Interior Lights On Victoria Line Trains
After looking at the lighting on the Bakerloo Line trains, before and after the fitting of LEDs in Seeing London Underground’s Bakerloo Line Trains In A New Light, I thought it would be useful to look at other lines.
These pictures show the 2009 Stock trains of the Victoria Line.
They look like florescent tubes to me.
I am surprised that these trains which are less than fifteen years old, don’t have LED lights.
I very much suspect though, that if the Bakerloo Line LED lights are an undoubted success, that the Victoria Line trains will be updated.
Florescent Lights On The Circle Line
These pictures show a selection of florescent lights on the Circle Line.
The pictures were taken at Monument and Temple stations.
In Seeing London Underground’s Bakerloo Line Trains In A New Light, I talked about fitting LED lighting on Bakerloo Line trains.
As LED replacements for florescent tubes seem to exist, are these tubes up for replacement?
LED Lighting In The New Parts Of Bank Station
These pictures show the lights in the new parts of Bank station.
Note.
- They would appear to be LED downlighters, as I can see a distinct matrix.
- One light appears to have died.
The older parts of the station, including the Northbound Northern Line platform still have fluorescent strip lighting.
New Escalators At Bank Station Between The Northern Line And The DLR
This picture shows the triple-barrelled escalator that runs between the Northern Line and the Docklands Light Railway.
Note.
- The digital clock was showing the right time.
- There are three escalators.
- Peering over the barrier, it looked to be that construction has almost finished.
This visualisation shows the station.
Where was I standing when I took the picture?
The label at the top right says.
New entrance to Bank station on Cannon Street. Lifts and triple escalators to Northern Line and DLR.
The triple escalator leading down from the Cannon Street entrance to the Northern Line level is clearly visible.
- It looks like passengers can go between the bottom of the escalators and both the Northbound and Southbound platforms of the Northern Line, using the cross-passage shown.
- I suspect that the triple escalators to and from the DLR in-line with the escalators to the entrance.
- Lifts would probably serve all three levels.
It is an intricate design, that looks like it minimises conflicting passenger routes, at the Cannon Street or Southern end of the station.
Move towards the North and you can see the moving walkway in a new tunnel parallel to the two Northern Line tracks, which connects to the Central Line.
At its Southern end, there is a spacious plaza.
- It has two cross passages to the two Northern Line platforms.
- It is a short walk to the moving walkway to and from the Central Line
- It appears that on the Southern side, is the triple-escalator leading down to the DLR.
These pictures show this plaza and the connecting tunnels and escalators.
Note.
- The entrance to the tunnel with the moving walkway is opposite the escalators to the DLR.
- There are two cross-tunnels connecting the two Northern Line platforms and the plaza.
- All tunnels are wide.
It looks like pedestrian routes are as follows.
Cannon Street Entrance And Northern Line
The large three-barrel escalator between the Cannon Street and Northern levels.
Cannon Street Entrance And Docklands Light Railway
The large three-barrel escalator between the Cannon Street and Northern levels and a shorter escalator between the Northern and DLR levels.
Cannon Street Entrance And Central Line
The large three-barrel escalator between the Cannon Street and Northern levels, a walk to the moving walkway and the escalators to the Central Line.
Cannon Street Entrance And Waterloo And City Line
I suspect, this will use the new route to the DLR and then the existing route between the DLR and the Waterloo and City Line.
Northern Line And Central Line
The moving walkway and the escalators to the Central Line.
Northern Line And Docklands Light Railway
It looks like there are two-banks of three escalators between the Northern and DLR levels.
Northern Line And Waterloo And City Line
Not sure of this route, but it could be via the DLR.
Central Line And Docklands Light Railway
Via the moving walkway and escalators at both ends.
Central Line And Waterloo And City Line
As now?
Docklands Light Railway And Waterloo And City Line
As now?
Conclusion
It would be an ideal location for a chase thriller!
I can’t wait until it opens.
But I do believe that the moving walkway should be extended under the roads to Moorgate station.
Painting Blackfriars Bridge
It looks like Blackfriars Bridge is being repainted.
It certainly looks like it needs a repaint.
Seeing London Underground’s Bakerloo Line Trains In A New Light
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
This is the first paragraph.
A 50% energy saving and a substantial reduction in maintenance costs is being achieved by replacing fluorescent tubes on London Underground’s Bakerloo Line trains with custom designed LED lights from MARL International.
From the pictures in the article, they look to be a good design.
I took these pictures of a train with the new lighting on the 6th of November.
These pictures show a train with the old lighting.
Note.
- The old lighting has round lights at the end of the cars.
- The hole for the round lights has been covered by a blanking plate. See the first picture of the new lights.
- Some of the old fluorescents have died.
- Four passengers, that I spoke to, thought the cars were brighter.
The shots through the empty cars were all taken in Elephant & Castle station, so they show a comparison between new and old lighting.
I also spoke to a driver, who said the headlights on the trains will be replaced. He’d driven the train with the prototype installation and said it was much better.
Are These Two Stories Related?
These are two stories recently published in Railway Gazette.
Deutsche Bahn Sells Arriva Businesses To Private Equity Holding Company, which starts with this paragraph.
Deutsche Bahn has reached agreement to sell its Arriva local transport activities in Denmark, Poland and Serbia to München-based private equity holding company Mutares SE & Co KGaA.
That is fairly clear and is probably related with the German government’s desire for DB to concentrate on its core business.seren
This article on Railway Gazette is entitled RENFE Looks At Entering UK Rail Market Through Open Access Partnership, which starts with this paragraph.
Open access passenger service developer Grand Union Trains is working with Spain’s national operator RENFE and private equity firm Serena Industrial Partners on a proposed service between London and Wales.
That also is fairly clear and would bring competition to services to and from South Wales.
It would also help in the financing of Grand Union Trains.
The article also says the following.
- RENFE seem to be expanding into partnerships to run services outside Spain.
- A parkway station at Felindre will be build to avoid the reverse at Swansea, that would save 20 mins.
- It will be a high quality service with new electro-diesel trains.
- Four trains will be needed.
- A 2025 start is envisaged.
Will this partnership with Grand Union Trains proceed with the development of Grand Union Trains’ London and Stirling service?
I have some thoughts and questions.
Will Deutsche Bahn Sell Other Arriva Businesses?
I think this is a reasonable question to ask, especially, as Deutsche Bahn owns two Open Access Operators in the UK; Chiltern Railways and Grand Central Trains.
- Both operators have a good reputation.
- Both operators need to decarbonise, either by updating their current stock or buying new trains.
- Both operators have solid niche markets, where they are often responsible for the stations.
- Both operators have expansion plans.
Would RENFE and Serena Industrial Partners be interested in taking over Arriva UK and developing the business?
The Talgo Factory At Longannet
I believe that there is reason to believe that one of Talgo’s reasons for a factory in Scotland, is that it could have been used to build Russian and dual-gauge trains for Eastern Europe. The trains would have been delivered by ferry from Rosyth.
There is also the not-small matter of the fleet for Rail Baltica, for which Talgo will surely be a bidder.
But Russia’s attack on Ukraine has scuppered that plan, or at least delayed it for a few years. But now, there could be a much larger market for trains in Eastern Europe and especially Ukraine.
If RENFE Acquire Open Access Operators In The UK, They Will Need New Trains
They will certainly need new trains for the South Wales operations, if they go ahead, but if they were to decarbonise Chiltern and Grand Central, the order could be substantial.
With one Spanish train factory in the UK and another a possibility, I would suspect any train order would go to a Spanish train-builder.
If the orders fell right, could we see Talgo’s factory at Longannet built after all?
Artemis Technologies Unveils World’s Most Advanced 100% Electric Passenger Ferry
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Artemis Technologies.
These bullet points list the features of the EF-24 passenger ferry.
- With a top speed of 38 knots and a foiling range of 115 nautical miles at 25 knots, these vessels will transform the global passenger ferry market as it races to decarbonise
- Produces minimal wake, enabling high-speed operations in busy waterways
- Riding above the waves results in a comfortable ride, reducing effects of seasickness
- Efficiency of foils and electric drive system delivers significant OPEX savings including lower maintenance costs and up to 85% fuel savings
- Electric propulsion generates zero emissions in operation, removing air, water and noise pollution
- These 24 metre vessels designed and built by Artemis Technologies represent ground-breaking green innovations for commercial ferries, radically different from traditional ferries in operation
- First EF-24 Passenger ferry will be operated by Condor Ferries in 2024
- 100% electric, the vessels and systems developed by Artemis Technologies are designed to make the lowest possible impact on the environment
It certainly looks the part, but then it was designed using technology from racing yachts.
I have a few thoughts.
The Bangor And Belfast Trial Route
The press release says this about a trial route.
Artemis Technologies has partnered with Condor Ferries to operate a pilot scheme using the first EF-24 Passenger ferry. This will come into service in 2024, running between Belfast and Bangor in Northern Ireland.
This Google Map shows the location of the two cities.
Note.
- Belfast is in the South-East corner of the map.
- The Titanic Quarter and George Best Airport are marked.
- I walked between the Airport and the Titanic Quarter, when I visited five years ago.
- Bangor is in the North-East corner of the map.
I have actually travelled between Belfast and Bangor on a train, which I wrote about in A Train Trip From Belfast To Bangor.
As the Thames Clipper in London competes well for commuters and other passengers in London, I would think that they will attract passengers.
I regularly go one way to Battersea Power Station on the Northern Line and come back on the Clipper to London Bridge, as it puts a bit of fresh air in my lungs.
Will the good burgers of Belfast do the same?
As the service will start at the Titanic Quarter, it could be a tourist attraction.
Other Routes
If you look at the Wikipedia entry for hydrofoil, there are a lot of route possibilities.
I have a few suggestions.
Thames Clippers
The Thames Clipper fleet is all diesel and typical boats have a 28 knot cruising speed and carry between 150-172 passengers.
So it would appear that EF-24 Ferries would have a similar performance.
Thames Clippers have promoted the possibility of a service from London to Gravesend, which is under thirty miles by road.
An EF-24 Ferry might be ideal for the longer route.
High-Speed Routes Between Great Britain And Ireland
In High-Speed Low-Carbon Transport Between Great Britain And Ireland, I laid out ideas to travel between the two islands.
I showed that by using high speed trains to Holyhead and then a high speed ferry, times of under five hours could be achieved to both Belfast and Dublin.
If a High Speed Two Classic-Compatible Train were to be used timings from Euston to Holyhead could be.
- Euston and Crewe – 56 minutes – High Speed 2 prediction
- Crewe and Holyhead – 1 hour 58 minutes – Current time.
The second leg would be faster, if the route were to be electrified.
Mersey Ferries
Like Merseyrail’s elderly Class 508 trains, the Mersey Ferries are long in the tooth and need replacing.
In my view, Artemis Technologies could build some very suitable electric ferries.
New routes might also be developed to appeal to tourists.
I am sure there are many more routes in the UK and around Europe and the wider world.
Great Western Railway Get Innovative
This article on Rail Advent, which is entitled Great Western Railway Trial New Long Weekender Ticket Between London Paddington, Bristol And South Wales, caught my eye.
This is the Long Weekender page on the Great Western Railway web site.
This seems to be the basic rule.
Leave on a Friday or Saturday, return on a Monday and save over 60% compared to an Anytime Return.
You can also apply your Railcard.
This sounds very useful to me.
As an example, I spent an enjoyable couple of days in Swansea, where I explored the area on the rail network. This could be made to fit in with one of these tickets, even if it meant buying a return from Cardiff.
I shall investigate further, as the website booking doesn’t seem to know about the Long Weekender ticket.
I visited Paddington this afternoon and asked one of those guys in a green uniform.
He told me that at the moment you have to buy them in the Booking Office and that they will be available on the web site.
He also thought they were a good idea.
There is also this post on Ian Visits, which is entitled GWR Launches “Long Weekend” Train Tickets.
Ian says this.
GWR added that if the trial of the Long Weekender proves successful, it will be extended to other parts of the network.
Does that mean GWR’s or the National network?
Testing Of Digital Signalling To Close Northern City Line
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Technology Magazine.
This first paragraph indicates what’s happening.
Any passengers travelling on the Northern City Line between Finsbury Park and Moorgate on Sunday 9th October are being asked to check before they travel due to testing.
I hope that when they’ve finished the testing, they will increase the number of trains on this important route.
The Anonymous Widower 