London Reconnections

Friday Reads – 5 August 2022

On 5 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Airports, Friday Reads, HS2, Maps, Sustainability

• Heathrow bans short-haul tickets to alleviate flight problems (BBC) • HS2 building tunnel under Euston for the Underground (IanVisits) • New trial to detect drivers on mobile phones in Warwickshire (BBC) • Germans want …

Elizabeth Line Envy: Thameslink deserves some map respect

On 4 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Crossrail, Long reads, Maps, TfL, Thameslink

In an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Commander Riker was challenged by a subordinate. His response was “I bring all the options to the Captain.” This needs to be one of TfL’s map …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 1 August 2022

On 31 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Data, Friday Reads, Pedestrians, Sustainability

• How to prevent more European transport heatwave meltdowns (Wired) • Bollardology: History & taxonomy of London street bollards: Book review (LondonHistorians) • Lightning takes out catenary & disrupts Ottawa LRT line (Trains) • Delta …

Friday Reads – 29 July 2022

On 29 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Bridges, Friday Reads, Night, Pedestrians, Stations

• Piccadilly Night Tube restarting today: 1st full Night Network since start of pandemic (RailUK) • Plans to open a disused railway bridge over the Thames to pedestrians (IanVisits) • A better job of categorising …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 25 July 2022

On 25 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Buses, Friday Reads, Nudges, Stations, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• TfL trials cooling solution for Tube network (RailUK) • London cycling up by 25% since pre-Covid (EveningStandard) • Future looks bright for buses & transport in some British cities (CentreForCities) • New York Penn …

Friday Reads – 22 July 2022

On 22 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Fonts, Friday Reads, Stations, Sustainability, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• UK Court orders Gov’t to explain how it will reach Net Zero targets (Guardian) • Some thoughts & history on the Johnston Memorial at Farringon (DougRose) • World’s most unconventional rail line? Zurich’s S10 …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 18 July 2022

On 18 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, New York, Sustainability, Trams/Streetcars/LRT, Waterways

• West Midlands Metro tram extension opens Sunday 17 July (RailPro) • Northumberland passenger line reopening campaign well fought (ChristianWolmar) • Eversholt & Vivarail examining feasibility of Class 321 battery multiple unit (ModernRailways) • Spain introducing …

Friday Reads – 15 July 2022

On 15 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Aerial, Buses, Friday Reads, London Overground

• London Overground Barking Riverside extension to open 18 July (RailAdvent) • Imminent announcement of £2 cap on all bus fares in England for 6 months (Bus&TrainUser) • Valencia opens long delayed surface/underground tramline T10 …

Central London Bus Cuts – An Alternative Viewpoint

On 13 July 2022 By Pedantic of Purley In Buses, Ken Livingstone, Long reads, TfL

With all that has been going on in the world, it may have actually escaped your attention that TfL are now consulting on a new round of bus cuts in central London. This is nothing …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 11 July 2022

On 11 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, Friday Reads, Logistics, Sustainability

• Uber Files leak reveals ruthless global lobbying campaign (Guardian) • Fleetwood Poulton rail line reopening approved (BBC) • Germany’s beleaguered rail network is overdue for a $14Bn overhaul (CityLab) • Fiat rooftop car factory …

Friday Reads – 8 July 2022

On 8 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Crossrail, Electrification, Friday Reads, History

• Paddington station’s new Elizabeth to Bakerloo transfer tunnel (IanVisits) • Prepare yourself for the negative levels of Crossrail (DiamondGeezer) • London Transport after Ashfield: Post-War Chairmen 1948-87: video (LTMFriends) • Ireland to progress with …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 4 July 2022

On 4 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, Maps, Northern line, Pedestrians, Tunnels

• New powers for TfL to fine motorists caught in cycle lanes (Zag) • Video exploring the Northern Line Extension (NetworkNathan) • HS2 develops modular pre-fab tunnel arches (AnonWidower) • Long environmental assessments delay much …

Friday Reads – 1 July 2022

On 1 July 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, Friday Reads, Night, Pedestrians, Sustainability

• 9 more abandoned rail schemes receive funding toward restoration (NewCivilEng) • Northern line Night Tube to return July 2 (RailUK) • Paris beltway to swap traffic lanes for green space (CityLab) • Rotterdam rooftop …

Reconnections’ Miscellany: Good & bad transport language – June 2022

On 30 June 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Long reads, Miscellany

This month on Reconnections’ Miscellany: Bacronym Retronyms BUS – Bi-level Underground Substitute ESCALATOR – Electric Stair Case (Ascending/Lowering) Allowing Travellers Onward Routing OMNIBUS – Overland Metropolitan New Innovative Bi-level Underground Substitute DRIVERS – Defect-Responsive Independently-Verifying …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 27 June 2022

On 27 June 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, DLR, Friday Reads, Overground, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• TfL advances plans for DLR & Overground extensions (NewCivilEng) • Wales stops funding north-south air route in favour of rail (Railway-Technology) • Lyon announces light rail express line instead of metro (IntlRailJ) • Lausanne …