Cacophonix

It is amazing to me that anybody thinks that the overarching ego that is Boris Johnson is fit to be or could be a British PM.

His personal fixation with a new airport hub in the estuary to the east of London might be worthy of consideration, if only for the novelty factor, but the turdulent thinking of his some of his spokespeople makes it clear that he is badly advised and in fact is probably more interested in the scheme for his own political ends rather than the good of the future of British civil aviation, British industry as a whole and the travelling British public.

Heathrow could shrink to one runway to fund new hub airport - Telegraph

I don't know what the mayor and his aviation expert are smoking but it stinks more than the mud in the estuary I think...

Why Willie Walsh even gives credibility to all this baloney by talking about the closure of Heathrow is just beyond me. Perhaps he needs a rest in small Swiss clinic as well.

What with the ongoing rail fiasco it seems that any sensible discourse or transport strategy is beyond not only the politicians but also beyond senior transport executives as well.

It isn't April the 1st is it? Am I missing something or have I become stuck in the mud as well?

Caco

Milo Minderbinder

I suspect that any problem lies within the passenger forecasting and modelling unit of TfL - and that is where any bad advice originates.

For example: A mole once told me that the mathematical modelling used by TfL to predict passenger growth on the railway and tube is fatally flawed. But because its the brainchild - and sacred cow - of the guy in charge of the department, nothing can be changed until he retires or dies.
A valid alternative model is available, but can't be used until he goes.
Essentially all London railway planning decisions over the last twenty years or so have been based on invalid passenger forecasts. The problem is known about, but no-one has the political clout to bring the matter to the attention of Boris & Co
Projects said to have been affected are Crossrail, much of the tube stock replacement schemes, the East London line rebuild, the Thameslink upgrade, the Croydon trams and the Docklands light railway.

Of course, all this predates Boris and is a hangover from Red Ken's appointments. Unfortunately Boris didn't have a clearout of staff when he arrived