Latest news with #Aslef
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
TfL activates hot weather Tube plan during heatwave
Transport for London (TfL) has said it has a "comprehensive" hot weather plan in place during the current heatwave. Last year, the Victoria line was named the hottest on the London Underground, with an average temperature above 30C between June and October, followed closely by the Central and Bakerloo is urging passengers to carry water and to "look out for each other while travelling". Train drivers' union Aslef said TfL had removed chilled water and "spending your working shift in a small metal box deep underground is rarely a pleasant experience" while the RMT called on TfL to "accelerate long-overdue efforts to introduce effective cooling". Industrial fans TfL said 40% of trains across the network have air conditioning, including the Circle, Hammersmith & City, District and Metropolitan lines, which have the coolest temperatures (19.3C) on Overground and Elizabeth line trains are also the prolonged 2022 heatwave, TfL reported a drop in passenger numbers who were advised to travel only if older lines, TfL says it has introduced "a range of station cooling systems including industrial-sized fans and chiller units to pump in cold air". Finn Brennan, Aslef's London Underground organiser, said heat affects Tube train drivers in different ways. He said: "Although cabs have air cooling units, these are very variable in quality."The job requires long hours of concentration, which is difficult to achieve when hot nights make it hard to get any sleep before a shift that can start as early as 04.45 BST."Hot weather also leads to more delays, through the impact on track and on passengers who have been taken ill."As part of TfL's cost-cutting programme, they removed the supply of chilled water for staff across the network but while TfL staff in head office buildings still have access to cool water and the opportunity to work remotely, Tube train drivers have no such luxury. "We still turn up and do the job of keeping London moving, whatever the weather." RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said London Underground staff do "vital, safety-critical work", often in deep-level tunnels where the temperature regularly exceeds added: "The TUC has long called for a legally enforceable maximum workplace temperature of 30C, or 27C for strenuous work."Underground conditions can frequently exceed those temperatures and that is not acceptable or safe."The union wants TfL to "take this key health and safety matter seriously" by providing access to water, improving ventilation, and accelerating "long-overdue" efforts to introduce effective cooling."That includes upgrading air circulation systems, expanding use of tunnel ventilation shafts, and rolling out proven solutions like cooling panels, chiller units, and modern air-conditioned rolling stock." Carl Eddleston, TfL's director of streets and network operations, said with continuous hot weather forecast over the coming days, customers should carry water with them when they travel."
New Statesman
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
Lords seek mercy
Photo by Ben Stansall/AFP Zero noblesse oblige from Conservatives in the Lords where the employment bill is being held hostage in a Tory rearguard battle to save crusty hereditaries from the chop. Chief class warrior is the former Tory Central Office apparatchik Lord Nicky True, who, with his desperate band, is frustrating the bill in an effort to force Baroness Angela Smith to reprieve entitled sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, etc from history's dustbin. However, Labour's Leader of the Lords is determined to deliver manifesto commitments. The new Bishop of Coventry, Sophie Jelley, has become collateral damage due to True's tactics. Smith proposed lifting a convention barring freshly created peers from taking the ermine on Wednesdays to accommodate Jelley and several others. True demurred, so the bish must wait as he sends the Church of England – once the Tory party at prayer – to, er, Coventry. Exactly where does Tory-turned-Reform poster girl Andrea Jenkyns live? She made her home in West Yorkshire as Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood and vowed to move 'full time' to Greater Lincolnshire now she's mayor for the hard-right party. The striped wallpaper and pictures on a 5 June interview from home for GB News captioned 'Lincolnshire' were remarkably similar to a 29 December appearance from Wakefield. Hmmm. Called out on this remarkable coincidence, Reform admitted the Lincolnshire location was a mistake and Jenkyns has yet to move. Hoist on her own decor. Cabinet comrades are growing impressed by water-boss basher Steve Reed. One admirer admitted they'd initially thought the Environment Secretary post was a speedy trip to the back benches. Bit of a wind-up merchant is Reed. Colleagues recall Tory oppo, Vicky Atkins, Sunak's last health secretary, accusing the government of spending more than the entire Defra budget surrendering the Chagos Islands. 'If the shadow secretary of state really cared about value for money,' shot back Reed, 'she would not have wasted £500,000 on relocating her office in the Department of Health.' Atkins was subsequently observed running through the lobby after Reed. 'It wasn't half a million,' she wailed, 'it was £300,000.' That's OK, then. Unable to get to Durham for the Aslef train drivers' conference, Heidi Alexander sent a video instead. The Transport Secretary stressed the value of strong ties between Labour and the unions. She emphasised the importance of those links by sending retirement best wishes to Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan. Awks. Comrade Mick has up to 18 months in office remaining. Talk about coming off the rails. Reactionary tractor boy Rupert Lowe, sitting as a Great Yarmouth indy since Reform ploughed him up, drove into a Westminster Hall trap set by the Brummie independent Muslim MP Ayoub Khan. Fulminating against halal meat, the farmer was asked if he felt the same way about kosher food. Lowe briefly answered yes, before resuming the tirade against halal. Our listening leftie Jewish snout whispered that the motormouth had instantly uprooted the hard right's bid to woo Jewish voters. Nearly a year on, and Portcullis House remains an obstacle course for Stroud newbie Simon Opher. The 2024 Labour arrivée was seen stuck in a glass revolving door. Opher's surprised guest alerted security to rescue the trapped member. Passing a fellow MP moments later, Opher giggled: 'That keeps happening to me.' Just four more years then to perfect using a door. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe An unlikely pairing sighted in Portcullis House: Tim Farron and the ex-England footballer Graeme Le Saux. The Lib Dem is a fan of the player's old club, Blackburn Rovers, and the duo met at a Football Foundation dinner. Could Le Saux, teased at Chelsea for reading the Guardian and visiting museums, join the Lib Dem team? Business Secretary Jonny 'three trade deals' Reynolds revealed they aren't easy to make. Inviting Indian negotiators to the Serpentine in Hyde Park backfired when they were late on a sweltering London day and his officials had to eat all the melting ice creams bought for visitors. During a call with US counterpart Howard Lutnick while driving through Woodhead Pass in the Pennines, phone reception was so patchy a sweating Reynolds worried he'd accidentally 'sell the fucking NHS because of Britain's telecommunications infrastructure' during a faltering conversation. Upgrading rural comms is personal. Hacks pondered whether Kemi Badenoch is beaten down after she skulked in the background then left immediately following a short speech at the launch of radio host Iain Dale's latest Thatcher tribute. She was in a fluster at PMQs after Keir Starmer asserted new scanners had been installed at two hospitals in her Essex constituency. Badenoch insisted there was only one hospital. Subsequently cited Broomfield Hospital and Saffron Walden Community Hospital, her mouthpiece insisted the latter didn't count. Or perhaps they couldn't count to two. Snout line: Got a story? Write to tips@ [See also: The race to succeed Sadiq Khan] Related
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Boss of company that owns strike-hit Hull Trains to step down
The managing director of the company that owns strike-hit Hull Trains is to step down, it was revealed tonight. Martijn Gilbert will step away from his position with immediate effect. Members of Aslef have staged a series of strikes for months over the sacking of a colleague for a safety issue. Steve Montgomery, First Rail managing director, said: 'After nearly three years as the managing director of our open access rail businesses, Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway, Martijn Gilbert has decided to pursue another leadership opportunity and will step away from his position with immediate effect. 'Martijn has led the team successfully in this period, achieving significant results and we wish Martijn well for the future. 'Stuart Jones, commercial director open access, will take on the remit of managing director of our open access businesses. 'Stuart has been instrumental in driving our open access strategy forward and will now focus on achieving that growth whilst driving performance excellence. 'Fran Barrett, business assurance director First Rail, will additionally take on the leadership of Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway on an interim basis.' Aslef has been critical of Mr Gilbert's role in the dispute. The union says the driver was unfairly sacked for raising a safety issue, which the company denies.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trust no one when it comes to ID cards
Polly Toynbee posits a world in which everyone has a smartphone and all government agencies can be trusted (Digital ID cards would be good for Britain – and a secret weapon for Labour against Reform, 9 June). What colour is the sky in this world?Linda MockettWinnersh, Berkshire • Am I the only one thinking about Sellafield and wondering by what stretch of the imagination nuclear power can be called 'clean' (Sizewell C power station to be built as part of UK's £14bn nuclear investment, 10 June)?Dr Nigel MellorNewcastle upon Tyne • This year, I received my 50 years' service badge from Aslef – a couple of years late, but we are train drivers, after all. During my career, I always 'worked on the railway', never on the trains (Letters, 8 June). Malcolm SimpsonSalisbury, Wiltshire • So is an airport a plane station or a runway station?Colin ProwerChipping Norton, Oxfordshire • I am sick of hearing calls to raise the price of alcoholic beverages (Letters, 8 June). This would have little or no effect on the middle and upper classes, but would punish those on lower incomes. What next? A rise in food prices to deal with the obesity problem?Noel HannonLondon • Damned bold of Dave Schilling to assume Elon Musk and Donald Trump ever had anything like friendship, as opposed to plans to exploit each other (Male friendship isn't easy. Just ask Trump and Musk, 7 June).Brandi WeedWoodland, California, US
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trust no one when it comes to ID cards
Polly Toynbee posits a world in which everyone has a smartphone and all government agencies can be trusted (Digital ID cards would be good for Britain – and a secret weapon for Labour against Reform, 9 June). What colour is the sky in this world?Linda MockettWinnersh, Berkshire Am I the only one thinking about Sellafield and wondering by what stretch of the imagination nuclear power can be called 'clean' (Sizewell C power station to be built as part of UK's £14bn nuclear investment, 10 June)?Dr Nigel MellorNewcastle upon Tyne This year, I received my 50 years' service badge from Aslef – a couple of years late, but we are train drivers, after all. During my career, I always 'worked on the railway', never on the trains (Letters, 8 June). Malcolm SimpsonSalisbury, Wiltshire So is an airport a plane station or a runway station?Colin ProwerChipping Norton, Oxfordshire I am sick of hearing calls to raise the price of alcoholic beverages (Letters, 8 June). This would have little or no effect on the middle and upper classes, but would punish those on lower incomes. What next? A rise in food prices to deal with the obesity problem?Noel HannonLondon Damned bold of Dave Schilling to assume Elon Musk and Donald Trump ever had anything like friendship, as opposed to plans to exploit each other (Male friendship isn't easy. Just ask Trump and Musk, 7 June).Brandi WeedWoodland, California, US Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
