Caroline's news

Talking to the Evening Standard about calls for TfL to introduce "quiet carriages" on Tube and Overground services, like those that exist on National Rail, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

We cannot underestimate the impact noise has on Londoners. Creating quiet carriages should be seriously looked at.

There are many practical reasons why it might be difficult to introduce, but such arguments were once used to dismiss people wishing to avoid tobacco smoke on the Tube.

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on Transport for London’s new facility for Oyster pay as you go customers who occasionally forget to touch out at the end of their Tube, DLR Overground or National Rail journeys, said:

"After many months of campaigning to highlight the scandal of Oyster overcharging it is good news that they are at last beginning to accept that a problem even exists.

“It is however regrettable that the new system only addresses just one form of Oyster overcharging caused by people who occasionally forget to touch out.

Caroline has been campaigning in Surbiton Hill over recent weeks with John Ayles, the Liberal Democrat local candidate in the forthcoming by-election on 15th September.

Caroline Joined John and the local Lib Dem Team with Mike Tuffrey AM on Sunday 4th September, along with Lambeth councillors Ashley Lumsden and Roger Giess.

Caroline spent an afternoon out with Charles Horton from Southeastern train operating company, and Graham, a train driver trainer, to discuss issues to do with Southeastern trains and to experience life in the driver’s cab.

“It was very interesting to see first hand some of the challenges drivers face negotiating in and out of stations such as London Bridge and Victoria. Drivers receive detailed training over many months and are always alert to potential hazards on the tracks”.

“I also discussed with Mr Horton issues from ticketing at stations to improved relations with passengers and of course the Olympic timetable” commented Caroline.

After pressing Thames Water to pay compensation for the extreme transport disruption caused by a burst pipe on 1st August, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

Thames Water should stop playing legal games and accept that they were responsible for the havoc faced by thousands of passengers.