Why is It Important for the London Borough Councils to Be Competent in Issuing Freedom Pass (a Free TfL Travel Concession) for the Disabled People?

Different types of Freedom Passes
Page from TfL's Staff Guide to Fares and Ticketing

I have been suggesting to myself on writing an article in the past several months about this because there has been a ‘postcode lottery’ when it comes to the disabled people applying for a Freedom Pass with the London Borough Council to travel on TfL services and various National Rail services in Greater London.

I've been researching through the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) website, and I’m quite disappointed to see multiple cases where the London Borough Councils have been incompetent in issuing Freedom Passes to the disabled people.

Just to clarify that I am not an expert in this issue, and the purpose is to show my research into my article and comment about it.

Transport for London Reveals Delays Rolling Out The New CAF B23 Rolling Stock For The DLR, And Increasing Journey Times

B23 Rolling Stock - © TfL

A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) has revealed reasons why the new B23 rolling stock, manufactured by CAF for the Docklands Light Railway, has been delayed instead of Spring 2024, as reported in my previous article early this year.

Request ID: FOI-1926-2425
Date published: 10 October 2024

Details of the challenges faced by TfL as part of the test of the new DLR Rolling Stock

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses For Routes 60, 312, 405, 466 & 485

Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV in London
Photo by Alexander Dennis

The announcement of the London Bus Tender Awards by Transport for London has revealed that routes 60, 312, 405, 466 and 485 will be served using new electric buses.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Route 60
Retained by: Arriva London South
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 20
Vehicles: New electric double deck
Contract Start Date: 30th August 2025
Contract End Date: 27th August 2032

Go-Ahead Group Invests £500 Million With Wrightbus To Build 1,200 UK-Made Zero-Emission Buses - UK Transport Secretary Plans To Create A New UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel

Zero Emission Bus in Oxford - Photo by Go-Ahead Group

A bus operating company named Go-Ahead London has announced a £500 million investment for 1,200 new zero-emission buses manufactured by Wrightbus.

Fom UK Department for Transport

• £500 million investment announced to deliver 1,200 UK-made zero emission buses, ensuring greener and better journeys for passengers

• bus operator Go Ahead’s investment to benefit communities across the country, supporting hundreds of jobs and delivering growth

• Transport Secretary brings together industry to advance opportunities for investment in the UK ahead of investment summit

Advice For Wheelchair Users In The Event of Missed Assistance (Staff With Wheelchair Ramp) At Railway Stations

Poster by Hong Kong PHAB Association

Yesterday (6th October 2024) I saw a post on X (formerly Twitter) where a wheelchair user was trying to board a train at Greenwich railway station but had to lift their chair up into the train, lost their glasses, and got hurt in the process. This is due to missed assistance at the station, despite booking passenger assistance with the train operating company.

Although I'm not a wheelchair user, I have volunteered to help in a small tweet thread instructing on what to do in the event of missed assistance (staff deploying a wheelchair ramp) at railway stations. I decided to share the instructions in my article because users who are not registered with X are unable to see other posts.

The 'New Tube for London' for the Piccadilly Line Under Construction in Goole, UK, and 32 Enviro100EV Small Electric Buses for London Bus Routes 233, R1, R3, R4 and R8

The New Tube for London under construction and the Enviro100EV - © Siemens and Alexander Dennis

Today (3rd October) has been big news for manufacturing in England as we see the 'New Tube for London' 2024 rolling stock for the Piccadilly line and 32 Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV small electric buses for London Bus Routes 233, R1, R3, R4 and R8.

From Siemens UK

The Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh and the Mayor of London attended the grand opening of the Goole Train Manufacturing Facility, a significant milestone for Siemens Mobility and the future of rail transportation in the region. Alongside the opening, Siemens Mobility announced a substantial investment of up to £40 million in a state-of-the-art Bogie Assembly and Service Centre, further solidifying its commitment to the region.

The new Bogie Assembly and Service Centre will incorporate and expand Siemens Mobility’s current capabilities to overhaul bogies from UK trains, including the 3,224 strong fleet of vehicles (572 trains) it maintains in the UK, and will also include new production lines for assembling bogies for new trains, a first for Siemens in the UK.

Transport for London Advises Wheelchair Users To Use The Emergency Passenger Alarm In The Event Of Missed Assistance At Underground, Overground and Elizabeth Line Stations — With Detailed Procedures

Graphic Standard for the Emergency Passenger Alarm used for Central line trains - © TfL

A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) has advised wheelchair users to use the emergency passenger alarm at the station where they expect to depart where the staff failed to turn up with a wheelchair ramp to help them exit the train.

TfL has also posted detailed procedures when the wheelchair user activates the alarm at the station.

Here's the text published by TfL from a Freedom of Information request.

Request ID: FOI-1797-2425
Date published: 27 September 2024

London Bus Tender Awards: New Routemasters To Continue On Route 73 And New Electric Buses For Route 425

Transport for London (TfL) has announced in a new London Bus Tender Awards that route 25 will continue to use double-deck hybrid buses, and route 73 will continue to use three-door, two-staircase New Routemasters and route 425 will use new double-deck electric buses.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

London Bus Tender Awards: New Routemasters To Continue On Route 390 — New Double-Deck Electric Buses For Superloop Routes SL5 And SL7

TfL Image - CGI of shuttle bus service

As we are approaching the end of September 2024, Transport for London (TfL) has announced that the three-door, two-staircase New Routemasters will continue on route 390 while the Superloop routes SL5 and SL7 will soon convert to double-deck electric buses.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Route 37 (24hr)
Retained By: Go-Ahead London Central
Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR): 19
Vehicles: Existing hybrid double deck
Contract Start Date: 31st May 2025
Contract End Date: 2nd June 2028

List of London Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and Docklands Light Railway Stations With Short Platforms and Selective Door Opening

A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) has revealed a list of stations on the TfL network with short platforms and selective door opening (SDO).

Request ID: FOI-1716-2425
Date published: 20 September 2024