Latest news with #DistrictLine
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Sadiq Khan told to 'get a grip' on Tube services as Wimbledon thrown into chaos after 'shocking' delays on the District line
Sadiq Khan has been told to 'get a grip' as chaos on the only Tube line to Wimbledon continues into a second week. Delays and cancellations on the District Line have left fans struggling to reach the tournament, prompting embarrassing scenes of overcrowded trains and gridlocked stations. The issues have been blamed on signalling failures, which cause signals to default to red - reducing the number of trains that can pass through and sometimes blocking them entirely. Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler has been among those urging the Major of London to take urgent action to sort out the mess. He said: 'If the infrastructure is 130 years old, it should be a priority, and Sadiq [Khan] needs to get a grip. He really does. It's just shocking.' Susan Hall, the leader of the Conservatives in City Hall, said Sir Sadiq had shown a 'lack of leadership'. Meanwhile, Wimbledon bosses are demanding crisis talks with Transport for London (TfL) after some fans were so delayed they ended up missing matches. Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the club had been working with TfL 'all year' to avoid such scenes. Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler has asked Sir Sadiq for a meeting 'We have been, and remain, clear with them that delivering an event of this scale in this part of London requires the infrastructure in this part of London to support us in doing that,' she said. 'They're very aware of that view, and we have arranged to catch up with them after the championships to look at not just what happened this year but also to look ahead in terms of investment into the District line.' Susan Hall was more forthright, telling MailOnline: 'It's unbelievable. These are two weeks a year where the whole world watches what we do. 'People pay a fortune and look forward all year to the prospect of going. The Mayor should have made sure that he had a Plan B in case of any disruption.' Severe delays this morning were caused by a 'casualty on the track'. While this incident could clearly not have been foreseen by TfL, it follows days of disruption caused by the signalling issues. Yesterday saw no service on the District Line between Parsons Green and Wimbledon. Many arrived at SW19 complaining their journeys had taken as long as three hours after being forced to catch buses, pay for taxis or even walk. The under-fire mayor said he was 'extremely frustrated' by the latest disruption during the event which attracts more than 42,000 spectators every day. The Mayor of London at the All England Club in Wimbledon on September 4, 2020 TfL apologised to 'customers affected by the disruption on the District Line' which it said was due to a 'track fault at Putney Bridge'. Sir Sadiq has been repeatedly criticised over his handling of the Tube, and has even been accused of avoiding cleaning up graffiti in carriages to try to get more money from central Government. Sources at TfL reportedly claimed that the graffiti-covered carriages on London's Bakerloo line are assisting the London Mayor with his goal of receiving a multi-million pound Government handout for new trains. Speaking of Sir Sadiq's alleged deliberate avoidance of the vandalism, an insider is said to have told The Daily Telegraph: 'Anything that helps make the case for new trains is going to be helpful. 'We would rather the graffiti wasn't happening, obviously. But if this is going to help, we want to replace them and need we need money from the Government to do it'. The reports came in the wake of videos showing fed-up commuters taking matters in their own hands and cleaning up the graffiti. Joe Reeve, 28, founder of policy group Looking for Growth, led the clean up effort, insisted he was 'doing what Sadiq Khant' after TfL reported a 'significant increase' in the number of graffiti incidents on its trains. The London Mayor is currently lobbying the Government to fund a replacement of the Bakerloo Line's 1970s rolling stock with new trains. Sir Sadiq, chair of TfL, has also called for an extension of the line to Lewisham, south-east London. However, concerns have been raised about a lack of funds for the historic line - with its extension and reconstruction previously estimated at a cost of between £5million and £8million. However, a TFL spokesperson said that it was 'completely untrue to suggest that any graffiti is left for longer than necessary for any reason'. In 2021, Sir Sadiq released a set of throwback images showing the sorry state of the tube network in previous decades, warning that without urgent Government investment the transport network could see significant cuts. A spokesperson for TfL said that the body are 'removing graffiti from the Tube network as fast as possible'. They added: 'We have deployed an accelerated cleaning programme in response to the specific increase in graffiti on the Central and Bakerloo lines.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wimbledon grounds hit by lightning amid ‘challenging' weather
A lightning strike hit the Wimbledon grounds on Sunday as the head of the tennis championships admitted weather conditions had been 'challenging'. Blustery conditions and rain overnight failed to dampen spirits in the queue for on-the-day tickets, with fans lining up in ponchos and under umbrellas. Those travelling to Wimbledon also faced transport issues with 'severe delays' on the District Line on Monday morning from Edgware Road to Wimbledon because of a signal failure at Putney Bridge. Transport for London (TfL) said tickets were 'being accepted on London buses and South Western Railway' instead. All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton said the tournament would have a 'catch-up' with TfL after the championships to look ahead 'in terms of investment into the District Line'. TfL said on Monday that it apologised to 'customers affected by the disruption on the District line today'. A spokesperson added: 'We acknowledge that today's disruption comes on the back of a challenging week for District line services last week. 'We are continuing to work closely with organisers of the Wimbledon Championships and Network Rail to ensure that we deliver a reliable service and share up-to-date travel information with customers.' People in the queue remained jovial as they lugged sodden tents and camping chairs before the gates opened at 10am. Novak Djokovic referred to the 'very windy' conditions after his victory over Australian Alex de Minaur on Centre Court on Monday afternoon. Ms Bolton said no one was injured after lightning hit a car park at the Championships on Sunday. Speaking to the media on Monday, Ms Bolton said: 'I have to say the weather yesterday was really quite challenging. 'We did have a lightning strike in car park six. 'No one was injured, nothing got damaged, but it was just a reminder of the nature of adverse weather and always being prepared for that.' Asked whether TfL was providing adequate service to those attending Wimbledon, Ms Bolton said: 'We have an excellent relationship with TfL, we're working with them all year. 'You won't be surprised to hear that we have been speaking to them during the championships. 'We have been and remain clear with them that delivering an event of this scale in this part of London requires the infrastructure in this part of London to support us in doing that. 'They're very aware of that view, and we have arranged to catch-up with them after the championships, to look at not just what happened this year but also to look ahead in terms of investment into the District Line.' The All England Club's plan to expand into a neighbouring golf course, adding 39 new courts, will be subject to a judicial review hearing this week at the High Court following a challenge by the Save Wimbledon Park group. Ms Bolton said the All England Club 'remain really confident that we'll make the progress we need to make'. The All England Club chief executive added: 'The scheme we are seeking to deliver is all about safeguarding and enhancing the future of the championships, but also delivering fantastic benefits for the local community, including a new 27-acre public park. 'So we remain very committed and determined to deliver it, and excited about the opportunity of what it can do for both the Championships and the local residents.' There were covers over many of the outer courts on Monday morning including No2 court after rain overnight. The conditions followed a mixed bag of weather during the previous week – from blue skies and temperatures as high as 34C to overcast and rainy spells. Warm and sunny weather is forecast in SW19 for much of the rest of the week with temperatures predicted to hit 30C on Friday. British singles hopes at Wimbledon rest on Cameron Norrie after his gruelling five-set win followed Sonay Kartal's defeat on Sunday. He next faces defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday. Norrie, a semi-finalist in 2022, is only the third British man to reach the last eight more than once in the last 50 years, after Tim Henman and Sir Andy Murray. Kartal's loss to Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova included an embarrassing malfunction of Wimbledon's new electronic line-calling system on Centre Court. Organisers admitted the technology was turned off in error on a section of the court for a game, with the mistake only becoming apparent when a shot from Kartal that clearly missed the baseline was not called out. A Wimbledon spokesperson later said the technology was 'deactivated in error on part of the server's side of the court', the 'chair umpire followed the established process' and both players had received an apology. A minute's silence was observed at Wimbledon at 10.30am on Monday to honour the victims of the July 7 London terror attacks 20 years ago. The Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of the championships, has nominated four charities to take part in this year's coin toss tradition at the singles and wheelchair singles finals. Ambrose Caldecott, 11, will perform the coin toss at the gentlemen's singles final on Centre Court on Sunday representing the Junction Elite Project, a Wandsworth-based charity that provides sporting experiences to young people. Ambrose, who attends Junction Elite's weekly football sessions, was diagnosed with bone cancer in March last year and has undergone chemotherapy and several surgeries over the last 12 months. Billy Oram, director of youth football at The Junction Elite Project, said: 'From the moment Ambrose joined us, he engaged in everything, he encouraged everyone around him. 'He's just an energy that we love having around. When I see Ambrose walking out on to Centre Court, I'll have the biggest smile on my face. 'Just to look over to him and his family, after everything they've been through, it will be a celebration and proud moment for us all.' This year's other chosen charities are the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, AFC Wimbledon Foundation, and Disability Sports Trust.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wimbledon bosses to give Khan's TfL a dressing down after Tube chaos
Wimbledon bosses are poised to give Sir Sadiq Khan's Transport for London (TfL) a dressing down after the tennis championships were hit by Tube chaos. On Monday, TfL announced that there was no service between Parsons Green and Wimbledon on the District line, forcing tennis fans to find an alternative route. The operator said a signal failure between Edgware Road and Parsons Green had also caused severe delays. Paul Kohler, the Liberal Democrat MP for Wimbledon, had branded delays last week an 'international embarrassment' and called on Sir Sadiq, the Mayor of London, to 'get a grip'. Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the club would be meeting TfL bosses at the end of the championships to assess the service provided. 'We're working with them all year,' she said. 'We have been, and remain, clear with them that delivering an event of this scale in this part of London requires the infrastructure in this part of London to support us in doing that.'They're very aware of that view, and we have arranged to catch up with them after the championships to look at not just what happened this year but also to look ahead in terms of investment into the District line.' TfL apologised on Monday for disruption after a 'challenging' week. Meanwhile, Mr Kohler posted on social media: 'Things do not seem to be improving on the District line and, despite TfL telling reporters they were going to meet with me last Friday, no such meeting was arranged.' The MP added that he was 'pressing' TfL for a date for the meeting as he called for action to be taken. Mr Kohler said the Mayor of London was personally responsible for the District line failings and their resolution. 'This is the jewel in the crown of British sport. And we can't get the infrastructure working to get people there and back.' He said the local community and area was being 'incapacitated' by the District line. 'There is continued concern about Sir Sadiq's role in supervising TfL,' he added. 'It beggars belief that some parts of the line are more than 100 years old. 'He needs to put more money into the infrastructure.' He called on any expansion of the championships to include a compromise of improved services on the line. Susan Hall, the leader of the Conservatives in City Hall, said Sir Sadiq had shown a 'lack of leadership', adding: 'It is simply not good enough that this poor level of service is continuing. What message about London does it send to tourists here to watch the tennis that not even the trains work? 'Instead of putting fares up and not running a good enough service, he must step up immediately. He has shown a total lack of leadership on this. Thousands of people wait all year to go somewhere world famous like Wimbledon, and the mayor is making their lives very difficult.' Major delays to the second week of the Wimbledon fortnight came after TfL had already issued a public apology on Thursday. It had claimed delays had been caused by Network Rail signalling problems. But the Tube has struggled to cope, with problems including signal failures and a fire alert at Southfields, the station closest to the All England Club. Commenting on services provided, Network Rail previously said it had been able to 'deliver around 75 per cent of the planned service with no reported passenger issues'. A TfL spokesman said: 'We apologise to customers affected by the disruption on the District line [on Monday], which is due to a track fault at Putney Bridge. 'Our engineers are working hard to rectify the fault as soon as possible and restore a good service. We acknowledge that today's disruption comes on the back of a challenging week for District line services last week.' A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: 'The Mayor is extremely frustrated by the recent disruption on the District line, which falls well below the standard Londoners and visitors to the capital expect and deserve. 'City Hall is writing to Network Rail today, urging them to work constructively with TfL to resolve this disruption as soon as possible and work to ensure we don't see repeated signal failures in future.' Network Rail said the issue was related to TfL. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Wimbledon bosses to give Khan's TfL a dressing down after Tube chaos
Wimbledon bosses are poised to give Sir Sadiq Khan's Transport for London (TfL) a dressing down after the tennis championships were hit by Tube chaos. On Monday, TfL announced that there was no service between Parsons Green and Wimbledon on the District line, forcing tennis fans to find an alternative route. The operator said a signal failure between Edgware Road and Parsons Green had also caused severe delays. Paul Kohler, the Liberal Democrat MP for Wimbledon, had branded delays last week an 'international embarrassment' and called on Sir Sadiq, the London Mayor, to 'get a grip'. Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the club would be meeting TfL bosses at the end of the championships to assess the service provided. 'We're working with them all year,' she said. 'We have been, and remain, clear with them that delivering an event of this scale in this part of London requires the infrastructure in this part of London to support us in doing that. 'They're very aware of that view, and we have arranged to catch up with them after the championships to look at not just what happened this year but also to look ahead in terms of investment into the District line.' 'Challenging' week of delays TfL apologised on Monday for disruption after a 'challenging' week. Meanwhile, Mr Kohler posted on social media: 'Things do not seem to be improving on the District line and, despite TfL telling reporters they were going to meet with me last Friday, no such meeting was arranged.' The MP added that he was 'pressing' TfL for a date for the meeting as he called for action to be taken. Mr Kohler said the Mayor of London was personally responsible for the District line failings and their resolution. 'This is the jewel in the crown of British sport. And we can't get the infrastructure working to get people there and back.' He said the local community and area was being 'incapacitated' by the District line. 'There is continued concern about Sir Sadiq's role in supervising TfL,' he added. 'It beggars belief that some parts of the line are more than 100 years old. 'He needs to put more money into the infrastructure.' He called on any expansion of the championships to include a compromise of improved services on the line. Susan Hall, the leader of the Conservatives in City Hall, said Sir Sadiq had shown a 'lack of leadership', adding: 'It is simply not good enough that this poor level of service is continuing. What message about London does it send to tourists here to watch the tennis that not even the trains work? 'Instead of putting fares up and not running a good enough service, he must step up immediately. He has shown a total lack of leadership on this. Thousands of people wait all year to go somewhere world famous like Wimbledon, and the Mayor is making their lives very difficult.' Major delays to the second week of the Wimbledon fortnight came after TfL had already issued a public apology on Thursday. It had claimed delays had been caused by Network Rail signalling problems. But the Tube has struggled to cope, with problems including signal failures and a fire alert at Southfields, the station closest to the All England Club. Commenting on services provided, Network Rail previously said it had been able to 'deliver around 75 per cent of the planned service with no reported passenger issues'. A TfL spokesman said: 'We apologise to customers affected by the disruption on the District line [on Monday], which is due to a track fault at Putney Bridge. 'Our engineers are working hard to rectify the fault as soon as possible and restore a good service. We acknowledge that today's disruption comes on the back of a challenging week for District line services last week.'
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Wimbledon grounds hit by lightning amid ‘challenging' weather
A lightning strike hit the Wimbledon grounds on Sunday as the head of the tennis championships admitted weather conditions had been 'challenging'. Blustery conditions and rain overnight failed to dampen spirits in the queue for on-the-day tickets, with fans lining up in ponchos and under umbrellas. Those travelling to Wimbledon also faced transport issues with 'severe delays' on the District Line on Monday morning from Edgware Road to Wimbledon because of a signal failure at Putney Bridge. Transport for London (TfL) said tickets were 'being accepted on London buses and South Western Railway' instead. All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton said the tournament would have a 'catch-up' with TfL after the championships to look ahead 'in terms of investment into the District Line'. TfL said on Monday that it apologised to 'customers affected by the disruption on the District line today'. A spokesperson added: 'We acknowledge that today's disruption comes on the back of a challenging week for District line services last week. 'We are continuing to work closely with organisers of the Wimbledon Championships and Network Rail to ensure that we deliver a reliable service and share up-to-date travel information with customers.' People in the queue remained jovial as they lugged sodden tents and camping chairs before the gates opened at 10am. Ms Bolton said no one was injured after lightning hit a car park at the Championships on Sunday. Speaking to the media on Monday, Ms Bolton said: 'I have to say the weather yesterday was really quite challenging. 'We did have a lightning strike in car park six. 'No one was injured, nothing got damaged, but it was just a reminder of the nature of adverse weather and always being prepared for that.' Asked whether TfL was providing adequate service to those attending Wimbledon, Ms Bolton said: 'We have an excellent relationship with TfL, we're working with them all year. 'You won't be surprised to hear that we have been speaking to them during the championships. 'We have been and remain clear with them that delivering an event of this scale in this part of London requires the infrastructure in this part of London to support us in doing that. 'They're very aware of that view, and we have arranged to catch-up with them after the championships, to look at not just what happened this year but also to look ahead in terms of investment into the District Line.' The All England Club's plan to expand into a neighbouring golf course, adding 39 new courts, will be subject to a judicial review hearing this week at the High Court following a challenge by the Save Wimbledon Park group. Ms Bolton said the All England Club 'remain really confident that we'll make the progress we need to make'. The All England Club chief executive added: 'The scheme we are seeking to deliver is all about safeguarding and enhancing the future of the championships, but also delivering fantastic benefits for the local community, including a new 27-acre public park. 'So we remain very committed and determined to deliver it, and excited about the opportunity of what it can do for both the Championships and the local residents.' There were covers over many of the outer courts on Monday morning including No2 court after wet conditions overnight. Conditions are expected to improve through Monday with rain changing to sunny intervals by late morning, with a maximum temperature of 22C, according to the Met Office. The conditions followed a mixed bag of weather during the previous week – from blue skies and temperatures as high as 34C to overcast and rainy spells. Warm and sunny weather is forecast in SW19 for much of the rest of the week with temperatures predicted to hit 30C on Friday. British singles hopes at Wimbledon rest on Cameron Norrie after his gruelling five-set win followed Sonay Kartal's defeat on Sunday. He next faces defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday. Norrie, a semi-finalist in 2022, is only the third British man to reach the last eight more than once in the last 50 years, after Tim Henman and Sir Andy Murray. Kartal's loss to Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova included an embarrassing malfunction of Wimbledon's new electronic line-calling system on Centre Court. Organisers admitted the technology was turned off in error on a section of the court for a game, with the mistake only becoming apparent when a shot from Kartal that clearly missed the baseline was not called out. A Wimbledon spokesperson later said the technology was 'deactivated in error on part of the server's side of the court', the 'chair umpire followed the established process' and both players had received an apology. A minute's silence was observed at Wimbledon at 10.30am on Monday to honour the victims of the July 7 London terror attacks 20 years ago.
