Oxford Street pedestrianisation gets go-ahead from Sadiq Khan with traffic ban this summer

Buses, taxis and cyclists will be banned from western section of Oxford Street from summer 2026

The part-pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been formally approved by Sir Sadiq Khan – with traffic due to be banned from this summer.

The London mayor authorised the changes on Thursday morning, paving the way for Transport for London to make the nation’s most famous high street traffic-free between Selfridges and Ikea.

Sir Sadiq decided not to make any changes to the draft plans that went out to public consultation last November, despite hundreds of respondents opposing the changes, which will increase congestion on side roads and require 15 bus routes to be curtailed or diverted.

The mayor believes the pedestrianisation scheme – which will include a ban on cyclists – will boost Oxford Street’s attractiveness to shoppers, visitors and tourists.

(The Standard article continues)

NI group wins grant to develop self-driving buses


The grant is part of a government scheme for self-driving feasibility studies

Ballymena-based Wrightbus and Queen's University are part of a consortium which has won government funding to help develop self-driving buses.

It is part of a government scheme which has awarded grants of up to £250,000 to self-driving feasibility studies.

Other projects include studies into autonomous freight vehicles and driverless shuttle operations across NHS sites.

Limited self-driving bus experiments have already been carried out in several cities around the UK.

That included the Harlander, a self-driving minibus which operated on a short route in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.

The Wrightbus feasibility study is not aimed at getting a fully self-driving vehicle on the road immediately.

Instead it will take a "phased, evidence-driven approach to test what works" and use that to make it safer and easier to introduce self-driving passenger services in the future.

Dr Andy Harris, head of research and data analytics at Wrightbus, said it was about developing a "credible, commercial business case for the future of autonomous public transport".

A number of companies are aiming to have self-driving taxis on UK roads by the end of this year.

Waymo, a US firm, said it hopes to be operating a robotaxi service in London by September.

The firm, which is owned by Google-parent Alphabet, already has vehicles mapping the city's streets with a safety driver at the wheel.

Now pushed out to 1100

"The problem affects 2 of the four lines between London Paddington and Reading, so we are having to reduce the train service through the area to avoid congestion. Local stopping services between London Paddington and Newbury will only run between Reading and Newbury. Most longer distance intercity services will continue to run between London Paddington and Reading, but may be subject to delay.
We are working with Network Rail to be able to return to running our normal timetable as soon as possible".
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The historic Hythe Ferry, owned by Isle of Wight ferry firm Red Funnel, is set to be liquidated.

The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company has announced it is being placed into voluntary liquidation.

The company made the decision after an 18-month search for a solution to revive the service.

......and it continues into today......

Cancellations to services between Twyford and Slough

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Twyford and Slough fewer trains are able to run on some lines.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 06:45 09/04.

Really nothing new - there were a large group of us that did this all over Europe 40 years ago when Thompson's ran day trips - Berlin the day before the night the wall fell anyone? I have a lump of wall somewhere.

When Riley and his mum Rhona Paton board a plane to Norway at the weekend, it will be his 40th flight - an impressive milestone given he is just six years old.

The mother and son from near Glasgow are part of a growing community of people who travel abroad and return the very same day.

Rhona told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast she has "lost count" of how many day trips they have taken, but they have visited countries such as France, Italy, Switzerland and Latvia.

Network Rail worker wins racial harassment case

A Network Rail worker was racially harassed by colleagues who placed an anti-Islam leaflet and a false stabbing accusation in his locker, an employment tribunal found.

Parmjit Bassi, who was based at the Eastleigh depot in Hampshire, was treated as part of a perceived "other", despite not being Muslim, the Southampton tribunal ruled.

It also found that Network Rail took a "laissez-faire" approach, failing to intervene as the situation escalated.

Bassi, who was later moved to another team and dismissed in 2021, also succeeded in a claim for unfair dismissal. Network Rail has been approached for comment.

The tribunal heard that in November 2018 Bassi found a leaflet linked to the English Defence League (EDL) placed in his work boots, which questioned what people were doing to "protect their children from Islam".

The panel said the act carried a "clear racial message" and formed part of an "ongoing campaign" against him.

The tribunal heard management were made aware of the incident, but no action was taken.

In January 2019, two copies of a newspaper report about a stabbing were left in the workplace - including one in Bassi's boot - with an added handwritten note stating "It was Parm".

The tribunal said Bassi had been "lumped in together" with a group perceived as a "dangerous 'other'", and that the fact he was not Muslim "made no difference". It was also critical of Network Rail's response, saying management failed to take appropriate action.

Bassi later took leave and was moved to another team without his input, before being dismissed in 2021. His claims for racial harassment and unfair dismissal were upheld, with compensation to be decided at a later date.

7 April CfN?

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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We have had a report of a defect with the track in the West Drayton area. Trains may not be able to run over the affected line until it has been inspected or may have to run at reduced speed.

at what speed is classed as a high speed line in France?