London Reconnections

Friday Reads – 14 October 2022

On 14 October 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Bridges, Friday Reads, River, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• Hammersmith Bridge plans go for double decker structure (NewCivilEng) • City Valley Link proposal to use East Lancs Ry heritage line (RailwayTechnology) • Amsterdam trams’ Customer Service Counter (EuroGunzel) • Spain to extend free …

IKEA’s Crimes Against Cartography

On 13 October 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Design, Long reads, Maps

Shopping at IKEA is an ordeal, an expedition. And IKEA has just made it harder. Whilst IKEA is the McDonald’s of housewares, its approach is quite different. IKEA offers the same products and experience all …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 10 October 2022

On 10 October 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, HS2, Infrastructure, Stations, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• The Sidings: Waterloo’s deserted new shopping mall under ex-Eurostar Terminal (IanVisits) • HS2 London tunnelling begins (NewCivilEng) • London’s early Ringway motorway plans (Roads) • Budapest’s Children’s Railway was initially operated by children (EuroGunzel) …

Friday Reads – 7 October 2022

On 7 October 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Aerial, Friday Reads, New York, Sleeper Trains, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• Caledonian Sleeper contract ended after financial disagreement with Serco (Scotsman) • Borough Road: Southwark’s ghost station: video (JagoHazzard) • 260+ German cities demand 30km/h speed zones (TheMayorEU) • Spanish airline orders 10 Airlander airships …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 3 October 2022

On 3 October 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Bridges, Design, Friday Reads, Sleeper Trains, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• Who could succeed Andy Byford at the helm of TfL (NewCivilEng) • The Up & Down Club: The sleeper train commuters (Telegraph) • Europe’s kid friendly trains benefit all passengers (FamilyFriendlyTrains) • Karlsruhe tram-train …

Friday Reads – 30 September 2022

On 30 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Arts, Crossrail, Friday Reads, Overground, Pollution

• Bond Street Elizabeth line station opening Monday 24 Oct (IanVisits) • Great British Railways already dead: Rail industry at lowest ebb (Guardian) • Barking Riverside – The Inside Story: video (JagoHazzard) • ScotRail announcements …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 26 September 2022

On 26 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Design, Friday Reads, New York, Pedestrians, Pollution

• TfL cleaners, caterers, & security to get free London transport (Guardian) • London noise map (NoisyCities) • Lamplight design of the Thames Embankment (TheTidalThames) • Norway wants people to park their EVs & ride …

Friday Reads – 23 September 2022

On 23 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, Infrastructure, Pedestrians, Pollution, Sleeper Trains

• Queue Theory: How to design the perfect queue (Wired) • London’s Transport Commissioner Andy Byford to leave TfL, again (RailUK) • Free public transport in Europe: It hasn’t reduced traffic (EuroNews) • We have …

Get him on the Blower!: The origins of Pneumatic Railways

On 22 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In History, Long reads, Pneumatic railways

Telegraphs were the internet of the Victorian Age. News of political and business developments could be sent around the world in near real time. However, the mass of telegrams converging on the network hub in …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 19 September 2022

On 19 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Bridges, Friday Reads, Micromobility, Northern line, Pedestrians

• London’s mainline railway stations to stay open overnight for the State Funeral (IanVisits) • Inside the Battersea Turbine Hall at end of the Northern Line Extension (Sounds&Visions) • NYC considering congestion charge, sales tax …

Friday Reads – 16 September 2022

On 16 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Buses, Friday Reads, Pollution, Stations, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• The need to replace the Royal Train (ModernRailways) • TfL gardens opening on disused platforms & spaces (IanVisits) • Liège finally gets its tram line (UrbanTransport) • Battery equipped trolleybuses are a great, green …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 12 September 2022

On 12 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Airports, Friday Reads, Roads, Tunnels

• The Queen’s final journey should be by Royal Train: Wolmar (Spectator) • Busy rail travel expected for the Queen’s Lying in State (IanVisits) • Forgotten parts of Paris’ Petite Ceinture (PlacesJournal) • Void uncovered …

Friday Reads – 9 September 2022

On 9 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Arts, Crossrail, Friday Reads, Safety, Stations

• Grimshaw wins Waterloo Station masterplanning commission (ArchitectsJ) • Bond Street Elizabeth line station tour preview video (HiddenLondonHangouts) • Railway Guardian app reports transport harassment & violence to BTP (RailInsider) • Germany’s 27-year struggle to …

The Crossrail November Timetable

On 6 September 2022 By Pedantic of Purley In Crossrail, Long reads

TfL fairly recently issued a press release announcing daily through running on the Elizabeth line from Sunday 6th November 2022. This was not a surprise as a combination of leaks and intelligent guesswork based on …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 5 September 2022

On 5 September 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Bridges, Friday Reads, Logistics, Maps, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• Off-peak Heathrow Tube fares scrapped, but there’s a workaround (DiamondGeezer) • Amazon’s e-cargo bikes to replace 1,000s of London van deliveries (Guardian) • Work starts to finally connect Barcelona tram networks (Barcelona) • European …