In November 2024 the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) published its annual count of …
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The Christmas Quiz
It’s December and that can only mean one thing here at LR Towers – it is time for the world famous (almost) Christmas Quiz! As always, we’ve tried to make it really hard. As always, …
Continue readingRoundtable: The TfL Draft Business Plan
Transport news, like London buses, often seems to come in clumps. With the various recent announcements it would thus be easy to miss that TfL have published their draft Business Plan for the next decade. …
Continue readingThe End of an Era on the South London Line
With the opening of the London Overground Service from Clapham Junction to Dalston Junction it is time to say goodbye to the South London Line. The line provided a direct link between the London Brighton …
Continue readingIn Pictures: London Underground Stamps & £2 Coin
Earlier this year, the Post Office confirmed that they would be issuing a number of stamps to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the Underground. The designs for these stamps have now been …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Crossrail Tunnels, ELL Expands
With Tunnelling now under way (or rather, in the west, resumed), Crossrail have released a new set of photos relating to the commencement of operations on the Limmo peninsular. We’ve looked extensively at the Royal …
Continue readingHLOS 2014-19: A Potential Step Backwards for London
Back in July the government outlined its rail investment strategy in the High Level Output Statement (HLOS) covering 2014-19 or Control Period 5 (CP5). We reported on the HLOS here and here, and a rich …
Continue readingThe Calm Before the Contractual Storm: Crossrail’s Rolling Stock Tender
Two years ago LR found itself sitting in a conference room at the Albert Hall with a room full of railway journalists and industry representatives. The attendees were there to hear the details of a …
Continue readingIn Pictures: The Kings Cross Clock Tower
Sometimes, whilst researching a topic, unexpected opportunities arise. This proved to be the case recently at Kings Cross where, during a site visit related to a future piece on the station’s sub-surface logistics, it became clear that our Network Rail guide might just be amenable to a slightly loftier piece of photography as well. And so, with thanks to Network Rail, and without further comment, we present a brief look at the state of affairs within the Clock Tower at Kings Cross and some views from the top of the station.
Continue readingNorthern Line Extension Public Consultation Details
TfL have now made public the details of the public consultation for the extension of the Northern Line to Battersea via Nine Elms. As was indicated in the leaflet distributed last June, the chosen route …
Continue readingUnlocking Herne Hill and the Kent route to the City
The extensive RUS process has already yielded a long shopping list of potential projects, including some big ticket items such as Crossrail 2. We are more likely, however, to see a package of more modest …
Continue readingFare Increases, Oyster Expansion and Cycle Hire Changes
Today the Mayor of London announced the fares levels that will apply to TfL services and National Rail services within the zonal area from 2nd January 2013. Full details of TfL fare and season ticket …
Continue readingA Familiar Fear: Flooding & The Underground
If New York and London are twinned as cities, then it is only a small leap to think of the London Underground and the New York Subway as sister networks. They may differ in many …
Continue readingLU150: Steam On the Underground Timetable and Prices
No. 30587 Steaming at Baker Street, copyright/credit Leon Daniels It has been something of an open secret that the London Transport Museum has been preparing for a limited number of Steam runs on the Metropolitan …
Continue readingTransport Committee Intermission: The Elephant in the Committee Room
Part One of the above article generated a lot of interest and a lot of comments based around the issue of driverless trains. This certainly was the issue that seemed to interest the politicians and …
Continue readingToo High A Fare: The Decline and Fall of the London Taxi Company
Manganese Bronze, better known as “The London Taxi Company” and maker of the iconic London’s black cab, has called in the administrators. By most accounts, the company has had problems for some time, with the …
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