City of London Police have issued more than double the number of fixed penalty notices for cyclists going through red lights.

Figures from the start of April 2025 to end of March 2026 show that the force’s cycle team issued 1,315 fixed penalty notices to cyclists, compared to 643 in the same period the previous financial year. On average, the force is issuing 25 fixed penalty notices a week to cyclists going through red lights.

City of London Police is hosting the biggest cycle roadshow between 8am and 10am today (Thursday 16 April) outside Mansion House, as part of the force’s education, engagement and enforcement work.

During the event, cyclists going through red lights and endangering pedestrians and other road users will be invited to attend the roadshow and speak with people in the visually impaired community.

Refusal to attend will result in a £50 fine.

Officers are joined by people who are visually impaired and blind to explain to cyclists who run through red lights how their actions affect their ability to safely cross the road.

Sergeant Stuart Ford, Cycle Team lead at the City of London Police, said:

“Most cyclists are safe and obey the Highway Code, however, we are educating, engaging and where necessary enforcing those road users who go through red lights, putting themselves and pedestrians at risk.

“Running a red light puts pedestrians, especially vulnerable ones, at risk. Cyclists gamble on the fact that pedestrians will move out the way, ignoring any hidden vulnerabilities.

“Cyclists who run a red light for the sake of saving a few minutes could endanger other vulnerable road users.

“We are going the extra mile by listening to concerns of the public and cracking down on anti-social behaviour and road offences.”

Figures also show that the cycle team has been seizing almost one illegal e-bike a day. There were 351 illegal e-bike seizures during the last financial year compared to 326 in the same period the previous year.

The City of London Police relaunched its cycling capability in 2023, to help combat phone snatching, as well as other offences like drug and road offences. The Cycle Response Unit is highly visible, approachable and able to quickly get through areas inaccessible to vehicles.

Tijs Broeke, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Police Authority Board, said:

“City streets are shared by pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, which means everyone needs to show respect for their fellow road users. I fully support City Police’s pro-active approach in tackling something we know is a big issue for residents and workers, and one which puts others at risk.

“Initiatives like this send a strong message that the rules apply to everyone, and we all have shared responsibility to ensure the Square Mile is a place where everyone can feel safe and welcome.”

We are no longer open to casual callers but are happy to open by appointment.
We shall continue to open by appointment while we still have sufficient stock for it to be worthwhile.
The sale discounts still apply!
For an appointment e-mail books@roberthumm.co.uk, or try phoning 01780 766266, we are still often working around the shop

Web site sales - the end
Online sales are no longer possible. Almost all the books listed here are still available (if not marked SOLD) and can be ordered by e-mail or by visiting the shop by appointment. The site is being remodelled and should appear in its new form before the end of April.

Retirement Sale - All Stock Must Go
Thousands of good clean railway books, British and foreign, booklets, time tables, bound periodicals.
Sale discounts for customers visiting the shop:
Old and recent : 50% off marked prices
New : 25% off cover prices
Plus many special bargains.

Don't think I would like to negotiate any pointwork on those red wheeled rail bikes 

The black one at the back might do ok though.

Presumably it translates to the allocated train has broken.

Should more space be allowed for that part of our population which eats fish, but not meat?

I thought this photogaph of a Bristol bus was worth pointing out...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/200198976/in/photostream/

Ah... but I don't yet have my head round what this is doing.

Mark

https://faremap.cjar.co.uk/

You could also say, it's 'slightly less bad'. 

Arrests after windows on multiple vehicles smashed


Police said heritage vehicles had also been damaged at the coach yard

Two teenagers have been arrested after almost all the windows were smashed on vehicles parked at a storage yard.

Avon and Somerset Police said it was called after the "significant damage" was caused to two minibuses, five single-decker coaches, three double-decker vehicles, and two privately-owned cars at the yard near Midsomer Norton in Somerset.

Staff said five people with their faces covered had been on site when they got there, and a boy in his mid-teens was arrested at the scene before being de-arrested and taken home.

A second boy in his mid-teens was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of causing criminal damage, and remains in police custody.

Avon and Somerset Police said the first boy will be interviewed in due course but de-arresting him and taking him home had been "necessary".

A further three vintage vehicles were damaged, and will be "very difficult" to repair, police added.

Martin Spiller, managing director of Centurion Travel, said the damage would affect the community as well as his family-run firm.

The company previously operated 28 coaches - 10 of which have been vandalised.

Spiller said the firm now faces costs of "tens of thousands" in repairs and finding replacement vehicles to fulfil its contracts - particularly for schools in Bath and North East Somerset now the Easter break has ended.

(BBC article continues)

Yes, I think that's a fair statement...as long as you include the "Still poor" bit.

CalMac's dual-fuel ferry has run solely on diesel since July


CalMac initially suspended use of the ship's liquefied natural gas after concern that some gas could enter the engine spaces

CalMac's "eco-friendly" dual-fuel ferry Glen Sannox - which is capable of running on gas - has been operating solely on diesel since last July, it has emerged.

The operator initially suspended use of the ship's liquefied natural gas (LNG) last summer after concern that some gas could enter the engine spaces.

An extra safety feature was fitted during the vessel's annual overhaul to address the issue but CalMac then decided not to "re-gas" the ship when it returned in February.

A spokesperson said re-gassing would take at least a week and the priority had been to get Glen Sannox back into service as soon as possible given the shortage of available vessels on its west coast network.

The initial decision to suspend the use of LNG for the main engines followed concern that gases from a vent pipe could enter the engine spaces via an air intake, according to the Daily Express which first reported the story.

Venting into the atmosphere is a standard feature of LNG ships to control pressure and to get rid of "boil off" gas - where the gas deliquefies - as well as gases released when the ship switches between fuels.

The ship's refrigerated LNG tank then had to be emptied for safety reasons before it went for an extended overhaul in Merseyside in November.

CalMac said refilling the LNG tank was a lengthy process because the engine had to cool down for a week before the refuelling operation could commence.

Given the shortage of serviceable vessels it was facing, the operator decided instead to continue operating the ship solely on marine gas oil, a form of diesel.


CalMac says the cryogenic LNG tank on Glen Sannox cannot be refilled until the engines have been allowed to cool for a week

CalMac said it planned to resume using LNG once the current network pressures had eased and a suitable opportunity arose to take Glen Sannox out of service for re-gassing.

The spokesperson added: "She was designed to run on either LNG or diesel and has not operated on LNG since July 2025. The vessel has been a welcome addition to the CalMac fleet since she joined the service in January 2025."

The ferry, which normally serves Arran, is currently redeployed to the Ullapool- Stornoway route because of vessel shortages.

(BBC article continues)

Weekend of disruption expected on Midland Mainline


The old footbridge at Harlington station is being removed after a new one was installed

Work to remove an old footbridge over a busy section of the Midland Mainline has begun, with disruption expected until Monday.

Network Rail said the structure at Harlington station in Bedfordshire would be taken down after a new one - designed to last 120 years - opened on 9 April.

The work, part of a series of improvements, means buses are replacing Thameslink trains between Bedford and Harpenden, until 20 April.

Dan Matthews, Network Rail's operations director said: "By co-ordinating this work with other key upgrades along the route, we are keeping disruption to a minimum and helping passengers see the benefits as quickly as possible."

East Midland Railway is not running trains between Bedford and London St Pancras during this time, with a replacement bus service operating between Bedford and Hitchin.


Network Rail says the new footbridge at Harlington is designed to last 120 years

While services are suspended, Network Rail engineers said they would also carry out:

* Track renewal at Flitwick, where five engineering trains and a tamper maintenance machine will install 642 metres of new rail, along with 2,760 tonnes of ballast and 1,008 concrete sleepers

* Further work on the Access for All project at Luton station, to install an accessible footbridge and three lifts

* Drainage work at Harpenden station to prevent flooding, protect the railway and support safer, more reliable services for passengers.

Adrian Gogay, infrastructure director for Thameslink, said: "I would like to apologise to customers [as] journeys are going to take longer. Please do plan ahead, allow more time and check the latest online before setting out - especially if you are travelling to Luton Airport."

If it's any comfort, (as we're told above) apparently it's "definitely improving" 

Still poor...but definitely improving.