Beefing Up The Wires
The overhead lines on the East Coast Main have a reputation for not being of the most robust design.
So it was pleasing to see that they have been upgraded at Peterborough.
Old And New Overhead Wires
The new overhead lines at Eccles are to a similar robust design.
So are we going to see less disruption from wind, trains or vandals pulling the wires down?
Green Bicycle Racks
These bicycle racks were outside the cathedral.
What an unusual and good way to solve the problem of bike security in a sensitive area!
The Travel Choice advertised on the stands is for Peterborough’s transport system.
The Rebuilt Peterborough Station
They’ve spent £43million on Peterborough station and the station now has a new track layout, some new platforms, lifts and a smart new entrance.
As the pictures show, there still a fair bit of finishing off to do.
It is very much a functional rebuild, rather than the more grandiose one at Reading.
To Peterborough In An Inter City 125
My paternal grandmother was born in Peterborough and as it was a wet day, I thought that it might be a good place to go to the city for lunch and to take a look at the rebuilt station.
So I boarded one of East Coast’s Inter City 125s at Kings Cross.
The train certainly doesn’t betray its age, even if it’s probably been refurbished a few times since it was built in the late 1970s.
But then after travelling by train in many of the countries of Europe recently, I would rate it, one of the most comfortable Second Class rides in Europe. If not the most comfortable!
When they write the definitive history of the first three hundred years of trains in the United Kingdom, these trains will be the only class running today, that will get their own chapter. But then the author of the book, will be able to sample a ride in one of these trains, as they will defy the odds and outlive everything else.
TfL’s Big Problem For 2015
look at this map for the London Overground.
TfL’s Big Problem For 2015
When the Lea Valley Lines come under the control of TfL in 2015, it’s going to give them a terrible problem about how they incorporate them into the maps.
But that’s only the start, as Crossrail will appear in 2018. But that has already shown on a map.
The picture shows the short-lived Lego version at Kings Cross station, this summer.
they’ve also got the problem of what to call Crossrail, if they do change the name. there has been some talk of calling it the Queen Elizabeth line, by such as Boris Johnson. I suspect, it’ll be called Crossrail or something similar like Across or EastWest line, if Boris doesn’t get his way.
If we called it Across, then Crossrail 2 could be called the Diagnonal line!
Of all the wonderful feats I have performed, I think yesterday I performed the most wonderful. I produced unanimity among 15 men who were all quarrelling about that most ticklish subject — taste
I think Brunel would have loved this problem, judging by this quote from the engineer.
It’s not a problem, I would like to have to solve.
Clapham Junction To Clapham High Street
I got the Overground back from Clapham Junction, rather than struggle from Waterloo, which was suffering from engineering works.
what surprised me, was that the train virtually emptied at Clapham High Street station. I would have thought that a bus would have been quicker on this short journey, especially, as you often wait ten minutes for a train.
But the Overground takes eight minutes and the 345 bus takes twenty four. The man on the Clapham Overground isn’t stupid!
The TfL Journey Planner Knows Best
Yesterday, I went to see Ipswich at Bournemouth, who play within walking distance of Pokesdown station.
That area is served from Waterloo, and if there is a difficult station to get to from Dalston, it is Waterloo. In fact it’s difficult for anybody, who doesn’t start their journey on the Bakerloo line, Jubilee line or some parts of the Northern line. I usually use a bus or buses to get to the station, or bypass it totally and pick up the train from Clapham Junction, after getting there on the Overground.
But, yesterday, I thought, I’d see what the TfL journey Planner recommended.
It recommended taking the Overground from Dalston Junction to Canada Water station, and then using the Jubilee line to get across to Waterloo.
It seemed a bit of a roundabout way, but it does appear to be quickest.
Whilst waiting for my Overground train, I told a driver, waiting for his train to arrive, what the Journey Planner had recommended.
He was as surprised as I was!
One of the other things about the Overground/Jubilee route, is that it is step-free, at all stations.
Is This The Most Dangerous Level Crossing In The Country?
Level crossings are generally a danger on railways. In East Anglia and Essex, there are a number that should have been removed years ago.
Buit surely the one described in this article from the Thurrock Gazette, must surely be the most dangerous of them all. What makes this one even more dangerous is that there is no alternative route, and sometimes emergency vehicles get stuck, waiting for a train.
When the London Gateway Port, is fully open, there will be regular mile-long freight trains passing this crossing.
I found out about this crossing on the BBC London News tonight. When I saw the report, I was surprised that no-one in authority had ordered Network Rail to do something about it.
I thought the level crossing in Lincoln was a disgrace, but this one is much more dangerous.
They’ve Renumbered The Hackney Eight!
Or I think it is just five at the moment according to Wikipedia, as others have other duties!
But they have been given new registration numbers.
They’ve Renumbered The Hackney Eight!
Someone has decided that it would be tidier, if they were all in sequence. LT6 was originally registered as LT12 FHT. This picture from Flickr shows the same bus with its original number.
The Anonymous Widower 