London Reconnections

Making the Grade (Separation): The Bermondsey Diveunder

On 2 August 2015 By Pedantic of Purley In Construction projects, Network Rail, Thameslink

In the past we have resisted the temptation to write too much about the Bermondsey Diveunder as work had not really started in earnest and it was very hard to visualise what was planned. With …

The Surprise Contender: Sutton Tramlink

On 12 July 2015 By Pedantic of Purley In Tramlink

Our look at how Croydon Tramlink is expected to develop by 2030 needs to take a bit of a diversion. In the early 2020s it is proposed to add a new short branch. To understand …

The Light (Rail) Fantastic: A Look At the Croydon Tramlink

On 29 June 2015 By Pedantic of Purley In Tramlink

We haven’t looked at what is happening in the world of trams, as seen from a London perspective, for a long time now. With work on the ground advancing for the next capacity increase and …

A Game Of Zones: Sir Peter Hendy to Leave TfL

On 25 June 2015 By John Bull In Focus, Long reads, TfL

To begin with, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s statement on Network Rail in front of Parliament this morning contained no surprises – at least not to those familiar with the works delays and escalating project costs …

Third Time Lucky: A Look At The New Sub-Surface Signalling Plan

On 15 June 2015 By Pedantic of Purley In Circle line, District line, Hammersmith & City, London Underground, Metropolitan line, Uncategorized

We have reported previously on the ongoing problems with the resignalling contract for the Subsurface Railway (the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines). The contract is an important one, for it underpins much …

Bike To The Future Part 3: The Board Meeting That Wasn’t

On 11 June 2015 By Pedantic of Purley In Board meetings, Boris Johnson, Cycles, Roads

On Wednesday 4th February 2015 TfL held a board meeting. It was one quite different in nature from most, for in essence there was really only one important item to be discussed: Item 7 – …

Crossrail: The End of The Beginning

On 4 June 2015 By John Bull In Crossrail

It is said that one of the problems of Channel Tunnel construction was that the British thought they were building a tunnel that just happened to contain a railway. The French, thinking more realistically, saw …

Orange Invades: All Change for London’s New Overground Lines

On 1 June 2015 By Nicole Badstuber In Overground, TfL

This weekend saw the addition of 28 new stations to TfL’s hugely successful Overground network. Rail services running from Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford in North East London, as well as the …

Fare Trade: Breaking Down London’s Taxi Debate

On 28 May 2015 By John Bull In Roads, Taxis

“Look. A spot of intellectual honesty is always a good thing.” Says London Mayor Boris Johnson, as murmurs of discontent grow in the visitor gallery. “And the reality is that you’re not just dealing with …

East of Enfield, North of Stratford

On 19 May 2015 By John Bull In Central line, DLR, History, Overground, Uncategorized, Victoria line

At the end of the month London Overground will take over more of north-east London’s railways. It seems timely, therefore, to take a look at the history of the railways in the area. For though …

Down Street: The Secret History of a Lost London Station

On 29 April 2015 By John Bull In History, Piccadilly line

It was early one autumn evening in 1940, as the Luftwaffe’s bombs fell on London overhead, when Mr G. Cole-Deacon finally got the call. Cole-Deacon, the secretary of the Railway Executive Committee, had half expected …

A Study In Sussex Part 8: If You Bridge It They Will Come

On 27 April 2015 By Pedantic of Purley In Construction projects, Network Rail

In our journey down the Brighton Main Line our last encounter was East Croydon. Instead of continuing southwards we remain at East Croydon and devote an entire article to something that at first glance might …

London 2050 (Part 5): Peak Tube

On 16 April 2015 By Jonathan Roberts In Central line, Circle line, Crossrail, Crossrail 2, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee line, London Assembly, London Underground, Northern line, Piccadilly line, TfL

According to the London 2050 report’s forecasts, the demand for the Underground will rise by 60% in the next thirty five years. That’s a challenging target to address with additional capacity, given the pressures the …

London’s Lost Pneumatic Railway: The World’s 2nd Oldest Underground

On 12 April 2015 By Long Branch Mike In History, Long reads, Pneumatic railways, Post Office Railway

In the white heat of the Victorian age a number of motive powers seemed set to vie for the future. Steam power? Cable? Both were relatively new technologies whose potential seemed endless. Briefly in the …

A Perfect Storm: The Story Behind The London Bridge Delays

On 2 April 2015 By Pedantic of Purley In London Bridge, Network Rail, Southern, Thameslink

We really had been trying to not keep writing about London Bridge. Then, at the beginning of the year, a lot of problems emerged rendering it an apt topic for discussion again. The trouble was …