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.
A Church With A Station in the Rectory
I mentioned in the last post, that St. Mary Woolnoth had the access to the Docklands Light Railway, where the rectory used to be. So I took some pictures this morning.
It would appear the church has gone commercial with a Starbucks. too. What more could a commuter want? Religion, coffee and a quick way to the City Airport.
It was actually a three stage drop to the platforms of the DLR, but the lifts would have taken the average loaded wheel-chair and a pusher with ease. The first lift actually gets you to the escalators, so it could be a quick bypass of the stairs from street-level, if you’re carrying something heavy.
Disabled and Normal Access on the Docklands Light Railway
When I was in Bank station yesterday, I noticed that there is a lift down to the Docklands Light Railway. Where it comes out at the surface, I don’t know. and it is worth an investigation. As it is foggy today, perhaps I’ll go and have a look. According to Wikipedia, the lift gets to the surface in the rectory of St. Mary Woolnoth
i should say though, that access to the DLR has greatly improved from the Northern line and now it is just one short staircase and twenty metres or so in a tunnel. There are also escalators everywhere, which is one of the reasons I didn’t use the lift. so sometimes, when they refurbish a station, like they have at Bank, they do get it right.
But this web site for Stratford International station doesn’t. Type disabled or wheel-chair into the site search engine and nothing is found. Although the station is known to be step free and if you want to transfer between the DLR and say a service to Ipswich, Southend or Dalston, it’s lifts all the way.
Why can’t people who design web sites get them right? I suspect that there’s full information on how to get to Eastfield, the Shopping Centre though!
To take the Golden Syrup picture, I travelled to West Silvertown station, which is a typical elevated DLR station, with a lift and a staircase to both platforms. Incidentally, this station has some short term parking, as many do on the DLR, so it is an ideal place to set someone on their way in a wheel-chair say and then go and find somewhere safe to leave the car for a longer time.
A Good Summary of Crossrail
Although, it’s mainly about the start of tunnelling on Crossrail, this post on the BBC, has some good graphics and maps about the new train line through London.
What Do They Make Here?
This picture was taken from West Silvertown station on the Docklands Light Railway.
What Do They Make Here?
I think the answer is obvious. But how many companies advertise their products on their factories in such a manner?
The Anonymous Widower 