A perennial and fairly meaningless question that is often asked is ‘what are the origins …
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A Study in Sussex Part 6: The Approaches to London Bridge
In part 4 of our Study in Sussex we looked at the restrictions on capacity at Victoria Station and came only to the rather vague conclusion that there was probably more capacity available in future. …
Continue readingConsultations Cubed: The Overground (And More) at Old Oak Common
On 22nd September TfL launched a new consultation on the possibility of adding one or more stations to the London Overground in west London at Old Oak Common. With at least two other OOC rail …
Continue readingA Study in Sussex Part 5: Up The Junction
In our quest to look at capacity issues and opportunities in Sussex we come to part 5 and are still only as far south as Clapham Junction – and we still haven’t yet looked at …
Continue readingLondon 2050: A Cartographical Interlude
As many readers will be aware, over recent weeks we have been taking an in-depth look at London 2050. Published in July by the Mayor and directed by Isabel Dedring and many GLA staff, TfL …
Continue readingLondon 2050 (Part 2): Whether the Forecasts
In part 2 of our detailed look at London 2050 we look at what it forecasts for both jobs and population – and how these affect the proposed transport strategy to be found within it.
Continue readingA Look at Battersea Park Station
At first sight, Battersea Park station appears to be a complete contradiction. It is not exactly pretty at platform level, but has a splendid façade and booking office. It has five platforms, but only one …
Continue readingLondon Bridge – The First Major Blockade
This August Bank Holiday sees the first major Thameslink Blockade at London Bridge. The low level platforms and the route in from the Southern lines (via New Cross Gate or South Bermondsey) will be blocked …
Continue readingCrossrail to Tring: An HS2 Hijack
We like to think it is not often we get caught out at London Reconnections. Often there’s a hint, either spotter or official, if not an openly advanced warning, about significant announcements. Other times we …
Continue readingLondon 2050 (Part 1): The Trillion Pound Time Warp
In both science and science fiction, time warps are where there is a multi-dimensional fold in the space-time continuum which allow the traveller to pass from one space-time environment to another, as easily as stepping off an escalator at Kings Cross. The London Infrastructure Plan 2050 (‘London 2050’), published in July by the Mayor and directed by Isabel Dedring and many GLA staff, TfL and other colleagues, is an attempt to provide the London of today with a blueprint for such a transition to the London of tomorrow.
Continue readingA Study In Sussex part 4: Victoria (the Brighton Line)
The Brighton Main Line (BML) from Victoria (and London Bridge) needs more capacity. This has been known for years but more recently it has been clear that demand has been accelerating and showing no indication …
Continue readingSouthern Brambles – An Untangling Tour (9th Aug 2014)
London’s railways south of the river are a popular topic here but one that can sometimes be confusing. As a result, we’ve decided to do something rather different this summer and offer a guided tour …
Continue readingMTR To Operate Crossrail Concession
We wrote recently about how Crossrail would operate and now we know who – it was announced this morning that MTR have been selected as the successful bidder for the £1.4bn, eight year (extendable to …
Continue readingThe (Caledonian) Sleeper Awakes
It may not have attracted the attention of most London Reconnections readers but recently a new rail franchise that serves London was announced – one with a start date of 1st April 2015. This is …
Continue readingPurple Reign – How Crossrail Will Be Run
There was a time when your humble Editor worked in the Civil Service. From this period of personal history two clear memories stick out. Firstly that there was once a genuine publication titled Guidance on …
Continue readingA Study in Sussex Part 3: HS1 to Hastings?
In part 2 of our look at Sussex we made much of the economic problems of Hastings. In this part we will look at a radical proposal to improve the service from London to Hastings …
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