Issue 27 april 2010 on t h E m O v E PENSIONER PENSIONERS’ EDITION By royal appointment the Queen visited Aldgate station as part of a royal tour of four working locations in the City in February. During the vIP visit, the Queen chatted to station, train, service control, maintenance and cleaning staff and British transport Police officers and heard what it’s like to work at a busy station. Chief Operating Officerh oward Collins then presented her with a custom-made Buckingham Palace roundel. Station Supervisor mario Christodoulou said: “the anticipation was unbearable. I was very excited and felt extremely honoured. “I have built a water feature to commemorate the 7 July bombings, and the Queen said it was very pleasing to the eye. “She took an interest in how long I had been working for LU and about the recent refurbishment, and said the office looked cluttered! Royal roundel: Chief Operating Officer Station conversation: the Queen chats to Station Supervisor Mario Christodoulou. “She was a lovely lady and made me feel at ease straight Howard Collins presents the Queen with away, but I just couldn’t believe how little she was!” her very own Buckingham Palace sign. new bus has the TfL pensions unchanged Wright stuff This year, for the first time, pensions was negative at -1.4 per cent. manufacturer Wrightbus has been chosen to design from the TfL Pension Fund did not However, the good news is that and build the New Bus For London in mayor Boris increase. pensions did NOT reduce. The value Pension increases are governed of pensions is therefore protected, Johnson’s competition for a Routemaster replacement. by the Fund Rules, which state that and staying at the same rate actually the first new bus is due on London’s streets in 2011. any increase in pensions will be by represents an increase relative to the It will feature an open platform that can be closed reference to the increase in the Retail cost of living as measured by RPI at off if needed, hybrid technology to make it 40 per cent Price Index (RPI) in the September just that date. more fuel-efficient than conventional diesel buses, gone, compared with the September Pensioners in receipt of a post-1988 three doors and two staircases for quicker boarding. before that. GMP element of their pension will be the mayor said: “We can look forward to a new icon In September 2008, the increase in aware that this part of the pension of London that not only returns to the Capital the joy RPI was five per cent and pensions were is increased by the State and paid of the open platform, but also uses state-of-the-art increased at this rate with effect from along with the State pension. At the green technology.” 1 April 2009, even though inflation, as time of going to press, the Increase Wrightbus managing Director mark Nodder said: measured by RPI, fell substantially after Order has not been published, but our “We’re delighted to be chosen by tfL as the preferred that September date. expectation is that there will be no bidder. this project marks the start of an exciting new The change in RPI to September 2009 increase to this element of pension. chapter in passenger transport in London.” INSIDE: LU welcomes new MD p3 Transport Benevolent Fund profile p4 Your letters answered p8 otm news Pensioner Forum update Noticeboard TBF on the move items discussed at The Transport Benevolent Fund (TBF) has moved offices. The new address is Transport the latest pensioner Benevolent Fund, 22–25 Finsbury Square, forum on 25 London EC2A 1DX. The phone number Farming today (listed below) stays the same. Several Chalk Farm garage January include: employees got in touch following last issue’s reunion n the pensioners’ request, and a meeting has representatives were been arranged. It will be at pleased with the new-look the Drum and Monkey pub, calendar on the whole, Junction Road, London N19 and said the Christmas Chiswick chat (near Archway Tube station) card was better than the All former Chiswick Works colleagues are invited to on Sunday 23 May from 13.00. If you’d like to come, please previous year’s the annual dinner at the Twickenham Masonic Centre on 17 April 2010 at 18.00 for a 19.00 start. People contact Sheila Rogers (now who can’t make the dinner are welcome to come Mrs Cunney) on 07931 271511 n the Pensioner Liaison along later for drinks and a chat. Please contact before 16 May so Sheila can Representatives’ (PLR) Don Robson on 020 8570 3136 for more details. organise a buffet for the handbook is being rewritten correct number of people. for the next PLR meeting in May. A leaflet about the PLR scheme for all new retirees was completed at the end Upgrade updates LTRSA meeting of February Find out which lines and stations are The next Annual General Meeting of closed for upgrade work by logging on the London Transport Retired Staff n Richard Williams, Scheme to www.tfl.gov.uk/check for the latest Association (LTRSA) takes place on Actuary from Towers planned closures If you don’t have 17 May 2010 at 13.00 at 55 Broadway. Watson, gave a presentation internet access, you can call 0843 222 For more information, please contact on the TfL Pension Fund 1234, or textphone 020 7918 3015. George Allen on 01726 815707. actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2009 n the new Pensioners’ Guide document was discussed pensioner liaison update The Pensioner Liaison You would decide how much address on page 5. You could n pensioners’ Representative (PLR) scheme time to give and how many make a real difference to the life representatives’ spokesman still needs volunteer visitors people you could see in a year. of members in your area, as one John Ingleton announced to cover many areas of the For more information about of our PLRs explains on page 5. that he will stand down country, including Kent, the scheme, please contact me after the next meeting, but Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, on the Pensioner Liaison number Yvonne Kerchhoff, Pensioner will continue as a PLR. Middlesex and Devon. in the box below or write to the Liaison Manager ContaCt details for pensioner enquiries TfL Pension Fund Hospital Savings Association Tax queries – For any otm queries and 020 7918 3733 01264 353211 HM Inspector of Taxes suggestions – call 0845 300 3939 (quote ref 083/ 020 7922 5670 or email Staff Travel Simply Health LT7 and your National Insurance [email protected] 0800 015 5073 0800 072 6719 number) or write to otm pensioners’ Pensioner Liaison Transport Benevolent Fund edition, 24-26 Great Suffolk 0800 015 5074 08450 100 500 Street, London SE1 0UE You can log on to the TfL Hospital Saturday Fund Transport Friendly Society Pension Fund website at www. 020 7928 6662 020 7240 8886 tflpensionfund.co.uk The opinions and views expressed in the advertisements in this magazine are in no way those of The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition London Underground Ltd or Transport for London. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not that the advertiser warrants that the advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or necessarily represent the views of London Underground or the editorial team. All rights reserved. contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval No part of this magazine may be copied or produced in any form, including photocopying, without of the publishers, who reserve the right to refuse, amend, withdraw, or otherwise deal with the consent of the holder of the copyright. Advertisements or other inserted material are accepted advertisements submitted to them at their absolute discretion and without explanation. All subject to the approval of the publishers and their current terms and conditions. advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. 2 otm news Mike makes return TUBE TRIP New London Underground (LU) Managing Mike said: “It is a privilege to have Director Mike Brown started in the role on been offered this chance to lead London 22 March. Underground. Mike is no stranger to the Tube. He “Millions of passengers rely on the Tube Delivering joined LU in 1989 and was chief operating every day and I look forward to working improvements: officer from 2003 until 2008, when he collaboratively with LU’s staff and all our Mike Brown is moved to BAA and was responsible for partners to deliver the improvements so back at LU. running Heathrow. vital to London’s future.” Crossrail is coming It’s billed as the most important And it’s starting to feel real as infrastructure development not buildings in key central locations only in London, but in the whole are already being demolished to of the UK. allow enabling work to start. Crossrail will transform the London Underground (LU) Capital’s public transport network will manage the main stations and the London skyline when it in central London – Bond opens in 2017. It will run from Street, Tottenham Court Road, Maidenhead and Heathrow in Farringdon, Liverpool Street and the west to Shenfield and Abbey Whitechapel. LU has a Crossrail Wood in the east, via new twin team already up and running, tunnels under central London. working with the designers and It will link Heathrow Airport, the builders to make sure the stations Did you know? No small hall: how the West End, the City of London and and infrastructure match our The Crossrail route will be Liverpool Street and Moorgate Canary Wharf and add an extra specifications and standards and 118.5km (74 miles) long 10 per cent to London’s overall the building work causes minimum ticket hall could look under the Crossrail scheme.