to end cash payments across all of its Tube stations.

“The potential of increased fare evasion appears to have not been considered or the difficulties of people being forced to quickly top up their Oyster cards while on the move.

2 October 2020 - 3:37pm

Tube stations must not go cashless by stealth

After being alerted by concerned Tube staff to a plan to make all stations cashless, Caroline Pidgeon has criticised TfL's attempts to do this by stealth during a pandemic, and described the negative impact it would have:

Caroline told the Evening Standard:

“The move to solely cashless ticket machines at London Underground stations must not happen by stealth.

21 September 2020 - 9:01am

Central government must stop the stunts and fund Hammersmith Bridge repairs

Speaking in the London Assembly about the continued closure of Hammersmith Bridge, with no clear plan to fund its repair, Caroline Pidgeon called on the government to engage and provide financial support to get the bridge into use again.

13 September 2020 - 10:09am

Sadiq Khan cannot run away from responsibility on Crossrail

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the news of further delays to the opening of Crossrail, said:

“Covid might partly explain these latest delays, but they are only part of the picture as even Crossrail admits.

“The consequences of Crossrail opening two and half years late are immense. The project has soared in cost and every day it is not open valuable fare income is being lost to TfL and this vital new railway is not open to Londoners.‎

23 August 2020 - 10:10am

Londoners pay the bill for the Mayor and Government's political games

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the news that most train fares will rise by 1.6% from 2 January 2021, but TfL fares will rise by 2.6% due to Government set conditions on TfL said:

“This exceptionally high fare rise for TfL passengers makes it clear that Londoners continue to pay the price for the political games being played by the Mayor and the Government.

20 August 2020 - 3:27pm

Free travel in London for our young people is essential

The recent Trust for London report on suspending free travel in London for under-18s makes clear the views of young Londoners about scrapping the scheme, and the impact it would have on so many London teenagers.

The key findings were:

Over 95% of those surveyed were against it

8 August 2020 - 3:27pm

Cycle hire scheme needs a serious expansion

On the tenth anniversary of the cycle hire scheme, Caroline Pidgeon pointed to the gaps in its coverage - especially in south-east London, and especially at a time when so many people want to cycle rather than use buses or trains.

“The bold expansion of the scheme that took place in the early years of the scheme has halted. It is time that much more ambition was shown.

8 August 2020 - 3:23pm

It is time Sadiq Khan ensured Londoners were no longer peddled misleading claims on Crossrail

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the announcement of the further delayed opening of Crossrail said:

“We should never forget that the central section of Crossrail was promised to open in December 2018. It is now clear that we’ll be lucky if it opens by the end of 2021.

“This further delay is terrible news, for passengers and London’s businesses. The hole in TfL’s budget is also set to become even bigger.

25 July 2020 - 4:45pm

Londoners need total honesty on Crossrail

Pressed by Caroline Pidgeon at Mayor's Question Time in July, the Mayor has admitted that the central section of Crossrail is now very unlikely to be open by summer 2021.

Caroline said:

"Clarification is vital so Londoners know when the line will finally open.

“For too long Crossrail has been plagued by unrealistic progress reports and misleading claims made to the public.

21 July 2020 - 2:32pm

Large Crossrail bonuses are unacceptable

As Transport for London reported the large bonus payments it made to senior Crossrail managers in the last financial year, Caroline Pidgeon responded:

“These generous payments for TfL’s senior staff continue to be out of step with the harsh economic reality facing its passengers.

“Any form of bonus payments for senior staff working on Crossrail are simply unacceptable. When a project is above budget and set to open almost three years late bonus payments for its senior staff should have long been banished.”

12 July 2020 - 11:35am

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