London Reconnections

London 2050 (Part 3): Tracks to the Future

On 24 October 2014 By Jonathan Roberts In Blackfriars, Crossrail, Crossrail 2, London Terminals, National Rail, Network Rail

How might we shape the pattern of London’s growth and development to help bring about a more sustainable outcome? In this part (and the next) of our continuing series we’ll look at the ‘quantity and quality’ schemes arriving at this electronic platform now for rail (above ground and below), surface transport and integration and interchange.

Taking A Look At New Cross Gate

On 20 October 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In London Overground, National Rail, Southern

We reported recently on the consultation to extend the Bakerloo Line which, if it were to be built, would include a station at New Cross Gate. Before that we reported on what the approach lines …

The New Tube For London: The Driverless Train With A Driver

On 15 October 2014 By John Bull In Bakerloo Line, Bombardier, Central line, Kings Cross, London Underground, Northern line, Piccadilly line, Rolling stock, TfL, Waterloo & City

On the 9th October, at Kings Cross, TfL unveiled the latest concept for the New Tube for London (NTfL) – the rolling stock design that will serve the majority of the “Deep Tube” lines, beginning …

In Pictures: Crossrail Site Webcams

On 3 October 2014 By John Bull In Crossrail, In Pictures

Long-time followers of Crossrail will be aware that for sometime the company has had webcams in place at a number of key construction sites. Over the years these have produced a number of interesting static …

Death, Taxes and Lewisham: Extending the Bakerloo

On 1 October 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In Bakerloo Line, Camberwell extension, Lewisham, London Underground, Mayor's Transport Strategy

The idea of extending the Bakerloo Line southwards is almost as old as the Bakerloo Line itself. One that seems to capture the imagination of rail enthusiasts, politicians and Londoners alike. It certainly ranks alongside …

A Study in Sussex Part 6: The Approaches to London Bridge

On 25 September 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In London Bridge, Network Rail, Southern

In part 4 of our Study in Sussex we looked at the restrictions on capacity at Victoria Station and came only to the rather vague conclusion that there was probably more capacity available in future. …

Consultations Cubed: The Overground (And More) at Old Oak Common

On 22 September 2014 By Lemmo In London Overground, Network Rail, Old Oak Common, Overground, TfL

On 22nd September TfL launched a new consultation on the possibility of adding one or more stations to the London Overground in west London at Old Oak Common. With at least two other OOC rail …

A Study in Sussex Part 5: Up The Junction

On 17 September 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In Construction projects, London Overground, Network Rail, Southern

In our quest to look at capacity issues and opportunities in Sussex we come to part 5 and are still only as far south as Clapham Junction – and we still haven’t yet looked at …

London 2050: A Cartographical Interlude

On 9 September 2014 By John Bull In London Assembly, Mayor's Transport Strategy, TfL

As many readers will be aware, over recent weeks we have been taking an in-depth look at London 2050. Published in July by the Mayor and directed by Isabel Dedring and many GLA staff, TfL …

London 2050 (Part 2): Whether the Forecasts

On 3 September 2014 By Jonathan Roberts In Crossrail, DfT, Heathrow, High Speed One, London Assembly

In part 2 of our detailed look at London 2050 we look at what it forecasts for both jobs and population – and how these affect the proposed transport strategy to be found within it.

A Look at Battersea Park Station

On 26 August 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In In Pictures, Network Rail, Southern

At first sight, Battersea Park station appears to be a complete contradiction. It is not exactly pretty at platform level, but has a splendid façade and booking office. It has five platforms, but only one …

London Bridge – The First Major Blockade

On 21 August 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In In Pictures, London Bridge, London Terminals, Network Rail, Southern, Thameslink

This August Bank Holiday sees the first major Thameslink Blockade at London Bridge. The low level platforms and the route in from the Southern lines (via New Cross Gate or South Bermondsey) will be blocked …

Crossrail to Tring: An HS2 Hijack

On 8 August 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In Construction projects, Crossrail, DfT, HS2, National Rail, Old Oak Common, Politics

We like to think it is not often we get caught out at London Reconnections. Often there’s a hint, either spotter or official, if not an openly advanced warning, about significant announcements. Other times we …

London 2050 (Part 1): The Trillion Pound Time Warp

On 3 August 2014 By Jonathan Roberts In Boris Johnson, Construction projects, London Assembly, Mayor's Office, TfL

In both science and science fiction, time warps are where there is a multi-dimensional fold in the space-time continuum which allow the traveller to pass from one space-time environment to another, as easily as stepping off an escalator at Kings Cross. The London Infrastructure Plan 2050 (‘London 2050’), published in July by the Mayor and directed by Isabel Dedring and many GLA staff, TfL and other colleagues, is an attempt to provide the London of today with a blueprint for such a transition to the London of tomorrow.

A Study In Sussex part 4: Victoria (the Brighton Line)

On 28 July 2014 By Pedantic of Purley In Network Rail, Southern

The Brighton Main Line (BML) from Victoria (and London Bridge) needs more capacity. This has been known for years but more recently it has been clear that demand has been accelerating and showing no indication …