London Reconnections

We’re gonna need a bigger boat – London’s First Highway: Part 4

On 25 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Long reads, River, Waterways

As passengers are returning to London’s transport, with some overcrowding, it’s time once again to turn our attention to the Thames’ role in expanding the region’s transport. The River was the capital’s original highway, and …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 22 August 2022

On 22 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Cycles, Friday Reads, Tunnels

• Vintage Intercity train Co launches 1st class service alternative to Avanti West Coast (BusinessLive) • Construction of Germany’s deepest S-Bahn station (TunnelOnline) • Advocates sue Montréal transit agency for cutting ads criticizing high fares …

Friday Reads – 19 August 2022

On 19 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Crossrail, Friday Reads, Pollution, Safety, TfL

• TfL could be nationalised (RailTech) • Secrets of the Elizabeth Line: video (GeoffMarshall) • These maps help you see & noise pollution in your city (FastCompany) • Vancouver, St Louis saw increased safety, decreased …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 15 August 2022

On 15 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Arts, Friday Reads, New York, Pedestrians

• Edinburgh Festival visitors choosing to travel by rail (RailAdvent) • Ten great films set railway stations (BFI) • Vancouver, Stockholm, & the suburban metro model (PedestrianObvs) • NYC’s most forgotten train terminal (LiamO’Connell) • …

Friday Reads – 12 August 2022

On 12 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, Logistics, New York, Pedestrians, Waterways

• Great British Railways: where passengers come last (FT) • GLA takes over moribund Royal Albert Dock ‘3rd Financial Centre’ (Guardian) • Berlin’s Tegel Airport transforming into climate-neutral, car-free district (FastCompany) • NYC Ferry will …

Wednesday’s Friday Reads – 10 August 2022

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

• TfL gardens opening on disused platforms & spaces (IanVisits) • Battery equipped off-wire trolleybuses are the great, green bus solution (Guardian) • New Paris tram-train T13 reuses part of Grande Ceinture (UrbanTransport) • Liège …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 8 August 2022

On 8 August 2022 By Long Branch Mike In Cycles, Electrification, Friday Reads, New York, Waterways

• New poll: Soaring petrol prices, cost-of-living boost rail travel (RailUK) • Finance hub that hoped to rival Canary Wharf ends in liquidation (CityLab) • Network Rail proposes discontinuous electrification for Boston MA commuter rail …

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 …