Additional MQT late answers May 19
Question No: 2019/9215
Andrew Dismore
The new West Hampstead Overground station is nearing completion. The construction design allows for the station to be completed with or without a ticket office. Residents are concerned that the station will lose its ticket office facility by default. Will you confirm that the ticket office will be provided in the new station?
Answer for West Hampstead Overground station
The Mayor
Last updated: 21 May, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
West Hampstead Overground station
The Mayor
Last updated: 31 May, 2019
West Hampstead Overground station is being redeveloped without a traditional ticket office. However, a staffed point of sale will be available at busier times at this station. Transport for London is currently finalising arrangements for the station, which will be confirmed following discussions with the Trade Unions.
Question No: 2019/9217
Andrew Dismore
In areas where residents are suffering excessive ground borne tube noise, reduction in train speeds have been shown to ameliorate significantly the noise they suffer. Will you now consider slowing trains outside rush hours, especially at weekends and with the night tube?
Answer for Tube noise [2]
The Mayor
Last updated: 21 May, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Tube noise [2]
The Mayor
Last updated: 31 May, 2019
All reports of Tube noise are assessed by Transport for London (TfL) on a case by case basis so that the appropriate action can be taken. The relationship between train speed and noise levels is complex and there is not always a direct link between the two. The use of speed restrictions needs to be carefully balanced against providing a level of service that London Underground customers could reasonably expect.
TfL is currently reviewing what criteria should be used when assessing requests for speed restrictions.
Question No: 2019/9222
Andrew Dismore
Will you make a statement on when you expect the new trains to be available and running on the line? How much longer will passengers have to put up with a sub-standard service?
Answer for Gospel Oak to Barking Line
The Mayor
Last updated: 21 May, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Gospel Oak to Barking Line
The Mayor
Last updated: 31 May, 2019
Passengers on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line have had to endure a poor service for far too long, and I share their frustration at the continued delays that they have experienced. However, I can now confirm that the first of the brand new four-car electric trains entered passenger service on the line on Thursday 23 May 2019.
This is the first step towards returning to the regular timetable of four trains per hour, and delivering the much-needed capacity on this line. The new electric trains, built by Bombardier Transportation in Derby, can carry nearly 700 people, double the capacity of the old diesel trains that were previously operating on the line. The new trains will also be much better for air quality and the environment.
Two of the new trains are now in operation on the line, enhancing the service provided by the modified electric trains. This will allow Transport for London (TfL) to run additional services on weekdays and weekends, complementing the current two trains per hour interim timetable. More trains will be put into service over time and it is expected the regular 15 minute frequency will be restored later in the summer.
I have secured a month’s free travel, funded by Bombardier Transportation, as a well-deserved thank you to passengers on this line for their patience. TfL will be offering this from September and will provide more detail closer to the time.
Question No: 2019/9227
Andrew Dismore
Constituents have raised that Uber are operating unlawful discriminatory practices against wheelchair users, in requiring them to book larger, far more expensive cars unnecessarily, when asked to carry light, small travelling wheelchairs which would fit in an ordinary vehicle. Will you investigate this practice, and take action to stop Uber discriminating against passengers with disabilities?
Answer for Uber [1]
The Mayor
Last updated: 21 May, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Uber [1]
The Mayor
Last updated: 31 May, 2019
Private hire drivers have specific legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate when providing a service. This includes not charging passengers more because they are disabled.
Transport for London (TfL) have recently prosecuted licensed drivers for failing in these duties and we will investigate and take appropriate action for all complaints we receive in relation to failure of duties imposed by the 2010 Act. I would encourage your constituents to contact TfL directly if they have not already done so.
Question No: 2019/9228
Andrew Dismore
Uber make it virtually impossible for customers to make an email complaint or indeed any other kind of complaint. Will you investigate this and require them to operate an accessible complaints process?
Answer for Uber [2]
The Mayor
Last updated: 21 May, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Uber [2]
The Mayor
Last updated: 31 May, 2019
Since 1 October 2018 Transport for London (TfL) has required all private hire operators to have a phone line available to passengers at all times the business is operating to enable customers to make a complaint. I understand that Uber London Limited (ULL) customers can make a complaint by phone, online, via the ULL customer app or on Twitter.
Complaints about taxi or private hire journeys can also be made directly to TfL at the following location: www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs.
Question No: 2019/9229
Andrew Dismore
Do you agree that there is no reason now, with the bendy buses gone and one fewer bus route stopping there, for the two bus stops outside the Mornington Crescent tube station not to be reunited, to serve the 24, 27, 29 And 134 more conveniently, especially for older people who presently have to make a run for the bus stop for the next bus?
Answer for Mornington Crescent bus stops
The Mayor
Last updated: 21 May, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Mornington Crescent bus stops
The Mayor
Last updated: 31 May, 2019
The split stops are designed to help manage the five day routes and four night bus routes that serve the area. If both stops were to be merged it would create a capacity issue given the number of buses stopping at that location, as each of the four bus routes that serve Mornington Crescent are high in frequency.
Transport for London’s assessments show that there is only room for two to three buses before the road would be blocked by traffic at the busy junction of Eversholt Street and Camden High Street. This could also cause problems for pedestrians wishing to cross the road and delay other bus services.
In addition, the street furniture at stop D could hamper the effective boarding and alighting (especially for those with mobility issues) if more than two buses parked sequentially, which is less likely to happen with the split stops.
Additional messaging to drivers has been included within the new Big Red Book, a handbook that guides drivers to look out for customers who may need to board their bus. The handbook advises drivers to check no one else wishes to board the bus and to be prepared to wait for customers, in particular people making an effort to get to the bus stop, including vulnerable, older or disabled people. However, once a driver has started to indicate to move or another vehicle has given way, it would be unsafe for the driver to re-open their doors and would give mixed messages to other motorists.