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

Suggestion: Improvements To Wheelchair Accessibility At Railway Stations Should Include Allowing Other Staff To Use The Wheelchair Ramps

Poster by Hong Kong PHAB Association

Firstly, I'm not a wheelchair user, and I have no experience travelling on public transport using a wheelchair.

I've been seeing stories of wheelchair users getting trapped in the train after arriving at the station due to the absence of platform staff, which caused them delays and distress in their journeys.

Transport for London's Policy On The Use of Vintage Buses For Heritage Running Days And Rail Replacement Services

A Freedom of Information made to Transport for London (TfL) has published information about the use of vintage buses for heritage running days.

It has been revealed that TfL discourages the use of buses built after 1973 that do not comply with the ULEZ emission standards for use during heritage running days on London Bus routes.

Request ID: FOI-1721-2425
Date published: 18 September 2024

TfL Reveals an Update on Integrating Oyster Smartcards on Digital Wallets (Apple and Google Wallets)

As various transport systems around the world have integrated their smartcards to digital wallets such as Apple and Google Wallet/Pay. A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) has revealed an update on integrating their Oyster smartcards to digital wallets.

I refer to my previous article where the Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged in his 2024 election manifesto to bring concession Oyster cards to digital wallets.

Transport for London Lists Four Pre-Qualified Manufacturers to Design and Build a New Fleet of High-Spec Trams

Clipping from London Transport News - No. 392, March 15 1991

Transport for London (TfL) has listed four pre-qualified manufacturers to design and build a new fleet of trams for their tram network in South London.

TfL Press release:

• Manufacturer sought to build 24 new air-conditioned trams
• The new trams will provide customers with a more comfortable and reliable service, with new features including mobile charge points and real-time travel information
• The new generation of trams will start to be introduced in the late 2020s, subject to funding
• An option to procure additional trams in the future that could enable a full fleet replacement

The UK Government Launches Consultation to Give English Local Transport Authorities Control of Bus Services

As we are a couple of months into the new Government by the Labour Party administration. Their manifesto commitment is about improving bus services for England by giving powers back to the local authorities.

From UK Department for Transport press release

Transport Secretary sets the wheels in motion on "biggest overhaul to buses in a generation"