As news emerges that the Northern Line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea, scheduled for 2020, will not be completed until late in 2021, Caroline Pidgeon has expressed concerns that TfL is not able to successfully manage major infrastructure projects.
Caroline told ITV:
Caroline Pidgeon has expressed the continuing frustration of Londoners at the delays to the opening of Crossrail, and the poor and evasive communication around them.
After a meeting with the Mayor and the TfL Commissioner, Caroline said:
“It is very frustrating that despite a long meeting, with summonsed documents, the Mayor and the TfL commissioner speaking at length, we’re still far from understanding who knew what and when.
New figures obtained from Transport for London reveal that passenger numbers for the RV1 bus route increased during the Summer and Autumn this year, undermining TfL’s justification for scrapping the bus route.
The figures have been obtained by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and the chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee.
Commenting on the figures, Caroline Pidgeon said:
In the November issue of the Centre for London's "London Intelligence" report, Caroline comments on data that show tube usage stagnating and bus usage declining.
After Transport for London released documents relating to the delay in Crossrail, it is becoming very clear that the Mayor knew of the delay in July - but key materials still have not been released.
Caroline Pidgeon said:
“It is now clear that the Mayor was told on July 26 that Crossrail’s opening date was at “high risk”.
Launching a new report by the London Assembly Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon stressed the importance of suburban rail to London's transport network, and the investment and strategic thinking that is needed to make it work smoothly.
Caroline said:
“The rail network is an essential part of the rhythm and movement in this city.
“For Londoners and visitors to get around our city our rail network has to be world-class. Currently, it is not.
As international credit rating agency Moody's warned that the delay in launching Crossrail will hit Transport for London with a £400m funding shortfall in 2021, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The Moody’s report makes for grim reading over the financial crisis now facing TfL. Their report draws upon and reflects what the London Assembly has been saying for months regarding the huge loss in income that TfL will now face due to the delayed opening of Crossrail.
On the BBC's Sunday Politics, Caroline discusses the Mayor's bus service changes, which are not delivering the promised improvements in outer London, while taking services away from areas with no alternative transport, and making life harder for passengers with limited mobility.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Londonwide Assembly Member, has responded to Transport for London’s Central London Bus Service Review, with a very clear message that the RV1 bus route should be saved.
Responding to the consultation, Caroline highlighted that TfL’s own figures show passenger usage has actually increased on the bus route between April and August of this year (August's are the most recent figures that TfL were able to produce).
Highlighting the importance of retaining the RV1 bus service, Caroline said:
