In many ways the DLR’s story so far is one of five stages – expansion, stagnation, Olympic revival, further stagnation and consolidation. We are now in the transient stage between the last of those two. …
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Tramalot: Enhancing Croydon’s Tramlink
We recently looked at Croydon Tramlink up to around 2020. With surprisingly detailed plans available we look a bit further ahead now to the decade after, when considerable expansion is planned. Where we left off …
Continue readingMaking the Grade (Separation): The Bermondsey Diveunder
In the past we have resisted the temptation to write too much about the Bermondsey Diveunder as work had not really started in earnest and it was very hard to visualise what was planned. With …
Continue readingThe Surprise Contender: Sutton Tramlink
Our look at how Croydon Tramlink is expected to develop by 2030 needs to take a bit of a diversion. In the early 2020s it is proposed to add a new short branch. To understand …
Continue readingThe Light (Rail) Fantastic: A Look At the Croydon Tramlink
We haven’t looked at what is happening in the world of trams, as seen from a London perspective, for a long time now. With work on the ground advancing for the next capacity increase and …
Continue readingThird Time Lucky: A Look At The New Sub-Surface Signalling Plan
We have reported previously on the ongoing problems with the resignalling contract for the Subsurface Railway (the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines). The contract is an important one, for it underpins much …
Continue readingBike To The Future Part 3: The Board Meeting That Wasn’t
On Wednesday 4th February 2015 TfL held a board meeting. It was one quite different in nature from most, for in essence there was really only one important item to be discussed: Item 7 – …
Continue readingA Study In Sussex Part 8: If You Bridge It They Will Come
In our journey down the Brighton Main Line our last encounter was East Croydon. Instead of continuing southwards we remain at East Croydon and devote an entire article to something that at first glance might …
Continue readingA Perfect Storm: The Story Behind The London Bridge Delays
We really had been trying to not keep writing about London Bridge. Then, at the beginning of the year, a lot of problems emerged rendering it an apt topic for discussion again. The trouble was …
Continue readingMixed Signals: A Small SSR Press Release With Big Implications
On 24th March 2015 there was a surprise announcement from the Mayor and TfL about the re-signalling of the Subsurface Railway (SSR). It is largely a re-announcement of what has already been announced numerous times, …
Continue readingBike To The Future Pt 2: Government, Gilligan & Royal Guards
In part 1 we looked at the change of attitude towards cycling. Attitude, however, is only part of the battle. London presents some unique challenges for cycle planners – from road layouts to royalty – …
Continue readingBike To The Future Part 1: London’s Cycling Revolution
History is littered with events and announcements that didn’t seem important at the time. When the transport planners of the future consider this period in London’s history what will they see as the most significant …
Continue readingCrossrail: The Overlooked Surface Sections
It is easy to forget sometimes that for an “Underground” railway, Crossrail will spend a considerable amount of time on the surface. We have covered the North-Eastern arm of Crossrail on various occasions. The most …
Continue readingRevolutionary Road: A New Plan For Tottenham Court Road
Camden Council recently approved a scheme to revamp Tottenham Court Road. The scheme is quite significant in its own right but the thinking behind it also says a lot about current ideas on how best …
Continue readingTwin Peaks: Timetable Changes On The Northern Line
Operationally the Northern Line is probably the most interesting tube line. As the line’s signal upgrade programme comes to an official end, we look at the recent Northern Line timetable improvements and how frequency seems …
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