Back To London In Comfort
I came back to London in a Class 442, branded as a Gatwick Express, although it only stopped at East Croydon and Clapham Junction before Victoria.
Back To London In Comfort
The Class 442 could be considered an unusual design as it is just a series of legendary Mk. 3 coaches, with electric power underneath. They may be slower than an InterCity 125, but they still hold the world speed record for third-rail electric trains at 108 mph.
I took the train all the way to Victoria, but when London Overground opens to Clapham Junction on December 9th, I’ll be able to use that line to get to Dalston Junction.
I suspect, it will be whatever has the best connections.
By Bus To The Amex Stadium
It wasn’t the easiest to find the bus at first, as there didn’t appear to be any information. In the end I struck lucky, with a bit of phone guidance from my son, who used to live in the city. But getting off left me on a busy dual carriageway with the stadium on the other side of the road.
By Bus To The Amex Stadium
It’s on cold rainy nights that bus information systems like London and a few other places have, come into their own, as you know which stop to get out.
Eventually, I found my way in, by the time-honoured method of finding the walking crowd and following them.
I could have got a train, as my match ticket, included a free bus or train ticket from Brighton, but that would have meant walking back to the station.
But getting to the Amex, is infinitely better that getting to some stadia I’ve visited.
Brighton Names The Buses
I’ve said before that buses should be named. Brighton does it!
Brighton Names The Buses
This may be different too, but it’s a brave attempt at a livery that gives you information.
Brighton Has A Bicycle Problem
Or at least as far as I’m concerned it does!
Brighton Has A Bicycle Problem
I don’t bump into them now, as my eyesight is better. But I used to.
Pavements should be pleasant places to walk, not obstacle courses.
The DLR Seats Are Back
They took some of them away for the Olympics. but they are back now.
The DLR Seats Are Back
So that’s one promise that was kept.
The Hydraulic Accumulator Tower From The DLR
I took these pictures of the Hydraulic Accumulator Tower yesterday to compliment those I took from the ground at Open House.
I was on the eastbound platform at Limehouse station, except for the close-up, where I was in the front of a train.
One of the problems with the DLR these days, is that it is too popular with site-seers and sometimes getting the front seats to take pictures can be almost impossible.
To Brighton via Cable Car And A Lot More
And a few other things too!
I had plenty of time yesterday to get to the Ipswich match at Brighton, so I thought, I’d see how many different forms of transport I could use.
1. A 21 Bus to Bank
I started the simple way by getting on this 21 bus to take me to Bank station for the DLR.
A 21 Bus To Bank
It didn’t actually go to Bank, as southbound buses have to take a detour at Moorgate because of Crossrail.
2. Docklands Light Railway to Royal Victoria Docks
I then took the DLR to Royal Victoria Dock station for the cable-car.
DLR Train At Bank
I did take a pause at Limehouse station to take pictures of the Hydraulic Accumulator Tower.
3. Emirates Air-Line To North Greenwich
I’d actually come this way to give me a good title to the post. But, as I had a gondola to myself, I was able to take good pictures of the Crossrail site at Limmo.
The Crossrail Site On The Limmo Peninsular
Work seems to be proceeding at speed and hopefully Elizabeth and Victoria will be dropped in the big hole soon.
4. Jubilee Line To Canada Water
This was the point, I realised I hadn’t got an SD card in the camera, so I purchased one by the O2.
Jubilee Line At Canada Water
At least the Jubilee line was working properly.
5.Lift To The Overground
This might seem like blatant cheating to get my count up. It is!
Lift To The Overground
Although it was a nice clean lift!
6. Overground To West Croydon
Those who know London’s transport system can argue that I should have taken the Jubilee line to London Bridge station and got a train from there. But hey! That would not be fun.
Arriving At West Croydon
But even the Overground takes you to wrong station at Croydon for Brighton. But at least, West Croydon station now has a quick exit to the tram.
7. Tram To East Croydon
At least when you’re going West to East in Croydon, the Tramlink is simple.
Tram at East Croydon
In fact, if say I’m coming from Brighton to my home, I will probably go direct to the London terminus. But going south, I tend to take the Overground from close by my house and then the tram to East Croydon station, as I did here.
8. Train To Brighton
I bought my first ticket of the day. a senior return to Brighton for £11.70.
My Train To Brighton Arrives
I arrived in Brighton on time.
I then walked down the hill to Carluccio’s for an early supper.
Cyclehoops By Selfridges
I found these two cyclehoops by Selfridges today.
One seemed to have had a bicycle part-nicked from it, bt the other was ready to do its job.
The CrossRail TBMs At Limmo
I took these pictures today of the two CrossRail tunnel boring machines; Elizabeth and Victoria, at Limmo today from the DLR just before the Beckton branch gets to Canning Town station.
If you want to see them, you’ll probably have to be quick, as they’ll be dropped into the hole there soon.
The Anonymous Widower 