Latest news with #LondonTransport
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Business Standard
20 years since 7/7 attack: How London bombings changed the UK forever
Britain on Monday marked two decades since a series of suicide bombings tore through London's transport network, killing 52 people and injuring nearly 800 others. The coordinated attacks on July 7, 2005, carried out by four British men, brought terror to the heart of the capital and left a scar on the minds of Britons forever. As commemorations take place across the country, including a service at Hyde Park's 7/7 memorial, survivors, families, and leaders are reflecting on the profound impact of that day and the years that followed. The morning London stood still In the early hours of July 7 (2005), London's transport network was operating as usual. Commuters boarded underground trains and buses during rush hour, unaware that four suicide bombers were travelling among them with deadly intent. At approximately 08:50, three near-simultaneous explosions occurred on the London Underground: Between Aldgate and Liverpool Street (Circle Line), At Edgware Road station (Circle Line), Between King's Cross and Russell Square (Piccadilly Line). Just under an hour later, at 09:47, a fourth bomb detonated on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, which had been diverted due to the chaos on the underground. In the immediate aftermath, confusion reigned. Early reports suggested a 'power surge' had disrupted the network. But as emergency services swarmed central London and more information emerged, the scale and nature of the attack became heartbreakingly clear. The bombers: Young men from within All the four perpetrators were British nationals, three of whom had grown up in Leeds. Their names became familiar in the days that followed: Mohammad Sidique Khan (30) – a teaching assistant from Leeds who was identified as the group's ringleader Shehzad Tanweer (22) – also from Leeds and known for his passion for sports Germaine Lindsay (19) – a Jamaican-born convert to Islam living in Aylesbury Hasib Hussain (18) – the youngest, responsible for the bus bombing The revelation that the attackers were homegrown came as a shock to many. A video released posthumously showed Khan justifying the attacks as retaliation for British foreign policy, stating, 'Your democratically elected governments continually perpetrate atrocities against my people all over the world.' The attackers were inspired by al-Qaeda's ideology and had links to al-Qaeda affiliated groups. 'Was minutes away from that bus' 'I will never know just how close I came to being on the bus that exploded in Tavistock Square,' she wrote later. 'I was riding on a London Transport double-decker on the same route only minutes before the explosion. At the time, I thought I was safe. My miscalculation could have been a fatal mistake.' A second attempt thwarted: The 21/07 plot Just a fortnight later, on July 21, 2005, four more men attempted a copycat attack on London's transport system. Their targets mirrored the original assault — three Underground trains and a bus. Fortunately, in this instance, the devices failed to explode properly. Only the detonators went off, causing panic but no deaths. The failed attack sparked a vast police operation, culminating in the arrests of all four suspects, including one detained in Rome after fleeing abroad. All were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Jean Charles de Menezes: A tragic error Investigation was launched in full swing and several government agencies found themselves scanning the roads of England looking for leads. Several people were mistakenly arrested, stopped and searched, and detained in connection to the bombings. As shoot at sight orders were issued for any suspicious person, on July 22, Jean Charles de Menezes, a 27-year-old Brazilian electrician, was shot dead by police at Stockwell Underground station. Officers believed he matched the description of one of the failed bombers. Surveillance teams had followed him from his home, and he was shot multiple times at close range on the train. Subsequent investigations revealed that Menezes had no connection to terrorism and had not behaved suspiciously. The Metropolitan Police faced widespread criticism. Though no individual was prosecuted, the force was later found guilty of endangering public safety. The investigation: Missed warnings and rapid response The immediate investigation into July 7 was among the most intensive ever conducted in Britain. CCTV footage from King's Cross revealed the four bombers hugging before splitting up. Their car, found at Luton station, contained further explosive materials. Although security services had come across Khan and Tanweer in previous investigations, neither was considered a priority threat at the time. The attackers had no criminal records and were unknown to police in the context of terrorism — a profile that led MI5 to label them 'clean skins'. This failure to detect radicalisation at home led to calls for a rethink in domestic intelligence strategy. July 7 aftermath: A nation responds and reflects In the months and years that followed, the UK implemented sweeping changes in its counter-terrorism strategy. New legislation expanded surveillance and detention powers, while programmes like Prevent and Channel were introduced to curb radicalisation. There was also a rise in suspicion and scrutiny of Muslim communities, with some reporting increased instances of discrimination and profiling. Community leaders were pushed to denounce extremism and foster dialogue, even as they navigated grief and anxiety. Memorial and memory In 2009, a permanent memorial was installed in Hyde Park — 52 stainless steel pillars standing as silent markers of each life lost. Every year since, survivors and families have gathered there in remembrance. Today, on the 20th anniversary, tributes were led by senior political and religious leaders. King Charles III, in a recorded message, hailed the 'spirit of unity and compassion' shown in the wake of the tragedy. UK's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, calling July 7 a 'defining moment of collective resilience'. A legacy etched in 'steel and spirit' Twenty years on, the scars of July 7 remain. For the families of those lost, for the hundreds injured, and for a city that was forever changed, the pain endures. But so does the strength. The attacks served as a grim reminder that terrorism could emerge from within. But they also demonstrated London's ability to endure, to adapt, and to honour the memory of those it lost — not with fear, but with steadfast resolve. As the steel columns in Hyde Park (or the 7/7 Memorial) glint in the summer sun, they remind everyone not only of the lives cut short, but of the importance of vigilance, unity, and hope in the face of tragedy.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
You can have the chance to ride on vintage 1930s London tube carriages
Vintage 1930s train carriages will be running on parts of the Piccadilly Line next weekend. Between Friday (July 11) and Sunday (July 13), various parts of the Piccadilly Line will be operated by 1930s art-deco stock tube train carriages run by the London Transport Museum. Parts of the Piccadilly Line will be operated by 1930s art-deco stock tube train carriages this weekend. (Image: London Transport Museum) First built in 1938, these trains were the first kind of tubes that utilised electrical equipment underneath the floor, and served major parts of the London Underground network for over 50 years. First built in 1938, these trains were the first kind of tubes that utilised electrical equipment underneath the floor. (Image: London Transport Museum) Londoners will have the rare chance to ride aboard one of these heritage trains throughout various times over the weekend, with tickets starting from £25 for adults and £15 for children, with carers and under 3s admitted for free. Lasting between 45 and 90 minutes depending on the route, these rides will allow you to take a nostalgic trip on the London Underground with either Gold or Silver (front) or Bronze (middle) carriages available to book, with seating allocated on a first come first served basis. These rides will allow you to take a nostalgic trip on the London Underground. (Image: London Transport Museum) The trains will run between Northfields and the Heathrow Loop, as well as between Uxbridge and Acton Town, and between Ealing Broadway and Cockfosters. Here are all the times you can ride on them: This will be a return journey between Northfields and the Heathrow Loop lasting 50 minutes. On Friday there will be return journeys between Northfields and the Heathrow Loop. (Image: London Transport Museum) Times: Journey 1: 10:10am Journey 2: 11:45am Journey 3: 2:05pm Journey 4: 3:35pm Prices: Gold (front carriage only) - Adult £30, child £20, concession £29 Bronze (not including front car) - Adult £25, child £15, concession £24 This will be a return journey between Acton Town and Uxbridge lasting 90 minutes. Saturday will offer return journeys between Acton Town and Uxbridge. (Image: London Transport Museum)Times: Journey 1: 10:45am Journey 2: 12:40pm Journey 3: 2:40pm Prices: Silver (front and back carriage only) - Adult £27.50, child £17.50, concession £26.50 Bronze (not including front and back car) - Adult £25, child £15, concession £24 These are single journeys, which will either run starting from Ealing Broadway or Cockfosters Underground station, lasting 70 minutes. On Sunday, single journeys will run between Ealing Broadway and Cockfosters. (Image: London Transport Museum) Times: Ealing Broadway to Cockfosters - 10:35pm or 2:35pm Cockfosters to Ealing Broadway - 12:30pm or 4:30pm Prices: Gold (front carriage only) - Adult £30, child £20, concession £29 Bronze (not including front car) - Adult £25, child £15, concession £24
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Major fire shuts part of London Underground causing commuter chaos
Commuters in London are facing severe disruptions this morning (Friday 4) after a major fire brought Tube trains to a halt. The blaze began underneath railway arches in Roxeth Green Avenue in South Harrow around 1am. London Fire Brigade (LFB) deployed 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines to contain the fire, which was under control by 4am. There are no reports of injuries. The fire at railway arches in South #Harrow is under control and there are no reports of likely to remain on scene for several hours and severe disruption is expected on the Piccadilly Tube line as a result of this — London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) July 4, 2025 However, parts of the Piccadilly line between South Harrow and Uxbridge remain closed. Transport for London (TfL) reports that there are also severe delays on the westbound line only between Acton Town and South Harrow. London Underground tickets are being accepted on local bus services in the interim. LFB received the first of around 40 calls about the fire at 1.18am and mobilised crews from Harrow, Wembley, Stanmore, Ruislip and surrounding fire stations to the scene. Two 32-metre turntable ladders attended and were used as water towers to help extinguish the fire from above. A drone was also deployed, providing the Incident Commander with a greater situational awareness of the incident. Road closures are currently in place in Roxeth Green Avenue, near the junction of The Arches, and are expected to remain in place through the morning. According to the LFB, an unknown number of gas cylinders at the site are believed to have exploded during the early stages of the incident. Firefighters safely removed two further cylinders and cooled them to an ambient temperature, as gas cylinders can explode when exposed to heat. Local residents were advised by authorities to keep their windows and doors closed because of the smoke. The cause of the fire, which severely damaged vehicle workshops, businesses and other commercial properties, is under investigation.
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Rollout of new Piccadilly line trains delayed by up to a year
The rollout of new Piccadilly line trains has been pushed back by up to a year while the network tries to tackle the 'complex' introduction of the modern fleet on a 120-year-old Tube railway. Transport for London (TfL) confirmed last week that the new 'state-of-the-art' Piccadilly line trains will be up and running in the second half of 2026. The network initially said that the trains would enter service by the end of 2025, with the full fleet of 94 trains completely rolled out by the end of 2027. However, the introduction of the new model has been more complicated than first thought, delaying the process while TfL gets ready the 'most complex train that has ever been introduced onto the Tube network'. The new trains will offer 10 per cent more capacity, wider double doorways for easier boarding and will be the first deep Tube trains to have air conditioning. Along with a size difference, the trains will be equipped with real-time digital displays and onboard CCTV for added security. The trains will be lighter than existing designs, which TfL says means they will be more energy efficient, consuming 20 per cent less energy, and providing a smoother ride for customers. TfL said that there have been engineering challenges during the designing, building and introduction of the trains, especially on one of the deepest and longest lines on TfL's network. The trains arrived in London from Germany last year through the Channel Tunnel and underwent assessment on-site. 'This process has identified it is more complex than expected. As a result, the start of a rigorous programme of testing the interactions with the infrastructure and systems has had to be rescheduled,' TfL said. 'Siemens Mobility and TfL have been working together to address these issues, which will allow testing to start in the summer. All mitigations or design alterations will be incorporated into all future trains. Once testing starts, it will assess how the new trains will fare with the over-hundred-year-old Tube infrastructure and will allow time for any issues to be identified. Stuart Harvey, TfL's Chief Capital Officer, said: 'We're proud and excited that these innovative new trains on the Piccadilly line will have a transformative effect for London. 'This hugely complex project will boost capacity and make journeys more accessible and more comfortable for millions of people. 'This is an ambitious project with new 21st-century trains providing engineering challenges in both building and introduction into service on a 20th-century railway, and it is critical that we ensure that safety comes first and that the trains are in top condition when they begin to service London. 'It will obviously be disappointing for customers that they will have to wait a bit longer for the new trains, and I regret that. 'But I would like to assure Londoners and visitors to our city that we are working extremely closely with Siemens to ensure that the new trains can be introduced as soon as possible in the second half of next year.'
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Exhibition of archive images recreated at London Transport Museum
A new exhibition has opened showcasing historical snapshots from the capital's public transport network alongside recreated and now: London's Transport in Photographs has been commissioned to mark 25 years of Transport for London (TfL) and will be on display at the London Transport Museum until next features images by one of its drivers, Anne Maningas, who revisited the sites shown in the archive described taking part in the project as "a privilege" and said she hoped to show "the quiet beauty in the movement of the city." She added: "Being able to use analogue film for this project added a sense of continuity with our transport heritage, and it was especially meaningful to shoot with a vintage film camera once used by a London Transport Museum photographer."Matt Brosnan, head curator at the museum, said photography "played a vital role in documenting the lives of Londoners as they travel across the city and its transport workers as they keep our capital moving. "Our striking archive images bring to life London's rich history and transport past. "These images reveal not only how the city has changed, but also how transport continues to shape the lives of Londoners every day."
