London Reconnections 2022 Christmas Quiz

2022 sees a shorter quiz than usual primarily because your quizmaster has infrequently visited central London. Thank goodness for the opening of the Elizabeth line which has helped provide some of the questions. We hope you will find the questions stimulating.

Our aim is to provide you with a variety of questions that can be answered with a bit of transport knowledge and, possibly, some devious thinking. In many cases intelligent searching on the internet will help you on your way to providing an answer as well.

Regrettably, prizes continue to something we have failed to keep on top of. So please just enter for the fun of it and more in hope than expectation of getting a prize. You can send your answers to quiz-22@londonreconnections.com. We will attempt to supply the answers at 00:01 on January 1st.

And, just to let you know and confirm, No pub meeting tomorrow (Thursday). See here for details.

Question 1

The Tube Map doesn’t just show tube lines and it isn’t a map. It is a topological diagram. A topological diagram is one in which distance and direction are irrelevant. It is sometimes thought of as a distorted map on a infinitely stretchable rubber sheet. So, squares, triangles and circles are equivalent and a line running North-South is equivalent to a line running East-West. What you can’t do is distort where lines cross or change the order of locations on a line.

On this basis, what fairly major topological error is there on the Tube map at the western end of the Elizabeth line?

(Click this link to display the standard tube map as a PDF file).

At the other end of the line in the Abbey Wood area, there appears to be an obvious error in that the stations of Belvedere and Erith have been omitted from the Greenwich line to Dartford. Why is this not an error?

Question 2

To some extent you will have to take this question on trust. Here is a list of announcements on the Elizabeth line all of which either took place at deep level stations in the central section or are made up by us.

1. Mind the Gap
2. Please stand well clear of the edge of Platform A
3. This station is now served by the Elizabeth line
4. Customers should take extra care on the wet floors
5. This is the Farringdon TfL Rail control centre
6. Pay-as-you-go customers at Farringdon transferring from the Elizabeth line to National Rail should exit the station and re-enter in order to pay the correct fare. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Four of these are genuine and two of these are made up. Can you guess which two have been made up?

Question 3

On Monday 19^th September 2022, the funeral took place of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This was a day when, fittingly, the Elizabeth line should have provided a good service for mourners. What actually happened?

Question 4

What milestone was reached on 24^th May 2022 that was a significant advance in expanding TfL-run rail services – apart from the opening of the Elizabeth line?

Question 5

As of the time of writing (first week of December)?

Which station on a service run using former London Underground trains is currently closed on a line which (except for this station) is currently open?
What is the reason for this?
Which line run using former London Underground trains currently has no passenger trains running?
What is the alleged reason for this?
What might not happen in London as a consequence of this alleged reason?

Question 6

Where is this?

According to its title, the remnant of what type of (land) transport system is featured here?

Question 7

What was delayed in 2022 as a result of a flaw in the floor?

Question 8

What mode of transport within Greater London connects Three Bridges with Norwood?

Why is Three Bridges a misnomer?

Question 9

How many Secretaries of State for Transport have there been in 2022 (so far)?

Question 10

Very recently, the Museum of London finally closed its doors in its current location. As part of its display it had a window through which you could see part of London’s Roman City Wall. Obviously this cannot be replicated at its new location in Smithfield but what transport related item is proposed to be visible through a window in a wall at the new museum (rebranded as the London Museum)?

Question 11

What new Thames Bridge intended for cyclists appeared to be approved before the pandemic but then got cancelled and now, finally, appears to have been given the go-ahead – but cycling over it will not be permitted?

Question 12

The following are pairs of two-word phrases with a common word in each of the pair. The former is a term used in-house on the London Underground. The latter is a common expression.

For example: if the two-word phrases were:

Tube xxxxx / Bridal xxxxxx

then both would make sense if the second word was 'train'

What words make appropriate two-word phrases?

a) Escalator xxxxxx / Biscuit xxxxxx

b) Signal xxxxxx / Log xxxxxx

c) Bang xxxxxx / High xxxxxx

d) xxxxxx back / xxxxxx stones

Question 13

Past quizzes have had a bit of an obsession with toilets. Continuing this theme …