London Reconnections

Phoenix Rises – Return of the Airship

On 22 June 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Aerial, Long reads, Technology

Spy balloons over the US and Canada, with some being shot down, have been a major news story in recent months. But what is not in the mainstream news is the spotting of what appears …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 19 June 2023

On 19 June 2023 By Long Branch Mike In DfT, Friday Reads, Pedestrians, Podcast, Sleeper Trains

• Britain’s railway is without a paddle (IntlRailJ) • New Wales Metro tram-train now in testing (RailUK) • Feasibility Study for £890m Oxfordshire rail link released (NewCivilEng) • Irish railway project takes old Scottish Sleeper …

Friday Reads – 16 June 2023

On 16 June 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, History, Micromobility, Parking, Trolleybuses

• TfL puts larger transport infrastructure projects on hold amid funding uncertainty (NewCivilEng) • Peckham Rye station restoration finally complete (IanVisits) • Transport innovation, engineering, lobbying, & public relations in the age of steamboats (AntonHowes) …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 12 June 2023

On 12 June 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Data, Friday Reads, Parking, River, TfL

• Inside the project bringing mobile phone coverage to the Underground (TheEngineer) • TfL on track for operating surplus, board told (OnLondon) • Wren by river tour, 1 Sept only (VisitGreenwich) • What every British …

Friday Reads – 9 June 2023

On 9 June 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Design, Eurostar, Friday Reads, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• Edinburgh tram extension to Newhaven carries first passengers (UrbanTransport) • Eurostar seeks solution to avoid suspension of Amsterdam – London services (RailwayGazette) • Boston bus stop digital library pilot (SmartCitiesDive) • Amtrak announces ultra-cheap …

The Stairway to Heaven: the greatest disaster ever on London’s Tubes

On 8 June 2023 By Jonn Elledge In History, Long reads

There’s an oddly shaped war memorial in Bethnal Green Gardens, the park next to my local tube station. It looks like an upside down staircase, made of what I’m assuming is wood but looks to …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 5 June 2023

On 5 June 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, Crossrail, Friday Reads, Trams/Streetcars/LRT, Trolleybuses

• TfL to buy more Elizabeth line trains to serve Old Oak Common HS2 temp terminus (OnLondon) • Former High Speed Rail College to close at the end of July (BBC) • Public inquiry on …

Friday Reads – 2 June 2023

On 2 June 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Aerial, Electrification, Friday Reads, Maps

• A train ride makes everything better, there are always people you can talk to: Video (GeoffMarshall) • Why the revolutionary Rotodyne failed in city centre transport: Video (Mustard) • The painful consequences of liking …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 29 May 2023

On 29 May 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, Funiculars, Tunnels, Vertical transport

• Is renationalising more UK train services a viable strategy? (FutureRail) • Politicians’ cries of ‘The War on Cars’ fails to move voters (NewStatesman) • Brussels’ Good Move mobility plan cuts tram & bus delays …

Friday Reads – 26 May 2023

On 26 May 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Buses, DfT, Friday Reads, Maps, Sustainability

• England rail passengers could lose WiFi access in DfT cost cuts (Guardian) • How train WiFi works & why it’s under threat in England (Guardian) • Effect of UK sustainable mobility policies on urban …

Poem on the Opening of the Elizabeth line: First Anniversary

On 24 May 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Arts, Crossrail, Long reads

With thanks to Jonathan Baggs MCIPR for this poem and allowing us to republish it on the anniversary of the final stage opening of the Elizabeth line 24 May 2022. Twas the Night before Crossrail, …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 22 May 2023

On 22 May 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, Crossrail, Friday Reads, Micromobility, Trolleybuses

• Tuesday is last day to save Day Travelcards (Bus&TrainUser) • Plans for Great British Railways have been watered down by No 10 (TheTimes) • Crossrail tunnel detailed engineering cross-section explained: pg 5 (MottMacDonald) • …

Friday Reads – 19 May 2023

On 19 May 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Bridges, Cycles, Friday Reads, HS2, Old Oak Common

• Progress at HS2 Old Oak Common station site as 1st base slab poured (RailUK) • Plans submitted for snaking Silvertown ped & cycle bridge (ConstructionEnq) • France developing next generation, double decker TGVs (CNNTravel) …

Crossrail – the May 2023 ‘final’ timetable

On 17 May 2023 By Pedantic of Purley In Crossrail, Long reads, Night

Much has already been written about the Elizabeth line 2023 timetable – the so called ‘final’ timetable signifying the completion of the Crossrail scheme with all the proposed services implemented and 24tph (trains per hour) …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 15 May 2023

On 15 May 2023 By Long Branch Mike In Cycles, Data, Friday Reads, Micromobility, Waterways

• Can nationalisation by stealth save Britain’s railways? (NewStatesman) • 10 year perspective on what has been achieved with London’s cycling (OnLondon) • Modern fare dodgers leave a trail of digital breadcrumbs says Digital Fraud …