A Problem At Barking Station
Yesterday, I had a small problem at Barking station, about getting my train back to the centre.
This is what I wrote to London Underground.
I visited Barking and had arrived on an H&C. So when I went back, the signs directed me to the sane platform, but there was no information there and no trains. So in the end I gave up and walked to the Westbound District Line platform, where I found a distressed elderly lady looking for a train to Paddington. Eventually, I shepherded her on a District Line train and I found a H&C at West Ham. The lady went off to try her luck on the Jubilee Line.
Not only was there no signs to the H&C and no trains, but there were no staff on the platform directing people to the trains that were running.
It wasn’t the standard I usually get at Dalston Junction or Barbican say!
It is very unusual that this happens on the Underground.
Bad Sign Layout At Piccadilly Circus
It’s not often that the London Underground gets its signage wrong.
Bad Sign Layout At Piccadilly Circus
But they have here, as you can’t see the train indicator, as it’s positioned behind the Way Out sign!
Consultation Starts On The Bakerloo Line Extension
The Standard is reporting that consultation is going to start on the route of the Bakerloo Line Extension.
I’m always surprised that this project which was first proposed seriously in 1931, has taken so long to this point, given that the line is the most lightly used of all the main Underground lines.
Beware Of Underground Winds
I saw this at Kentish Town Underground station today.
Beware Of Underground Winds
It’s nice to see humour getting involved with Health and Safety!
Funding Circle Does Underground Adverts
The three big peer-to-peer lenders; Funding Circle, Ratesetter and Zopa, tend to rely on newspaper and magazine articles, and personal recommendations to spread their message.
So I was surprised to see this advert for Funding Circle on the Underground.
Funding Circle Does Underground Adverts
I don’t think occasional Underground adverts have the kiss of death that is associated with covering large numbers of buses with advertising. Could their bus advertising have anything to do with the falling reputation of Wonga. Or as with films, does blanket advertising of a product, show up the real turkeys?
Searching For East Putney Station
East Putney station is the first station south of the Thames on the Wimbledon branch of the District Line and it lies within walking distance of the Carluccio’s. But finding it wasn’t easy, as there were no maps or signposts.
When I eventually got to the station I questioned the station man about this and he said it was all a devious plot. Or something like that!
Note that the railway I crossed over is the line between Waterloo and Richmond.
East Putney station is a curious station in that it effectively lies within the junction of two lines, although no passenger services run on the other track.
Is This The Last Pill Box In London?
When I went to Wimbledon to trace the Goblin Extension, I noticed that perched on Fulham Railway Bridge was a Second World War pill box.
So I just had to go back and investigate, by taking a trip to Putney Bridge station.
I think this type of defensive structure is pretty rare in London these days.
Note though how Putney Bridge station is on the Fulham side of the river, by a bridge with that name.
Was this all done to confuse invaders, so they didn’t know whether they were coming or going, so they could be picked off easily from the pill box.
Probably not, as the naming was I suspect a cunning plan to confuse those South of the river, if they should venture into the North.
Is The Bakerloo Line Extension To Be Built?
The Bakerloo Line Extension was originally planned to be built in the 1940s and it seems to come up every now and again.
In this supporting document to the London Infrastructure Plan for 2050, the following is said.
Potential extensions to the existing network to unlock major potential for housing development range from major rail schemes such as the extension of the Bakerloo line, to extensions to the Overground. In unlocking development they also provide opportunities to secure funding towards the cost of delivery.
In some ways the second quoted sentence is the more important statement, as it might mean that developers, who want to contribute to infrastructure will be listened to. This happened in part with Canary Wharf at the Jubilee Line, so if done properly, it might mean an accelerated rate of construction of new infrastructure.
Obviously before any decision is made detailed costings and consultations must take place. According to this report though, it has a benefit cost ratio of 3:1
One factor that will be important, is how the project to create the Northern Line Extension to Battersea performs.
If it is on budget and on time, will that team be rolled over onto the Bakerloo?
Ticketing In London Takes Another Big Step
Over the last month,since London’s buses went cashless, the silence has been deafening about this issue and I haven’t found any news reports about problems or complaints.
So it was no surprise to see that from September 16th the Underground, Overground and DLR will accept contactless bank cards.
There are still a few small steps to take, like bringing all of other rail companies into the system. Once this is done, you could say turn up at Gatwick Airport touch your contactless bank card on the reader and then again, when you get to Victoria, to get into Central London. Obviously, you can do that from September 16th at Heathrow or City Airports, as they are in the Transport for London area.
One of the things also to be introduced is a weekly cap. So will this mean that if you put a weekly ticket on Oyster, you won’t need to any more.
TfL Says Ready On The Northern Line Extension
This article from Global Rail News announces that Transport for London has now chosen their preferred contractor for the Northern Line Extension to Battersea.
Although it is starting later than Crossrail, the article says it could open before that rail line is fully complete.
2019 is looking to be a momentous year for new rail projects.
The Anonymous Widower 