Software error scuppers space rocket’s search for Earth-like planet December 17, 2019 An IT glitch has scuppered the launch of a space rocket designed to study exoplanets after the craft’s automated take-off sequence was interrupted. The Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (Cheops) is a European Space Agency mission dedicated to studying nearby exoplanets, those outside the solar system, in search of a new Earth. It was the first mission [...]
Person dies after being hit by train at Harringay station December 17, 2019 A person has died after being hit by a train at Harringay station in north London this morning. In a statement, British Transport Police confirmed that officers were called to the station shortly before 11.50 this morning following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics were also in attendance, but the person was pronounced [...]
RMT pledges to fight Tory plans for ‘minimum service’ during strikes December 17, 2019 The boss of the RMT transport union has hit out at government plans to pass legislation to ensure commuters to can get to work during strikes. Responding to the proposed legislation, general secretary Mick Cash said: “It hasn’t taken long for the true colours of this new Tory government to emerge. Read more: South Western [...]
Exclusive: Crossrail safety issues spiral in 2019 with record rate of near-misses December 17, 2019 High risk incidents in the construction of Crossrail doubled this year, in a trend that an engineering company contracted by Transport for London (TfL) has described as “worrying”. Crossrail records the number of incidents that could, in different circumstances, have caused death or serious injury. This year, Crossrail workers have been involved in 50 of [...]
Boeing halts production of 737 Max planes December 17, 2019 Boeing has announced that it will halt production of its grounded 737 Max jet in January, after the US aviation regulator said it would not approve the aeroplane’s return to service before 2020. The decision was made by Boeing’s board last night following a two-day meeting in Chicago. Read more: Boeing 737 Max: Grounding could [...]
Tube delays: Central, District and Circle Lines suffer rush hour misery December 17, 2019 Commuters were left to endure a torrid rush hour journey to work this morning after Tube delays hit three Underground lines. A signal failure at Aldgate and an earlier one at Hammersmith have brought the Circle Line to a halt in the anti-clockwise direction, as well as running with minor delays the other way. Read [...]
Trainline revenue surges to £198m on £2.9bn ticket sales December 17, 2019 Trainline enjoyed a 26 per cent jump in revenue in the first nine months of its current financial year, it revealed today. The ticket-booking app saw total group revenue hit £198m after international income soared 90 per cent year on year to £20m and UK consumer revenue leapt 31 per cent to £133m. Read more: [...]
Yacht the hell? More 100-metre superyachts being built than ever before December 17, 2019 The number of 100-metre-plus superyachts currently being built is at its highest in history, with 21 of the mammoth vessels under construction. According to research by Boat International, the total number of superyachts being built – meaning boats over 24 metres long – is 807, with 21 in excess of 100m. Read more: Smooth sailing [...]
TfL and Sadiq Khan to write to government in funding bid December 16, 2019 Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) will write to the new government in a bid to secure funding for several big ticket transport projects. TfL’s newly released five-year business plan said the government’s 2019 spending round statement had not provided long-term funding certainty past 2021. Read more: Crossrail delay until 2021 may cost London [...]
National Grid reveals contractors for London rewiring project December 16, 2019 National Grid have named its partners for the second phase of its ongoing London Power Tunnels (LPT) project, in a contract worth £400m. The UK power provider has done a deal with a joint venture between Murphy Group and Bavarian construction firm Hochtief, with work scheduled to begin in March. Read more: National Grid pays [...]