Safety On Zebra Crossings
Every morning, when I go to get my newspaper, I have to cross a zebra crossing twice, that has a very busy and sometimes dangerous mix of cyclists and pedestrians. Sometimes, if a van, bus or other obscuring vehicle is waiting for a pedestrian to cross, cyclists will undertake the vehicle and then find a pedestrian is on the crossing.
Perhaps a convex mirror placed at the correct angle under the beacon, might make it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to avoid each other. The cyclist could see across the crossing and the pedestrian could see behind the obscuring vehicle.
Zebra Crossing Beacons
There’s plenty of space on this pole.
What Do You Think Of It Boys?
The picture shows three High Speed Diesel Trains this morning in platforms seven, six and five at Kings Cross station this morning. Note that platform seven is to left.
Three High Speed Diesel Trains at Kings Cross
For those of you, who know Kings Cross station, they started running to the station at the end of the 1970s, which is just about the time, that the disgusting dark green extension was erected.
The irony is that they’ll actually outlive the extension, by several years.
So good old British Rail did get some things right. But not stations! Where should Network Rail’s refurbishment experts strike next in London? After all, they’ve now done or have nearly finished St. Pancras, Stratford, Clapham Junction, Blackfriars, Kings Cross and Paddington. I think London Bridge and Waterloo are being planned. But what about the others!
Vote now and vote often.
Effect Of Freight on Rail
A few years ago there were only three freight trains a day out of Felixstowe. Now because of new infrastructure in the docks, there are over thirty.
One side effect of this, has been a very large reduction of trucks on the A14.
Before we build large numbers of new roads, we should make sure that the rail freight network is as efficient as possible.
One trouble with rail freight is that it needs terminals for local distribution near major conurbations and these developments tend to bring out the nimbys in large numbers.
But you can’t have truck-free main roads, without interfaces between long-distance freight trains and local deliveries.
The Intro And The Outtro
Network Rail showed how to open a station today. There were lots of signs and the old entrances had ushers so you would know the correct way to go.
Pratt of the Week? - Not Really!
I suggested to this guy, that he might be the “Pratt of the Week”. He took it well and it certainly is a light-hearted way to herd people in the right direction.
On exiting the station though, I was greeted by lines of smokers.
Pratts of this and every other Year!
How do we stop these “Pratts of this and every other Year” causing litter and blocking the way for those who are less than mobile?
The New Kings Cross Opens A Day Early
I hadn’t intended to go into the new part of Kings Cross station until it opened on the 19th. But I found it was open on Sunday the 18th.
It is impressive and even has a restaurant that does gluten-free fast-food; Leon
I have added some more pictures taken on the Monday. I’ll probably add a few more as time goes on.
There is a very good article on the design here in the Evening Standard.
The Old and the New
I took these two pictures of buses on Route 15.
The first is a Routemaster on the Heritage route and the following bus is an Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H Hybrid, but it doesn’t seem to have had the leaves stuck on yet!
I don’t think they’re travelling in a pair in case the other breaks down, but perhaps as the Routemaster only goes half the way, the new bus can pick up the passengers, when the other stops. Or it could be a cheaper way of creating a high-capacity bus, as the total capacity is 64+80 or 144 passengers!
when I was a child, there was always a rumour that one London bus route, always went in convoy for protection, as once one got hit by a German bomb.
Bad Mathematics on the Underground
When the London Underground replaces or refurbishes an escalator, they put posters on them to amuse and inform. One says.
Twice the life. Escalators are refurbished at least twice in their lifetime.
Here’s a picture of the error, that I took later.
Bad Mathematics on the Underground
If the refurbishments make the escalator as new, surely two will treble the total lifetime.
The East India Dock Basin
Travelling towards the River Thames, you come to the East India Dock Basin, which is now a nature reserve, is described here.
As you can see, it is well-laid out and has good views of the River Thames. The island in the middle of the basin is growing using the same method that salt marshes do in places like Norfolk. There were quite a few birds about with sheld-duck, tufted duck and coot easily spotted. Apparently, there’s a local kingfisher too! There is a lot of good information. What would Jack Dash have thought?
There are plenty of places to sit and considering how close it is to the end of the 277 bus route and East India station on the DLR, it’s an ideal spot to go for a picnic.
We Need More Canning Town Stations
Canning Town station is a major interchange in East London and will be important in getting spectators to the Olympics.
The Jubilee line, two DLR lines and lots of bus routes meet there.
We need more interchanges like this in London and over the whole country for that matter. As I have said before, Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations should be combined, with a bus station below.
From Bank to Poplar on the DLR
This video shows why the DLR appeals to kids of all ages.
As the train is driverless, you can often get the front all to yourself. I just sat in the right hand seat and balanced my elbows on the cover in front of me.
To get these pictures, I waited on Platform 9 at Bank station until a train going to Woolwich Arsenal or Beckton stations and got in the front on the right hand side. The Lewisham trains would be a worthy alternative, especially as they go through Canary Wharf station.
The Anonymous Widower 