London Reconnections

Friday Reads – 30 July 2021

On 30 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Buses, Design, Friday Reads, New York, Pedestrians, Stations, TfL

• Bus privatisation destroyed British systems – but there is hope (Guardian) • TfL property company plans to build up to 46,000 homes (ArchitectsJ) • Leeds ponders transforming iconic Holbeck Viaduct to ped High Line …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 26 July 2021

On 26 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, Friday Reads, Pedestrians, Stations, TfL

• Strand to be part pedestrianised from late August (IanVisits) • TfL wants to inspire licensing partners further (LicensingSource) • Exploring London Waterloo’s secret arches (Rob’sLondon) • Europe’s cities are making transport systems more gender …

Friday Reads – 23 July 2021

On 23 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Electric Vehicles (EVs), Friday Reads, Pollution, Signalling, Stations, Sustainability, Waterways

• Transport decarbonisation plan doesn’t do what it says on the tin (Freewheeling) • Metro model railway expanded to be training simulator (MétroMaquettes) • Travel Norway’s fjords on a quiet electric ferry (Hyperdrive) • Brooklyn …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 19 July 2021

On 19 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, Buses, Friday Reads, New York, Pedestrians, Stations

• Proposal to reopen Oxfordshire rail line (NewCivilEng) • Mind the Gap: Keeping trains & platforms level is a complex issue (IMechE) • A40 buslanes almost perfect, but stop short (Freewheeling) • Berlin’s severe new …

Friday Reads – 16 July 2021

On 16 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Cycles, Eurostar, Friday Reads, Sustainability, Vertical transport

• Survey on ‘Feeling safe’ when travelling in London (LondonTravelWatch) • Transport Decarbonisation Plan: 6 key takeaways (NewCivilEng) • Women’s pros & cons of being able to use internet on the Tube (Stylist) • What …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 12 July 2021

On 12 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Arts, Design, Eurostar, Friday Reads, Pedestrians, Pollution, River, Stations, Waterways

• London’s train link to Europe cities is unused green asset (CentreForLondon) • The green space beneath the M4 (TheSpaces) • Rebranding is generally a bad idea for transport (Freewheeling) • Study supports additional Stuttgart …

Friday Reads – 9 July 2021

On 9 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Accessibility, Bridges, Electrification, Friday Reads, New York, Pollution, Uber

• UK urged to decarbonise railways with electrification plan (E&T) • Reprieve for 46 old railway bridges but dozens more face infill (Times) • Air grievances: NYC pollution maps by source (UrbanOmnibus) • Connect the …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 5 July 2021

On 5 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, Pedestrians, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• There’s still lead in London’s air 20 years after fuel ban (IMechE) • National Trust High Line plans for Manchester (ArchitectsJ) • Complete streets lead to better car crash coverage (Streetsblog) • The joy …

Friday Reads – 2 July 2021

On 2 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, Piccadilly line, Sleeper Trains, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• The evolution of Piccadilly line trains from 1891 to 2025 (RailEngineer) • Sleeper trains gaining as Continent aims to cut carbon emissions (Bloomberg) • Istanbul’s massive metro & tram expansion forges ahead (MetroReport) • …

Reconnections’ Miscellany: Transport Laws – July 2021

On 1 July 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Miscellany

Roger Ford’s Informed Sources Laws First Law – Never assume railways are rational organisations. Second Law = You can’t have too many spanners. Third Law = Always distrust schedules based on the seasons. Fourth Law …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 28 June 2021

On 28 June 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Data, Design, Friday Reads, New York, Stations, Trams/Streetcars/LRT

• Mobile phone coverage coming to Underground tunnels (IanVisits) • Euston Station goes live with British Sign Language screens (Railway-Tech) • Barcelona accelerating link to connect tram networks (Tramways&UrbanTransit) • Grand by design: History of …

Friday Reads – 25 June 2021

On 25 June 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Friday Reads, Pedestrians, Tunnels

• More details on Oxford Circus pedestrianisation plans (IanVisits) • Can removing highways fix America’s cities? (NYTimes) • The many different tunnels under Washington DC (CityLab) • Sankay Flows show transport still 2nd largest use …

Monday’s Friday Reads – 21 June 2021

On 21 June 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Data, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Friday Reads, Maps, Pedestrians, River, Stations

• This is not an Oxford Circus tube station upgrade (Variably) • Deciphering The Stratford Diagram (DiamondGeezer) • Can this electric hydrofoil save Venice from sinking? (Electric&Hybrid) • Bringing the Park back to Park Avenue, …

Friday Reads – 18 June 2021

On 18 June 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Aerial, Arts, Cable Car, Design, Friday Reads, Pedestrians

• Oxford Circus to be part pedestrianised (IanVisits) • Manchester Victoria’s Telpher (RogerFarnworth) • The last Zeppelin flight: the 1939 spy mission (MarkFelton) • Ememem’s (not that one) street mosaics (MyModernMet) • Vancouver’s Broadway SkyTrain …

Empire of the Air Part 2 – R.100 Overseas

On 17 June 2021 By Long Branch Mike In Aerial, Long reads

Whilst we in LR have generally been bound to the ground or under it, we once again turn our eyes up to the skies. The Imperial Airship Service was a very serious scheme authorised at …