Tom Hedley entertains high hopes for London’s transport infrastructure. But he’s still not holding his breath.
So you can barely make it past 11pm before calling upon Uber, and every other day you’ve been forced to connect your commute by bus (shiver). The London Transport network has prompted us to cry into our own sleeves for years, but, finally, things may be looking up.
Mayor Boris Johnson and his underlings have agreed to take the entire Greater London suburban railway network out of the hands of private operators. But just when you thought the private sector was being told to butt out, Transport for London (TFL) has also awarded its new £1.5 billion London Overground operating contract to Arriva, our friendly neighbourhood bus supplier.
And get this, they’ve promised to modernise stations and provide more frequent services!
Beating five other competitors for the seven and a half year deal, Arriva pledges to run new trains by 2018, covering routes out of Liverpool Street and on the Gospel Oak to Barking line. And to the cheers of 1.3 billion London commuters (measured by journeys across the year), the bus operator will also introduce extended operating hours on some routes, including additional services on Boxing Day.
“It is exciting to be given the opportunity to build on the major improvements we have made in recent years and we are delighted to be playing a key role in the next phase of London’s growth and development,” commented Chris Burchell, managing director of Arriva’s UK trains division.
He added: “London Overground is one of the capital’s big transport success stories with passenger numbers rising rapidly, the transformation of stations, and the introduction of extended trains to help with peak overcrowding.”
But don’t start the celebrating just yet. Tensions are still simmering between TFL and its workforce over stalled plans for a 24-hour tube service. Originally scheduled for September 2015, TFL has announced that the all-nighter tube service really will start this August.
Much of the past year has been spent in talks (and strikes) over bonuses and work rotas. But following the suspension of a 24-hour walkout in January, a deal has now been agreed. The draft contract entails a two percent pay rise in year one, RPI inflation or one percent inflation (whichever is greater) in years two and three, and £500 bonuses for staff on lines where the night tube will run.
However, union leaders have warned of the likelihood of further strikes, insisting that only “the determination of our members brought London Underground management back to the table.”
As if to prove the point, earlier today, the London Evening Standard reported that commuters should expect disruption this week to the Piccadilly line after union bosses confirmed a 24-hour strike. This, the fourth busiest tube line, transports 600,000 commuters every day.
Travelling through London on public transport may never be plain sailing.