London Reconnections

The Problem With Simples: Why Oyster is a Victim of its own Success

On 24 February 2011 By John Bull In National Rail, Oyster, TfL

In 1998 London Transport signed a £1.1bn PFI deal that, by the time of its termination in 2010, would have had a massive impact on the journeys of millions of people across London. It wasn’t …

Crossrail Registers Its Rolling Stock Class Number

On 21 February 2011 By John Bull In Crossrail, Rolling stock

The Expressions of Interest for Crossrail Rolling Stock closed at the beginning of this month, and it is likely that negotiations will mean that it will be 2013 before we officially see the contract awarded. …

Surrey Canal Road – A Sporting Chance?

On 20 February 2011 By Mwmbwls In ELL, Overground, Surrey Canal Road

With the East London Line extension from Dalston Junction to Highbury and Islington opening shortly, we can now turn our attention to the extension to Clapham Junction. ELL Phase 2 runs from the new graded …

Woolwich Crossrail Station Box Funding Confirmed

On 16 February 2011 By John Bull In Crossrail

At the last Transport Committee Meeting, Rob Holden confirmed that Crossrail were hopeful of completing negotiations with Berkeley Homes over the construction of the Woolwich station box. This was urgent, as the box (which will …

Thames Cable Car Plans Put on Hold

On 15 February 2011 By John Bull In Cable Car, Mayor's Office, TfL

Adam Bienkov, writing at the Scoop, has confirmation from the Mayor’s Office that the Thames Cable Car project is now on hold. The Scoop quote a Mayoral spokesman as saying: The Mayor has received letters …

Croxley Rail Link Added to DfT Funding Considerations

On 14 February 2011 By John Bull In Croxley Rail Link, Metropolitan line

Back in October, with the Spending Review in full effect, the DfT announced the fate of a number of local transport projects nominated by the now-defunct Regional Development Agencies. With the funding pot now far …

In Pictures: Stratford’s New Ticket Hall and the DLR

On 14 February 2011 By John Bull In Central line, Construction projects, DLR, Stratford International

There are a number of pre-Olympic projects nearing completion at Stratford, the first of which is the new Ticket Hall on the mezzanine. This is now virtually finished, but is unlikely to open until the …

The RUS: Looking East With Crossrail

On 10 February 2011 By Pedantic of Purley In Crossrail

In the first part of our London and South East RUS overview, we saw how Network Rail plan to extend some of the trains terminating to the west of London to solve anticipated capacity problems. …

A Question of Preservation At Tottenham Court Road

On 9 February 2011 By John Bull In Construction projects, Tottenham Court Road

Tfl’s announcement yesterday that the works at Tottenham Court Road were now entering a more labour-filled stage seems to have once again focused attention on the station’s internal decoration. As travellers who have visited the …

The New Interchange at Elmers End

On 8 February 2011 By John Bull In Buses

Almost exactly a year ago, work began on the new transport interchange at Elmers End. This has now been completed and finally opened on the 5th of February (it had originally been scheduled to open …

Line Problems and TCR Announcements

On 8 February 2011 By John Bull In Central line, Crossrail, Jubilee line, Northern line

Seemingly proof that Sod’s Law is still a force to be reckoned with in the Capital, TfL’s announcement that the Jubilee Line upgrades were proceeding well has been followed by several days of serious disruption …

The RUS: Crossrail and the Reading Question

On 4 February 2011 By Pedantic of Purley In Crossrail, Heathrow, Network Rail, RUS

Some rail enthusiasts pore over timetables. There are those who look at maps in great detail. Other’s dissect the minutes of meetings in the quest for information. This author, however, often finds himself looking to …

The Status of the Underground Upgrades

On 3 February 2011 By John Bull In Circle line, District line, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee line, Metropolitan line, Northern line, TfL, Tube lines, Victoria line

The Jubilee Line Those travelling on the Jubilee Line since Christmas will have noticed that its trains have developed a strange habit of repeating themselves. The new habit of doubly announcing stations is one of …

Works at Whitechapel

On 2 February 2011 By John Bull In Construction projects, Crossrail

Whitechapel is a busy place at the moment. Work appears finally to have started on the SSL platforms, with hoardings now up on the two outer platforms (effectively rendering it a standard two road station …

TfL Tramlink Tenders whilst Brent Brainstorms

On 31 January 2011 By John Bull In Croydon Tramlink

TfL are tendering for a number of additional trams with which to expand services on the Croydon Tramlink. The Contract Notice can be read here, although there’s not much more than a basic overview yet. …