Latest news with #TransportforLondon
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
UK drivers warned over 'avoiding' road instead of having to follow new rule
TfL has said it will 'closely monitor the situation' after new figures showed that around 13 per cent of drivers are dodging the toll fees at the Silvertown Tunnel in London A substantial number of drivers are shunning the recently launched Silvertown Tunnel - opting to boycott the crossing by refusing to stump up for its contentious toll fees. The route was free but now drivers will be charged up to £4 per journey. Statistics published by Transport for London (TfL) exposed the escalating problem, showing that roughly 13 per cent of motorists are deliberately swerving the crossing charge. Instead of paying the toll, numerous drivers have switched to the Woolwich Ferry as their preferred option - a change that has triggered a dramatic spike in ferry numbers since the tunnel's launch. During weekdays alone, the ferry has witnessed an extra 1,278 cars each day, marking a 36 per cent jump in traffic. The effect has proved even more striking at weekends, with daily numbers rocketing by 1,538 vehicles, amounting to a whopping 58 per cent surge, reports Birmingham Live. The figures highlight growing public defiance against the tunnel fees, as motorists hunt for cost-free alternatives despite extended queuing times and possible hold-ups. The Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels three-month monitoring report stated: "We are reviewing how to manage potential longer-term increases, for example, with improved real-time information. We expect travel patterns to settle, but will continue to closely monitor the situation." Opened on April 7, 2025, the Silvertown Tunnel is a new road tunnel in East London that runs beneath the River Thames, connecting Silvertown with Greenwich Peninsula to ease pressure on the Blackwall Tunnel. The purpose was to manage traffic and generate revenue for improvements related to the tunnel. However, it was met with criticism from drivers, forcing them to find alternative routes to avoid the fees, Highway News explained. The Mayor of London, Labour Party politician Sadiq Khan, said: "The new data TfL has published today clearly demonstrates the impact the new Silvertown Tunnel is having. It's a big win for London." "Since it opened in April, we have seen congestion significantly reduced at the Blackwall Tunnel, ensuring more Londoners get to their destination on time. The discounts and concessions we have put in place have also helped to encourage public transport uptake, boosting the numbers of journeys being made on the three cross-river zero emission bus routes by 160 per cent." Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, added: "We are fully committed to monitoring the impact of the tunnels, including how it impacts other river crossings and traffic along major and local roads in London."
Spectator
2 days ago
- Spectator
My Kafkaesque clash with TfL
When is a journey not a journey? The answer to this pseudo-Zen riddle, at least according to Sadiq Khan's Transport for London, is: when the journey is one that the passenger intends to make but is unable to complete. Have I lost you? Allow me to explain. Recently I experienced yet again one of the regular service failures that haunt the London Underground generally, and its dire Circle line in particular. This saw me forced to abort my train journey at Notting Hill Gate to make the final leg of my intended trip to High Street Kensington on foot. Admittedly this can be a quite pleasant stroll, passing, as it does, the spectacular wisteria on Bedford Gardens, and the lovely Churchill Arms. But on the day in question the wisteria had yet to bloom, it was too early for the pub, it was raining, and I was late, meaning that the absence of any Circle line trains was rather a nuisance. So, on principle, I wanted my money back. The scenario would seem at first glance an open-and-shut case for a refund. TfL rules state that passengers are entitled to one if their journey is delayed by at least 15 minutes, and mine had been. TfL's online-only refund application system, however, is configured so that you can only claim for a refund based on the journey that your payment history shows you made. In this case the system recorded that I had gone from Arnos Grove to Notting Hill Gate in a reasonable time. The fact that I had been attempting to get to High Street Kensington was therefore not factored in, so my initial application was automatically rejected. Still, I was confident that by appealing to a real person and explaining what had happened, I would get my fare back. But the TfL 'case officer' assigned to me wasn't having it. He rejected my appeal, explaining, oddly, with his own imagined example. 'A service delay is a delay on the service you have taken,' he wrote. 'If you went from Liverpool Street Station to Stratford Station but wanted to go further, the system will only look at the journey you had made, not a journey you wanted to make. Thanks again for contacting us.' In a series of subsequent emails TfL continued to justify this rejection, arguing – I summarise – that were they to cave in to people like me and start offering refunds willy-nilly on the basis of aspirational rather than real travel they'd be laying themselves open to abuse by scammers. This seems a bit of a stretch. True, TfL is ripped off to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds every day. As James Hanson noted earlier this year, fare-dodging on the Underground is rife. But I suspect the vast majority of TfL's plague of criminals tend not to buy a ticket at all rather than opportunistically enter into prolonged email correspondence in order to negotiate a refund they aren't entitled to. TfL has claimed to be cracking down on fare dodging. An Evening Standard story this year cited the use of 'up to 500 enforcement officers' on the network. I must say I found this figure surprising. I see people tailgating (squeezing through the barrier behind a customer with a ticket) pretty much every day but have not seen anyone from TfL intercept someone doing this in 20 years. And I can't recall the last time I spotted any general ticket inspections on trains – whereas these were routine in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact the sole moment of hardline authorities-to-passenger interface I have witnessed on the Tube at all this decade came at the height of Covid, when a uniformed police officer screamed menacingly at a young woman because her face mask wasn't fully covering her nose – 'Put your mask on properly!' – even though I was the only other passenger in the carriage and sitting some distance away and unbothered. But I digress. I typically use the Tube more days than I don't. This is dispiriting for a number of reasons. There are the constant pointless but intrusive platform Tannoy announcements, my favourite being warnings about a ban on carrying 'all e-scooters and e-unicycles' despite the fact that I have never knowingly seen anyone ride an e-unicycle, let alone carry one on the Underground. Meanwhile the service-related announcements that you do need to hear while in transit (as they can devastate your travel plans) are often, because of train noise and feeble speakers, completely inaudible. Then there's the frequent abrupt braking on the Central line that knocks standing passengers over like skittles; the infuriating euphemism 'evening out of gaps in the service' to explain abrupt delays; and the ever-increasing number of fellow passengers watching TikTok videos with the audio on without headphones. And, as if none of these irritations existed, TfL is forever emailing me cheery generic marketing material in this vein: 'Hello John. Feeling part of a community can do wonders for your wellbeing. Now's a great time to head to local events and cultural spots, many just a TfL journey away.' But TfL's refund system is the icing on the horrendous cake, its uselessness exacerbated by the fact that for months last year it wasn't operating at all. This was because TfL had been subject to a hacking attack and locked travellers out of their online accounts while it was resolved – so you couldn't get refunds for any journey, either aspirational or actual. It must have saved them thousands. When I put my journalist hat on and queried TfL's stance over my refund, their statement came back: 'Our online refund system is designed to help process claims quickly, but has various protections to ensure that customers can only receive a refund when they are genuinely due one.' I think they mean that they will say no unless you really whine. But I did whine – and in the end I won my argument. This was on the basis that my journey history showed I had travelled to High Street Kensington many more times than to Notting Hill Gate, giving credibility to my account that I had indeed intended to go there when I set out. After several weeks of back and forth I finally got my refund: £4.60. I'm planning to spend the money on future travel, if I can.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
10 freebies and discounts for pensioners worth £7,437 in August including free passports and cinema tickets
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of pensioners are eligible for freebies and discounts this August which could save them up to £7,437. Benefits include free passports and cinema tickets, as well as extra support from health services. 3 People over 60 are entitled to a slew of savings Credit: Getty National insurance exemption When you become eligible for the state pension, you no longer need to pay National Insurance (NI). However, the amount that you save is dependent on the amount of money you earn. For example, an employee earning £40,000 must pay £2,94 in National Insurance contributions over a year. Meanwhile, someone earning £20,000 only has to pay £594. This system is in place so that everyone pays their fair share of NI. Since the average weekly wage in the UK is £687, then the average Brit over 60 stands to save a huge £1,851.20 through NI exemptions. Discounted travel Over 60s often get discounted travel too. In England, any pensioner is entitled to a free bus pass. In Wales and Scotland, the requirement for a free bus pass is simply being over the age of 60. Transport for London offers residents in the capital an Older Person's Freedom Pass and the 60+ Oyster card, which gives you free travel on any TfL service from Monday to Friday. Five tips to feed your family for less and save on your supermarket shop The only exception to this incredible offer is that the card is not valid from 04.30-09.00am. Travel remains free at anytime on weekends. Since bus prices vary across the UK, so does the amount you stand to save but an annual bus pass in London costs an eyewatering £988. Meanwhile, a senior railcard saves you can average of £96 annually and costs just £30. When combining the railcard and bus pass savings, pensioners could save a massive £1,084. Free prescriptions and eyetests NHS prescriptions are free for any Brit over the age of 60 who lives in England, Scotland or Wales. In fact, in Wales, prescriptions are free for everyone. Buying your prescription regularly and using an annual prepayment certificate can cost up to £114.50 - which means you make a huge saving when claiming your prescription for free. 3 You can get free eyetests if you are over 60 Credit: Getty Also, anyone over the age of 60 is entitled to a free annual eye test. All you need to do is book your appointment as normal and inform members of staff that you are eligible for a free test. Over 60s can save £25 through the scheme, while ensuring that they have good eye health. Pension credit Pension Credit becomes available whenever you are able to start claiming your pension. The system is designed to bolster the income of people on lower earnings. This means that the amount of Pension Credit available to you depends on how much you have eanred and your income. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) says the average amount given out is a huge £3,900 a year. Weekly incomes of £218/15 can be topped up to £332.95 - helping to support pensioners across the UK. Free TV license The TV license is used to fund the BBC, including its television channels, radio stations, iPlayer service and its news services. This is because the BBC is a publicly-owned broadcaster. Anyone using a TV must pay the licence fee, but anyone over the age of 75 - who also claims Pension credit - can have the charge waived. This could save you £174.50 a year. 3 Claiming your Pension Credit entitles you to further benefits Credit: Getty Discounted broadband People who claim their Pension Credit are often eligible for cheaper broadband. The cheapest plans available to pensioners cost just £14.99 a month, compared to the huge average cost of £26.90. Over the span of a year, this means you stand to save a staggering £142.92. Discounted water bills Social tariffs are available to those on low incomes to help them save on their water bills. Providers offer different discounted rates, with some giving you money off the regular plan and others offering a lower cost service. Your water provider will be able to provide you with more information. Free NHS dental treatment Anyone who claims Pension Credit is entitled to free NHS dental care. Make sure to phone your dentist before hand to check whether you are eligible. If you are, you could save £26.50 for a routine check up. Some dental work, such as dentures, cost up to £3.19 though - meaning you could save hundreds. Free passports Passports are offered for free by the Home Office to anyone born before September 2, 1929. Although that means most people who are eligible for the discount are in their late 90s, it still allows Brits the chance to save £94.50. Using the fast track service will incur a charge though. Discounted days out Often, people over 60 are entitled for special discounts which can help them save money on days out. The National Trust and English Heritage both offer discounts to over 65s, helping them to get outdoors. Also, you can even save on Interrail passes - which let you travel around Europe for free - by getting 10 per cent off. Cinemas offer cheaper tickets too, as do museums, allowing you to open up your world even more. Since the amount that you save is dependent on the days out you prefer, the possibilities are endless.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
One of London's most dangerous junctions set for overhaul as TfL unveils radical safety plans
Plans to change one of London's 'most dangerous' junctions have been broadly supported by residents and businesses, though several said they feel safe navigating it already. The East London roads in the heart of Shoreditch have seen 23 collisions – and 27 injuries – in the last three years. On Monday (July 21) Londoners were invited to share their views on a slew of measures put forward by Transport for London (TfL) to improve safety at the junction connecting Shoreditch High Street, Great Eastern Street and Commercial Road. To make it safer, TfL is planning to create new 'high quality' crossings for cyclists and pedestrians, install new dedicated cycle lanes and widen the pavements to 'tackle road danger'. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited Shoreditch to ask locals about the proposals and how safe they felt in the area. Judith Yau, who lives nearby the junction she uses regularly to get to work, approved. 'The roads feel too cramped, and drivers are sometimes unpredictable,' she said, while adding that she felt safe on the whole as a pedestrian and liked walking to her office in the city from Shoreditch. TfL's plans include removing a slip road which cuts through one of the junction's pedestrian islands, to give pedestrians more room and make way for a dedicated cycle lane. Product Manager Liberatus Fusi-Akponodo, who commutes to his nearby office but used to work in micro-mobility, supported this idea. 'It creates a bit of a blind spot, and changing it would have been high on my priority list,' he said. 'Although I personally feel safe in the area, I have a high-risk tolerance. London's transport can be unnerving spaces for different parts of the population, like people who have mobility issues or who just don't have the confidence to be out on the roads.' Two bar workers in The Queens Head pub opposite the junction, where two upgraded pedestrian crossings are planned, backed the idea of more cycle lanes, if only to support the explosion of e-cycles in Shoreditch. 'Lime Bikes are everywhere here,' said Assistant Manager Ariana Schiavo. Her colleague, Adam Khan, agreed the changes were a good idea but said he did not find the roads particularly unsafe. He said: 'Honestly, I like the area as it is. It works.' Up ahead from the junction is the mouth of Bethnal Green Road, which sees many people pass through either on their lunch break or to get to and from Shoreditch High Street Overground station. TfL has also suggested banning left turns coming into this road for all vehicles apart from buses, and putting in new crossing lights with ticking countdowns. Christy Tilley, who works near Commercial Street and sometimes passes through this road to grab lunch from Pret, did not have much faith in the idea. 'If you look at the street you'll see no-one can really be bothered to wait to cross, can they?' Thirty-one-year old Kenneth Ikpefura, owner of doughnuts business Puff Puff Man, sells sweet treats from his food van in front of the railway arches. 'Banning left traffic seems like a good idea, but it might cause lots more congestion from other places,' he said. However, in his eyes the roads were generally safe for pedestrians, who were more at risk from having their phones snatched on 'rare' occasions. Ellie Waterhouse, a 'keen, confident cyclist', has cycled through the area for years including when she worked in the nearby Starbucks. She praised the emergence of more cycle lanes, which had helped restore her confidence after being knocked off her bike, and argued that a new one on the High Street would mean fewer bike riders mounting the pavement. 'There's a false dichotomy between cars and cyclists, and it's a hard balancing act for TfL. Whether you're a cyclist or driver, often people talk about being 'in traffic', when in fact they are the traffic,' Ellie added. 'I wouldn't describe this place as very unsafe but I'm more experienced. Big lorries and vehicles can be very intimidating for newbies though.' Londoners can visit TfL's webpage for more details and to share their thoughts on the plans. The consultation period is open until September 12, 2025.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Car owners warned of new scam which could see them being hit with hefty fines
Drivers should be aware of the sophisticated scam being used by criminals. UK drivers are being warned about a sophisticated new scam that could result in hefty fines for crimes they never committed. Number plate cloning has become a fast-growing criminal enterprise, with thieves systematically scanning social media posts, online marketplaces, and car sale listings to steal registration details from innocent motorists' photos. Criminals create duplicate number plates using clear images found online, then fit them to similar vehicles used in illegal activities. This leaves unsuspecting car owners facing speeding fines, congestion charge penalties, or even police inquiries for offences committed hundreds of miles away. Most disturbingly, many victims only discover they've been targeted when multiple penalty notices start arriving for locations they've never visited. The DVLA and police forces have now issued official warnings acknowledging the reality and explosive growth of this digital-age crime. Transport for London alone reported a mind-boggling 631% increase in cancelled fines due to proven cases of plate cloning, demonstrating how widespread this criminal activity has become. Simple PCP Claims car finance expert Tom Riley, said: "Blurring your reg plate might seem paranoid but it's now basic digital hygiene. "Criminals can buy plate-making equipment online for less than £50 and have your cloned plates ready within hours of spotting your Instagram post." The theft process is disturbingly simple. Criminals use readily available software to scan through thousands of social media images, automatically detecting and harvesting clear registration plate details. These are then fed into illegal plate-making operations that can produce convincing duplicates in minutes. Official advice now includes covering or blurring registration plates as a standard safety precaution when posting any vehicle images online. Fortunately, protecting yourself from plate cloning is straightforward and costs nothing. The most effective defence is simply blurring or covering your registration plate whenever you share car photos online - whether on social media feeds, selling platforms, or car enthusiast groups. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. If you do receive unexpected fines or correspondence relating to offences you didn't commit, act immediately. Report the incident to both the police and DVLA, providing evidence of your whereabouts and seeking cancellation of any wrongful charges. Many victims successfully get fraudulent penalties cancelled when they can prove cloning. Tom added: "There are thousands of documented cases where innocent drivers receive penalties for crimes they never committed. The irony is that a two-second blur tool could have prevented legal headaches and stress." Motorists were also recently urged to follow smart driving advice, which could result in them using less fuel while on the road. According to experts, drivers could save cash at the petrol pump by simply doing one thing. All motorists have to do is take their foot off the accelerator. The advice centres around a built-in feature present in most modern petrol and diesel cars, and it could save drivers significantly when fuelling up.
