A perennial and fairly meaningless question that is often asked is ‘what are the origins …
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A 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 …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Tottenham Court Road Station Work
Crossrail have released another batch of photos highlighting the work underway at Tottenham Court Road on the new Underground and Crossrail stations. The first of Crossrail’s Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) has now cleared Tottenham Court …
Continue readingThe TfL Olympic Legacy: Measuring the Unmeasurable
It has probably not escaped your notice that around a year ago a big sporting event was staged and was largely based in London. In the build-up and follow-on one of the words most associated …
Continue readingWrangling at Woolwich: Woolwich Crossrail Station Finally Proceeds
With tunnelling and construction underway across London. Crossrail has seemed in full swing now for some time. In truth though, an air of uncertainty has continued to hover over one station on the new line – Woolwich, for which funding arrangements were finally confirmed yesterday by Crossrail’s sponsors, the DfT and TfL.
Continue readingCroxley Rail Link Granted Transport Works Act Order
The Croxley Rail Link – which will see the Metropolitan Line diverted from Watford to Watford Junction, via new stations at Ascot Road, Watford Hospital – and Watford High Street, has been granted a Transport …
Continue readingEast Coast Mainline Routes & Branches Part 1: Thameslink Works
Back in February we published an in-depth look at the past and future of Finsbury Park Station. We noted that the future of Finsbury Park is being shaped by two projects designed to improve capacity …
Continue readingOld Oak Common: A Vision and Challenge For Crossrail (Part 1)
As “Phyllis” and “Ada” make their stately progress east from the portals at Park Royal, plans are evolving for the Crossrail route west, and an absorbing story it is to tell. The Mayor has now …
Continue readingTfL Settlement: GOBLIN To Be Electrified, West Anglia Franchise Devolved
TfL have released a press release officially confirming a number of elements of their latest settlement and the spending review statement by the Chancellor today. This is a rare press release that is worth quoting …
Continue readingTfL Announce Crossrail Concession Shortlist
TfL have announced that four firms have been shortlisted for the Crossrail Concession. The shortlisted firms are: Arriva Crossrail Limited Keolis/Go Ahead MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited National Express Group PLC FirstGroup, RATP and Stagecoach were …
Continue readingThameslink and the NAO: part 3: All’s well that ends well?
This article, following on from part 1 and part 2 of articles on the report from the National Audit Office (NAO), was intended to be very short and mainly deal with the limited NAO comments …
Continue readingWest London Line cocooned by Earls Court development
The massive redevelopment at Earls Court took a step closer to fruition in November 2012 when the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea gave its outline planning approval. The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham …
Continue readingThameslink and the NAO: Part 2 – Wherefore Art Thou Siemens Rolling Stock?
In part one we looked at the verdict of the National Audit Office report on Thameslink and more specifically on the infrastructure work done so far. In part two we look in detail at the …
Continue readingThameslink and the National Audit Office: Part 1
It is the same old story. We were planning on giving articles about Thameslink a break and then something else comes along. This time it is a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). This …
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