Could The Giant Station At Bank, Liverpool Street, Monument And Moorgate Be Considered A Superhub?
In Is The City Of London Moving Towards One Giant Station?, I showed how the four stations were being drawn together and developed as one large station that served the heart of the City of London.
London is also developing other large interchange stations that could claim because of their connectivity could be classed as London superhub stations.
- Canary Wharf stations, which connect the Elizabeth and Jubilee Lines, and the Docklands Light Railway.
- Old Oak Common station, which could bring together the Central, Chiltern and Elizabeth Lines, the London Overground and High Speed Two.
- Stratford station, which connects the Central, Elizabeth and Jubilee Lines, the Docklands Light Railway, the London Overground, High Speed One and the Great Eastern Main Line.
- Whitechapel station, which connects the Circle, District, Elizabeth and Hammersmith & City Lines, and the London Overground.
But what are the characteristics of a superhub station?
A Lot Of Lines And Services
Obviously, it must have a lot of lines and services, so perhaps Clapham Junction station is the original superhub station.
All Lines Should Have Step-Free Access
This surely, goes without saying.
There Should Be Lots of Information
If the station is large it needs a lot of information and there’s probably the space to put it.
Helpful Staff
Should we have a fully-staffed kiosk at superhub stations, as there are at some main line stations?
Good Bus Connections
Bus connections at a superhub station must be comprehensive and probably connect to other superhubs.
There Should Be A Selection Of Shops For Travellers
I do my daily food and other shopping, as I travel around London. I’ll often use a station like Paddington with a good selection of shops.
Toilets
There are not enough public toilets in London.
Cash Machines
I know we’re using less cash, but a large station is a secure place to put a cash-machine.
Works Of Art
I also believe that railway stations are a secure place to put some of those large bronze sculptures and other works of art, that are currently locked away in the storerooms of galleries.
Brent Cross West Station – 22nd January 2023
T took these pictures as I passed the site this morning.
I’m not sure about the work of art.
Changing At Farringdon To And From Northbound Thameslink Trains
For my trip this morning, I took the Lizzie Line one stop from Moorgate station to Farringdon, and then straight up the escalator to the Northbound Thameslink platform.
Changing to Northbound Thameslink services at Farringdon is very easy, if you make sure you arrive in the Western end of your Lizzie Line train.
These pictures show the change.
Note.
- You can only change at the Western end of the Lizzie Line platforms.
- At the top of the escalator, keep to the left and walk through to the Northbound platform.
You will be arrive on the Northbound platform at the back of the train.
The reverse change is also easy, so if I was coming home from Gatwick Airport or Brighton, I’d change at Farringdon to the Lizzie Line for Moorgate, from where I can get a bus to my home.
The change to the Lizzie Line will be easier, if you are in the back of your Thameslink train.
Pit Stops At Farringdon Station
One unique feature of the Northbound Thameslink platform at Farringdon station, is that unusually for a sub-surface station, it has full facilities, which are located by the escalators for the Lizzie Line.
I would very much like to see more of these.
Changing At Farringdon To And From Southbound Thameslink Trains
Changing to Southbound Thameslink services at Farringdon is similar to changing to Northbound Thameslink services, if you make sure you arrive in the Western end of your Lizzie Line train.
These pictures show the change.
Note.
- You can only change at the Western end of the Lizzie Line platforms, where you go up the escalator.
- At the top of the escalator, keep to the right and take the escalator to the station entrance.
- Then descend to the Southbound platform using the stairs or the lifts.
You will be arrive on the Southbound platform at the front of the train.
The reverse change is also easy, so if I was coming home from Bedford or Cambridge, I’d change at Farringdon to the Lizzie Line for Moorgate, from where I can get a bus to my home.
The change to the Lizzie Line will be easier, if you are in the front of your Thameslink train.
Striking “Bellingham” Bridge Set To Light Up HS2’s Gateway Into Birmingham
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from High Speed Two.
These three paragraphs describe the bridge in detail.
HS2 Ltd has revealed designs for the 150-metre section of viaduct as part of the approach to Birmingham’s new Curzon Street Station, including a 25-metre-high truss which will create a new icon on the city’s skyline.
A unique light installation, designed by British artist Liz West, will introduce a dynamic colour palette to the apertures of the steel truss, framing views of the city. Titled Out of the Blue, the proposed artwork will establish the bridge as a stunning feature of the city’s landscape both during the day and at night, when the artwork will come to life.
The Curzon 2 bridge, which has been nicknamed “The Bellingham Bridge” by the team in honour of England superstar and Stourbridge-born Jude Bellingham’s performances at the World Cup, is the tallest structure in the sequence of viaducts and structures that make up the Curzon Street Approaches. These Approaches take HS2 into Birmingham’s new city centre station. The bridge consists of a gently curved truss in weathering steel which carries HS2 over the Victorian brick rail viaduct below.
There are several more visualisations on the High Speed Two web site.
Former US President Donald Trump Launches $99 NFT Trading Cards
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
Under images of two of the cards, one showing him as a roughneck with a shotgun and the other as a superhero, this is the first paragraph.
Former US President Donald Trump has launched a collection of digital trading cards depicting him in various guises including a superhero, astronaut and Nascar driver.
In the superhero picture he has a T on his chest.
I would think a W with an anchor would have been more appropriate.
The Birmingham Bull – 5th August 2022
The non-human star of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was a mechanical bull.
This article on the BBC is entitled Commonwealth Games: Scots Creator Reveals Secrets Of Metal Bull.
These three introductory paragraphs give an overview of the design.
The secrets of the mechanical bull that wowed audiences during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games have been revealed by its Scottish creator.
The 10m high scrap metal sculpture was one of the stars of the celebration in Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.
Michael Dollar, of creative model makers Artem, said it took six people to operate the giant structure.
The BBC also revealed today, that the bull would be parked for a few days in Centenary Square outside the Library of Birmingham.
So as my day had fallen apart, I got on a Chiltern train to Birmingham and took these pictures.
Note.
- The first picture has the The Library Of Birmingham in the background, with its lattice frontage and gold dome.
- The Bull seems to have been built on a loader chassis.
- There were a large crowd in Centenary Square looking at the Bull.
I have never seen a public work of art surrounded by such a crowd, most of whom were taking selfies or traditional pictures.
This article on the BBC is entitled Birmingham Commonwealth Games: Ceremony Bull To Stay.
The BBC article says this about the future of the bull.
A giant mechanical bull that became the star of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games opening ceremony it set to stay in the city.
The 10m sculpture is on display in Centenary Square after its debut last week, although its future has been less clear.
Largely made of foam, it was due to be dismantled at the end of the Games, sparking public outcry.
But Birmingham City Council has confirmed the bull has won a reprieve.
It will stay in the square until the end of September before being moved indoors.
This wonderful work of engineering art, is far too good and is now too well-loved to be scrapped.
As it needs to go inside, why not bring it inside High Speed Two’s new Curzon Street station, to greet passengers visiting Birmingham?
Do They Paint Their Own Toilets Like This?
I took these pictures in the toilet of a Thameslink train.
It is vandalism, pure and simple and those that did this should spend a long time in a suitable prison!
But then I hate graffiti and others might consider it art!
Artwork At Hackney Wick
I took these pictures as I walked from the 30 bus to Hackney Wick station to get to Stratford.
Hackney Wick station and the subway with its mural in concrete, appears to be complete.
All Change At The Broadgate Entrance To Liverpool Street Station
Everything seems to have changed at the Broadgate Entrance To Liverpool Street Station, as these pictures show.
Note.
- You now enter at street level, rather than through a subway.
- You ascend a gentle ramp to walk through some upmarket shops and then descend into the station using an escalator.
- You can also walk through the shops to the bus station between the rail station and Broadgate.
The only thing, that hasn’t changed is the rusty smoking shelter.
The Tate Is Closing
I have just received this e-mail from the Tate, where I am a member.
It is not unexpected. |
The London Cablet
I took these pictures outside Carluccio’s in Smithfield.
It is called the London Cablet.
The Anonymous Widower 