Transport articles

Boris: “amazing ignorance on transport” – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says the Mayor, also the chair of Transport for London, is clearly not fully clued up on the capital’s transport issues.

Caroline says: “Mayor Johnson floundered when asked key questions of fact on whether London transport will be ready for the 2012 Olympics.

“He was clueless about TfL’s £40 million cutback on the North London Line at Camden Road station which will mean only six trains an hour to Stratford instead of eight.

"Time to act on level crossing congestion" - Caroline Pidgeon AM

London Liberal Democrats are demanding urgent action to ease traffic congestion at key level crossing bottlenecks in Richmond.

Following a “summit” meeting with Network Rail, South West Trains and London Overground at Richmond’s Civic Centre, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: “Richmond residents and traders have had to put up with endless delays and traffic queues for far too long. We need new solutions which’ll balance the needs of the rail commuters, who need a frequent service and longer trains, with the need to keep traffic moving.”

‘Failures with the Tube’s radio system must not become the norm’ – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Commenting on the news that Connect, London Underground’s £2 billion digital radio system, has had over 100 faults reported in the last two months causing at least three major closures, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says:
“Whilst teething problems may be expected on new systems like this TfL and Mayor Johnson must do all they can to ensure public safety.

“The new radio system is a brilliant idea – linking up every train, station and staff member – but if it’s failing like this then the whole point of it is lost.

‘Government must step in to safeguard TfL’s money in failed Icelandic bank’ – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Commenting on the announcement that Transport for London had around £40 million invested in the failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat’s transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says: "It’s up to the government to step in to ensure London’s travelling public doesn’t have to pick up the bill.

"We already face an inflation busting increase in fares from the Tory Mayor on January 1st. Now the Government needs to help ensure we don’t have to pick up another bill."

NO to the the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge Zone

The Liberal Democrat group at the London Assembly has demanded Mayor Boris Johnson scraps the western extension of the Congestion Charge zone.

In his consultation exercise the Mayor suggested three options for the future of the western extension in Kensington and Chelsea and the GLA Liberal Democrats have now responded.

Why don't Piccadilly Line trains stop throughout the day at Turnham Green?

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, today presented the Mayor with a petition calling for Piccadilly Line tube trains to stop at Turnham Green station throughout the day, and not just at peak times.

Caroline says: “It’s totally unfair people living near Turnham Green can’t use the Piccadilly Line during the day. London is a modern, 21st century city and Londoners need a modern, 21st century underground service.”

New trains for the Tube

On Tuesday 23rd September Caroline went to visit the new trains planned for the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines at an exhibition at Euston Gardens. The new trains are in production and will be undergoing testing next year. The timetable for their introduction is as follows:

2010 Start to arrive on Metropolitan Line
2011 Start to arrive on Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines
2013 Start to arrive on District Line

How committed is Boris to the Cross River Tram? That's a good question...

Commenting on the Cross River Tram plans at the Liberal Democrats' autumn conference in Bournemouth, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat's transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, says:
"As to what Boris is going to do, that is a very good question. Boris has said he is interested in the Cross River Tram and we have that on record.

"Messages coming out of his office have been very mixed but we need to keep it in his transport strategy and we're lobbying very, very hard on that."

Has Boris backed down on a promise?

Commenting on Mayor Johnson’s pledge to intervene on the issue of the possible closure of South West Trains’ ticket offices, Caroline Pidgeon AM, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Group at the London Assembly, says: “I’m extremely disappointed to see Mayor Johnson hasn’t personally got involved in this matter when he quite clearly said he would.

“Getting his minions at TfL to do his work simply doesn’t have the same impact as if the Mayor of London gets involved. I want to see the Mayor sticking to his promises.”

'Crossrail’s still on track' – Caroline Pidgeon AM

Caroline Pidgeon AM, the transport spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat group at the London Assembly, has welcomed the Mayor’s continued commitment to the Crossrail scheme and its funding.

“It’s good to see the Mayor’s still committed to this project and is fully planning to raise the necessary funds as had been stated.

“There’d been mutterings the funding could be in jeopardy but the Mayor’s re-affirmed the funding plans are still in place and it’s all on schedule too.”

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