A Plan For Tottenham Is Emerging
It would appear that Spurs are on the point of dropping their bid to take over the Olympic stadium according to the BBC.
I have looked at the plans for the new stadium and feel that the way it would be built is innovative and good project management, making the best use of all the resources.
A deal seems to be being working out with the Mayor and the Government about improving public transport in the area. As I said earlier, I believe this should be achieved by giving some or all of the Lea Valley lines to Transport for London and adding them to the Overground. The trains, track and power supplies are not the worst, but improving the stations with their dreadful access and especially the link at Hackney Downs to the North London line and to buses must be done. A point here, is that this access traps the locals in the area, whether they like football or not.
It would also help London and Tottenham Hotspur, if a large Park and Ride was built somewhere to the north of White Hart Lane station on the Cheshunt line by the M25. London and the City lacks a decent Park and Ride and parking at most stations to the north and east of London is inadequate and overpriced.
So in my view a proper modern railway run to the same reliability as the Overground would transform the whole area from Bethnal Green, through Hackney and Tottenham to Enfield and the M25.
Finally, it has always irked Spurs supporters that Arsenal have their own Underground station. So why shouldn’t White Hart Lane be renamed Spurs?
The New Roof at King’s Cross Does the Business
It was raining hard tonight and the new roof at King’s Cross was keeping everybody dry as it should.
The New Roof at King’s Cross
Someone will nickname it the Kingbrella.
A magnificent station is emerging from its chrysalis.
A Sign At Euston
I saw this sign at Euston tonight.
A Sign at Euston
How many of the 37 luggage related accidents, were caused by drunks carrying trays of lager?
The Law of the Bleeding Obvious
I was talking to an old mate, who uses Stoke Newington station occasionally. Before I could ask, he told me that the problem there is the staircases.
If we two old farts can see it, why can’t Notwork Rail?
As Baldrick said. “I have a cunning plan!”
However mine doesn’t involve rats or sticking pencils up my nose.
Although thinking about it, the second idea might be good for my hay fever.
Searching For Mint Imperials
This trip didn’t start out as the title, but I do find those little tubes of Bassetts Mint Imperials difficult to find these days. Perhaps, they are a casualty of the takeover of Cadburys by Kraft.
I had gone to Stoke Newington to deliver some pictures for framing to A & B Frames and as it was raining with a certain ferocity, I decided that to go somewhere for lunch was not the best idea. So I decided to return home to cook some scrambled eggs to eat with some left over new potatoes and some smoked salmon. But the rain meant it would be better to go north to Seven Sisters as this avoided the walk to a stop for a 76.
In the end I decided to go to Blackhorse Road station, by taking a bus to South Tottenham station and then the Gospel Oak and Barking line of the Overground, as I wanted to see if you could see the Markfield Museum from the train. I made another change of mind at Blackhorse Road and instead of taking the Victoria Line home, I reversed direction and went to Harringay Green Lanes station to get a bus home.
Here are some of the pictures I took.
But I was able to buy some Mint Imperials in the kiosk at Blackhorse Road.
Note the two staircases at South Tottenham and Blackhorse Road. They’re not good, but at least they are better than those on the Lea Valley lines.
Getting On Our Bikes
According to this report on the BBC, cycling is booming, with several millions of extra cyclists.
This can only be good. It’s certainly taking off down here in london, but it taking off in the same way everywhere. It would be nice to see a breakdown of the statistics by county and city.
The Overground Connection to the Lea Valley Line at Seven Sisters
I tried to take a picture of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line of the Overground, as I passed over it, just before I got to Seven Sisters station whilst travelling to Bruce Grove today.
The Overground Passing Under the Lea Valley Line South of Seven Sisters
It was not good and neither was the one of the I took of Seven Sisters South junction that connects the two lines.
Seven Sisters South Junction
Some might argue that an interchange station here would be a good thing. Or perhaps that some trains from Enfield might use this junction to get to Barking and other places in East London.
I wouldn’t! But I would make the walk from Seven Sisters station to South Tottenham station as easy as possible. According to Wikipedia, there is a shorter route that is not well signposted.
So often improvements in many things can be brought about by decent signs, maps or a few litres of well-applied paint. Perhaps when we signpost an area, we should involve the teenagers. They know all the short-cuts and those places that are dangerous.
Personalised Spider Bus Maps
London’s spider bus maps are good and are starting to be copied by other places. This is the one for Bruce Grove and Bruce Castle.
I think it would be rather nice if you could create personalised ones, so that you could show all the routes to or from your house or business.
Returning from Bruce Castle
I didn’t come back by train, but took a 243 bus direct to Dalston Junction station.
A Well-Appointed Bus Stop at Bruce Castle
As you can see, the bus stop by the museum was well appointed.
The buses are so much easier than the trains. And also the climb up the stairs is optional and only is used to get a better view from the front.
The Anonymous Widower 