Minding the Gap on the Victoria Line
The Victoria line is unusual in London’s Underground lines in that many of the stations are hump-backed. This means that the slope up into the station, slows the train and the descent out of the station, speeds it up. I took some pictures as I rode the line this morning.
Note the variable step-up into the trains,which is also partly explained by the humped-backing of the platform, which was done a couple of years ago,to ease entry for wheelchair users and buggy pushers. All stations except Pimlico have these humps and they are at the middle of the station.
As to the hump-backed designs of the stations, this saves energy. In fact 5%, according to Wikipedia, which also says it makes the trains 9% faster. So why isn’t this simple idea used on other lines?
The Anonymous Widower 
Haven’t we moved on; it wasn’t too long ago that pushchairs & buggies were not allowed on the underground, unless folded.
Comment by peter hoskins | May 9, 2012 |