Congestion Charge Set To Rise By 20% To £18
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The Congestion Charge should rise by a fifth to £18, Transport for London (TfL) has proposed.
These three introductory paragraphs add more details.
On 2 January, the daily £15 fee for drivers of vehicles in central London will increase, the first such rise since June 2020 when the charge jumped 30% from £11.50.
If the charge is not paid within 48 hours, drivers face a penalty of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. It operates between 07:00 and 18:00 on weekdays and 12:00 and 18:00 on weekends.
Drivers of electric cars, who currently travel free in the zone, were expecting to start paying the full charge from December but will now receive a 25% discount provided they are registered for auto pay. HGVs and vans will get a 50% discount.
I won’t be surprised to find, that there are a lot of quality cars going cheap.
This though is surely the most odious part of the new plans in the last paragraph.
Applications for new residents’ discounts from petrol and diesel car owners are set to be abolished altogether in March 2027. A public consultation, external will run until 4 August.
As I read that, it means if you had to move into London because of your job, you will have to buy an electric car.
It doesn’t bother me, as I don’t drive or own a car.
A New Era For Train Travel – FlixTrain Has Ordered 65 New European High-Speed Trains
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Flix.
These four bullet points act as sub-headings.
- FlixTrain has ordered 65 new European high-speed trains, produced by Spanish train manufacturer Talgo, with locomotives supplied by Siemens
- The contract volume amounts up to EUR 2.4 bn, including certain maintenance services
- Flix sees enormous market potential for FlixTrain in Germany and Europe
- CEO André Schwämmlein: “We will start a new era of train travel”
These three paragraphs add more details.
FlixTrain, a subsidiary of the global travel–tech company Flix SE, today announced that it has ordered 65 new European high-speed trains. Talgo will provide the respective trainsets and certain maintenance services, while Siemens will provide the locomotives. The contract volume amounts up to EUR 2.4 bn, of which more than EUR 1 bn is already firmly committed.
With this strategic move, FlixTrain is responding to the growing demand for fast and affordable rail travel. The company intends to use the new high-speed trains to leverage the enormous market potential in Germany and Europe. The high-speed rail market in Germany is expected to grow by 45% by 2030, compared to 2021 volume. Across Europe, the market potential is even greater – around EUR 27 bn in 2023 with an expected annual growth of 4 – 5%.¹ In 2024 alone, FlixTrain expanded its offering by 40%, and recorded significant passenger growth, building on the strong results of 2023.
“We are pursuing a long-term strategy with FlixTrain and we will significantly expand our services in the coming years,” says André Schwämmlein, CEO and co-founder of Flix. “With the tremendous expansion of our train fleet, we will start a new era of train travel in Germany and Europe.” FlixTrain’s overall goal is to bring more people to sustainable travel by train: “We plan not only to increase our market share, but also to significantly grow the market itself”.
It looks like they’re creating a Lumo in Germany.
I have some thoughts.
The Politics
The press release says this about the German government’s view.
On the political side, the newly formed German government has acknowledged the immense potential of long-distance rail by committing to long-term investments in rail infrastructure and a reform of the track access system in Germany. These plans could unlock more private investment in Germany’s rail sector, fostering innovation for a broader range of services. Ultimately, this would lead to more competition and a better offer for customers.
I don’t think, they would be allowed to set up in the UK, as they take revenue from Great British Railways.
I can also see FlixTrain appealing to a future Reform UK government.
Passenger Service
The press release says this.
At the same time, FlixTrain works closely with the European Commission to foster European train travel and to provide a better overall offer for passengers.
I can see FlixTrain providing a better value service in Europe, than that provided in the UK by Great British Railways.
FlixTrain Is A European Product
The press release says this.
Currently, thanks to a comprehensive cooperation with regional transport, around 650 destinations are bookable via FlixTrain; 50 cities are directly connected to the vast FlixTrain network. Together with around 300 FlixBus stops in Germany alone, Flix provides a unique intermodal long-distance travel offer of international bus services and high-speed train connections. The new trains are intended to drive expansion in Germany and other European countries. “We see FlixTrain as a European product. Starting from our home market, we also want to make the service available in other countries” adds Schwämmlein.
I regularly see Flixbuses in London on their way to where?
Conclusion
If FlixTrain is allowed to setup in the UK, Great British Railways is finished for long distance services.
So of course, it won’t be allowed to setup in the UK or even come through the Channel Tunnel.
The Anonymous Widower 