Modern trains are expected to handle crush loads at times, rough use and vandalism, yet …
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East Coast Mainline Routes & Branches Part 2: The Hertford Loop and the Northern City Line
This article grew in the telling. As with so many other places on the London rail network, it is hard to give a comprehensive overview of plans for one improvement on the East Coast Mainline …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Canary Wharf Crossrail Station
Of all the new stations on the Crossrail Route it is Canary Wharf that has arguably progressed the fastest. Here work on on the four floor structure itself is effectively complete and fit-out underway, with …
Continue readingOld Oak Common: Part 3 – Looking Over the Fence
Think of Old Oak Common (OOC) as the Canary Wharf of west London. That’s the Vision: bold and challenging. But will a ‘super hub’ emerge? While the grand plan for OOC may depend on decisions further up the metaphorical line, to a certain extent OOC leapfrogs the institutional black hole of rail strategy and drives deeper changes in strategic planning for London as a whole.
Continue readingOld Oak Common: Part 2 – Putting the Pieces Together
In Part 1, we introduced the many components that need to be integrated into the grand plan at Old Oak Common (OOC), for a new interchange with HS2, Crossrail, the Great Western Mainline (GWML) and …
Continue readingThe Price of Oranges: DfT ask TfL to take on Greenford and Upminster
There was some surprise back in June when it was confirmed that the DfT would devolve the West Anglia rail franchise to TfL, a major step towards the devolution of London’s rail services. Although not stated at the time, sources now suggest that the DfT have placed a price on this devolution of services, one on which the two parties are now negotiating terms – TfL must take on two other London branch lines as well.
Continue readingEnding Cash Fares On The Buses: Does Daniels Dream of Electric Beeps?
In the world of London transport, there are few topics as emotive as fares and ticketing. From price, through the location of sale, to the method by which payments are made, ticketing is a subject …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Kings Cross In The Fifties
Work is now nearing completion on Network Rail’s project to rebuild Kings Cross, revealing the station’s impressive frontage for the first time in many, many years. We’ll be taking another look at the station next month, but in the meantime this seems like a good opportunity to take a brief trip back into the past…
Continue readingSecond Tuesday Meeting
Just a quick reminder to those interested. We intend to meet monthly for a drink and a chat at the Rose & Crown in Southwark on the second Tuesday of each month. This is the …
Continue readingThe Past, Present and Future of Metropolitan Line Services: Part 2
In part 1 we looked at the service that had historically run on the Metropolitan Line, since its takeover by the London Passenger Transport board. Major improvements to both track and service occurred in the …
Continue readingThe Past, Present and Future of Metropolitan Line Services: Part 1
We reported last month that the Croxley Rail Link (CRL) scheme had been given the go-ahead, with the Transport and Works Act Order reported to be approved by the Secretary of State for Transport. Since …
Continue readingIn Pictures: The Imber Buses
Earlier this month a number of vintage buses took part in the annual charity bus service that runs from Warminster to the abandoned village of Imber on military land at Salisbury Plain. Below are a …
Continue readingWho Do You Think You LR? 2013 Edition
On our birthday two years ago we took a brief look at some of the statistics relating to what happens behind the scenes here at London Reconnections, most notably including a look at who you, …
Continue readingA London Reconnections Celebration: Happy 5th Birthday To Us
If you have been diligently reading the comments recently, you may be aware that London Reconnections is five years old today. Our birthdays always make us realise how far we’ve come, and how much we …
Continue readingWarminster – Imber Village Routemaster Special Service Tomorrow
Every year, a vintage bus service runs from Warminster to the abandoned village of Imber on Salisbury Plain. With all profits going to charity, it’s an interesting opportunity to travel on a Routemaster outside of …
Continue readingBlast from the Past: A Precariously Positioned DLR Train
On March 10th 1987 a test run on the then-under-construction Docklands Light Railway (DLR) almost ended in disaster, when the train failed to stop at then-terminus Island Gardens. With overrun protection still incomplete, the train …
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