Images bring to life many London Reconnections pieces. We are lucky to have a band of chums willing to brave frostbite, heat stroke and going rusty to capture stuff on our behalf. Therefore our thanks …
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Switchin’ at Hitchin: A Quick Update
Map courtesy of Network Rail In 2009, we described how Network Rail planned to debottleneck the ECML at Hitchin by building a flyover from the Down Slow to the Down Cambridge at Cambridge Junction. This, …
Continue readingWhen The Ticking Has to Stop: The Radlett SRFI
What happens when the parcel stops ticking? As our legislators’ thoughts turned towards tinsel, we saw again the traditional parliamentary game known as “When the music (parliamentary questions) stop – let’s stop passing the ticking …
Continue readingCrossrail Begins to Get Visible – Part 2
Having enjoyed the fruits of the Crossrail’s aerial survey we now return to Docklands to watch the new railway appear in front of our eyes. Eschewing the chance to vegetate before his tinsel decked telly, Unravelled recently followed in the footsteps previously trodden by John Bull to capture the progress being made on the former NLL North Woolwich branch south of Canning Town.
Continue readingThe End of an Era on the South London Line
With the opening of the London Overground Service from Clapham Junction to Dalston Junction it is time to say goodbye to the South London Line. The line provided a direct link between the London Brighton …
Continue readingIntermission: The Angle and Wangle at Farringdon
Some readers have spotted that we have not reported on the developing situation at Farringdon for a while. It’s nice to know you noticed and care and we are sorry to have kept you waiting. The general approach we were/are taking with Thameslink is almost on the basis of an “annual review,” and Spring is always a good time to review new works (the “then” and “now” scenario provides a handy hook upon which an article can be based). We’ll be starting that review this year with London Bridge, but in the meantime here are a couple of teasers with regards to Farringdon.
Continue readingLondon and its Airports Part 1: Putting the ‘Math’ into ‘Aftermath’
It starts most days about five in the morning, as planes begin their final approach to Heathrow. Almost immediately, a queue forms. “Red eye” flights arrive from North America that have taken off just before …
Continue readingWe Built This City, We Built This City at Oh –Oh –Cee
Our chum, Greg Burns, writing in the Fulham Chronicle, draws our attention to a youtube video of Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s vision for Old Oak Common. Old Oak Common (the Starship version) He writes: The …
Continue readingWhere Lame Ducks Dare? Benchmarking the London Cable Car
Not A London Cable Car Mockup (courtesy the Ronald Grant Archive) Today has seen the announcement that the London Cable Car has finally found its sponsor – Emirates Airline. Emirates will contribute £36m to the …
Continue readingTfL Board Papers: It’s Not Just About Picking Up The Pieces – It’s About Stopping It Falling Apart
Peter Hendy’s Commissioner’s Report for September 2011 to the TfL Board demonstrates yet again the resilience and tenacity of the people who make London’s transport work. Comment from us would be superfluous so we quote …
Continue readingPlane to SEN, Then Train From SIA: A Return to Southend
Southend Airport’s new rail station, which we have covered before, finally opened this summer. John Geoghegan, writing in the Echo, reported: Southend Airport’s new £12million rail station will finally open for business on Monday (17th …
Continue readingPutting the Junction into Silwood Junction
The scope of the first phase of the East London Line Extension was modified to include a flying junction at Silwood just north of New Cross Gate. The basic flying junction infrastructure, embankments, bridge and …
Continue readingHaykerloo?
Back in September 2010, JB raised the question of possible extensions to the Bakerloo line south from Elephant and Castle to Hayes, as in Hayes but not as in Hayes and Harlington. The former being …
Continue readingNorthfleet: Opportunities for Opportunism
Our thanks and copyright acknowledgements to Ian Bancroft for this atmospeheric shot of a Javelin Travelin [Eek! So soon after Proof-Reading Gate- JB] through the arches near Gravesend. A new Crossrail logistics centre is to …
Continue readingELLX Phase Two – Clapham Junction’s Platforms 1 and 2
Further to JB’s report on the ELLX Phase Two extension from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction, let’s go for a photographic guided tour of the end of the line at Clapham Junction where passengers will …
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