RAIL Minister Jo Johnson was branded “Mr Invisible” yesterday after fleeing the country during the rail hike announcement. Tory MPs slammed Boris’ brother – while Labour accused him of “being in denial about the state of the railways”. Millions of commuters found out on Wednesday that they face an eye-watering 3.2 per cent in ticket prices in January. The huge hikes come despite a year of cancellations and delays on key routes from Northern Rail to Southern. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling was forced to demand both rail operators launch compensation schemes after timetabling chaos earlier in the summer. Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: “As passengers learn they’ll have to pay even higher rip-off fares Jo Johnson becomes Mr Invisible. Where is he? People need to know, the Tories can’t stay in denial about the state of our railways any longer.” Mr Grayling led the Government’s response when … [Read more...] about Rail Minister Jo Johnson dubbed ‘Mr Invisible’ after fleeing the country as ticket prices are hiked
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Guardians of the Arches: Hackney mayor asks Jo Johnson to clear up his position on Network Rail sale
PUBLISHED: 11:49 15 August 2018 | UPDATED: 12:27 15 August 2018 Sam Gelder Arches traders outside Parliament after the meeting on Tuesday. Archant Hackney mayor Phil Glanville has written to transport minister Jo Johnson asking him to clear up his position on the Network Rail arches sale. Mr Glanville told Mr Johnson, who has met with campaign group The Guardians of the Arches, that he still had “serious concerns” over the plans to sell all 4,455 railway arches to one seller.In June the mayor wrote to transport secretary Chris Grayling asking him to stop the sale, which is now imminent, and said Hackney Council would be interested in buying the borough’s 182 units.Following reports Mr Johnson had said he would try to intervene in the sale to ensure profit was not the only factor, Mr Glanville said: “It is important given the level of concern from businesses in Hackney we have clarity on your ideas, what they mean in practice and how … [Read more...] about Guardians of the Arches: Hackney mayor asks Jo Johnson to clear up his position on Network Rail sale
Guardians of the Arches: Traders hand Jo Johnson list of demands in bid to stop Network Rail sale
PUBLISHED: 15:09 06 August 2018 | UPDATED: 15:09 06 August 2018 Sam Gelder Arches traders outside Parliament after the meeting in June. Archant Traders fighting the imminent sale of Network Rail’s arches have laid out their demands to transport minister Jo Johnson following the successful meeting with him last month. Inside the arch of Chu's Garage in Helmsley Place, the Chu family, from left Quang Chu, Nhi Chu, Chau Chu and Jimmy Chu. Picture: Polly HancockThe Guardians of the Arches group was formed in London Fields 18 months ago to fight devastating rent hikes of up to 300 per cent and now has hundreds of members from across the country – plus the backing of the Labour party.The aim now is to stop the impending sale of all 4,555 arches to one buyer on a 99-year lease. Traders believe it will leave them at the mercy of a faceless corporate landlord with little care for their livelihoods.Last month Mr Johnson agreed to listen to alternatives … [Read more...] about Guardians of the Arches: Traders hand Jo Johnson list of demands in bid to stop Network Rail sale
Herts and Cambs MPs press Jo Johnson on compensation for carnet tickets and interim timetable
PUBLISHED: 07:00 24 July 2018 Fraser Whieldon A Thameslink train www.peteralvey.com MPs have been questioning the lack of compensation for carnet ticket holders on Thameslink and Great Northern services and the problems with the new timetable. Last week, it was announced Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs Thameslink and Great Northern, would help pay compensation to season ticket holders.This followed months of disruption on services, including delays, cancellations and overcrowding, following a botched timetable change in May.Answering an urgent question posed by Labour in the House of Commons last week, rail minister Jo Johnson said: “The Department for Transport is closely monitoring for sustained performance improvements by GTR, and we will be holding it and its new chief executive officer to account. “At the same time, the department has been working hard to make sure passengers receive compensation and an explanation for the … [Read more...] about Herts and Cambs MPs press Jo Johnson on compensation for carnet tickets and interim timetable
Guardians of the Arches: Transport minister Jo Johnson agrees to consider alternatives to Network Rail sale
PUBLISHED: 15:51 23 July 2018 | UPDATED: 15:57 23 July 2018 Sam Gelder Traders from Chu's Garage, E5 Bakery, Maxwell & Pinborough, and Sulamen Ozer. Picture: Polly Hancock Archant Transport minister Jo Johnson has agreed to consider alternatives to Network Rail’s impending sale of its 4,555 railway arches to one buyer. Members from The Guardians of the Arches, a growing group of 300 business owners formed in London Fields, met Mr Johnson and Network Rail chiefs on Wednesday to argue their side.Traders say plans to sell all the arches in the UK on a 99-year lease will leave them at the mercy of a faceless corporate landlord with little care for their livelihoods.Instead they wanted to delay the sale so they can be involved in the process and come up with alternatives, a proposal the minister committed to taking seriously.One alternative is for groups of arches to be sold to local authorities, an idea Hackney mayor Phil Glanville told transport … [Read more...] about Guardians of the Arches: Transport minister Jo Johnson agrees to consider alternatives to Network Rail sale