tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81295087312800262402024-03-13T03:28:25.491+00:00London's TransportA blog of stuff happening to the London transport network, mainly focused on rail transport.Mackenzie_bluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743771114553315245noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-35157553514936095612009-09-14T17:46:00.003+01:002009-09-14T17:53:42.904+01:00Overground ExpansionSeptember seems another big expansion of the London Overground (LO) as it takes over stations on route to Croydon ahead of next years running of services on the East London Railway (ELR). The following stations will be taken over on the 20th September;New Cross GateBrockleyHonor Oak ParkForest HillSydenhamCrystal PalacePenge WestAnerleyNorwood JunctionWest CroydonThis will lead to a re branding Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-7550071283338373002009-09-02T22:09:00.005+01:002009-09-02T22:25:42.985+01:00377/5 updateSlowly and surely the 377/5 are being delivered by Bombarider. Current First Capital Connect have now 12th units meaning we are now half way through the delivery programme and the current final unit, the 23rd is due mid november. 377506 made its passenger debut today, working along side 10 other Electrostars. So far the units have come into service as such377501 - 24th March377504 - 28th Mackenzie_bluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743771114553315245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-81686799396378720252009-09-02T21:55:00.003+01:002009-09-02T22:04:43.947+01:00Blackfriars Update - 2nd September 2009Just a quick update with some pictures of Blackfriars. Over the bank holiday wekend the passenger bridge linking platforms 4 and 5 was lifted into place. as you can see from the following pictures, work has progressed rather well.Not in the pictures is the new front entrance to the station which is completed. It will open along side the new station control room in around two weeks time.Mackenzie_bluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743771114553315245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-65175402021783317672009-08-09T23:15:00.012+01:002009-08-10T00:23:56.750+01:00Blackfriars - Platform 5 ChangesThis weekend saw major changes being implemented on the northbound platform 5 at Blackfriars this weekend. As part of the on going works the platform is being extended to the south. This was necessary because of the closure of the link bridge over the District/Circle Line below to the main exit. This now means the main way onto the platform is from the newer St Paul's Walk. The subway between Mackenzie_bluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743771114553315245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-13429167410477489182009-07-29T12:14:00.005+01:002009-07-29T12:22:43.540+01:00New Central Line platform at Stratford UpdateHere's some new images of the new platform 4a at Stratford for the Central Line. The platform is being build as part of the upgrade of Stratford station to handle the Olympic crowds and the extra traffic as the station is now one of the biggest interchanges outside Zone 1 in London.The Jubilee Line building is in the background here looking towards Canary Wharf.In the background here is the Mackenzie_bluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743771114553315245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-65413235878105441362009-07-28T22:44:00.003+01:002009-07-28T22:49:49.545+01:00Seems the first 378 in passenger service will be tomorrow with the following services booked to be 378 trips;0650 Clapham Junction – Stratford0809 Stratford – Richmond0922 Richmond – Stratford1037 Stratford – Richmond1157 Richmond – Stratford1307 Stratford – Richmond1427 Richmond – Stratford1537 Stratford – Richmond1736 Richmond – Willesden Junction1827 Willesden Junction – RichmondThis follows Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-49624690078041788092009-07-22T18:46:00.002+01:002009-07-22T18:48:45.404+01:00New Victoria Line Trains in Passenger Service at LastAs announced yesterday, the new 09TS (Tube Stock) trains for London Underground's Victoria Line made their first appearance late last night. The unit began its career on a 23:55 service from Seven Sisters to Brixton. This is likely to be a semi regular thing with three paths from next weeks timetable change so if your catching one of the last Victoria Line trains home keep an eye out for the unitMackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-27368829735143297202009-07-21T11:11:00.001+01:002009-07-21T11:12:58.794+01:00Bombardier Debuts This Week?After months and months of delays it looks like two new Bombardier trains will be coming into service this week.As previous posted, the delayed 378 introduction is some seven months late. After last weeks official press launch and the selling of commissioned units to the new ROSCO, they can at last be put into service.Also of note is the first 09 Tube Stock (09TS)for the Victoria Line has been Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-61445497594507982752009-07-01T16:11:00.002+01:002009-07-01T16:16:17.719+01:00National Express is striped of East CoastToday National Express announced that they stop providing financial support to there lost making East Coast arm triggering the Government to remove the franchise from their control and for the year, run as a publicly owned company. This follows on from my previous story here. National Express also runs two other franchises in NX East Anglia & c2c. East Anglia runs all the services out of Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-62877943377456488162009-06-25T12:24:00.005+01:002009-06-25T12:29:34.726+01:00378 SpottedJust a small update, an 378 unit reached Watford Junction in daylight hours and the units ramp up again in driver training following the recent problems with the Electrostar fleets.Hopefully in the autum this will be a much more common sight.Thanks to my friend Steve at Watford for the shot.Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-62406296514631195672009-06-11T19:04:00.002+01:002009-06-11T19:08:46.434+01:00FCC release statement over the recent 377/5 issueFirst Capital Connect (FCC) have released a statement concerning the withdrawal of its new 377/5 Electrostars. It seems that during routine inspect of 377502 in the early hours of Friday morning an issue was discovered with the units power transmission system. This axle end earth return brushes and the bearing which return current to the running rails were found to be faulty. After discovering Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-16961931134059984592009-06-10T17:10:00.001+01:002009-06-10T17:15:52.981+01:00Return of the Electrostars & NR PAYG OysterNo sooner had I put up my last post about the current state of the Electrostars and a major issue crops up with the 377/5 for FCC. As of Thursday evening all six units were withdrawn from service due to safety concerns. After a week of no information, FCC, on its regular web chat with interested parties the actually reason for the withdrawal We stood down the 6 377/5 units last Friday due to aMackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-77316539018448307482009-06-04T16:43:00.005+01:002009-06-11T19:10:45.528+01:00Electrostar UpdateFCC's 7th Electrostar, unit 377509, sits in the cleaning sheds at Selhurst Depot on the 2nd June 2009 shortly after delivery.With the recent problems of Bombardier I thought it would prove useful to update the current status of the Electrostars for both FCC (377/5) and London Overground (378).377/5The original plan was for most of the 377/5 dual voltage units to be ready for the Thameslink Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-7663986335882949662009-06-03T12:08:00.003+01:002009-06-03T12:28:58.983+01:00Southeastern to run HS services this monthSoutheastern have officially announced they are to run a preview High Speed service. This follows on from the story I blogged about here. The service will begin on the 29th June and uses Ashford International, Ebbsfleet and St Pancras stations. Journey times are 37 minutes from Ashford to St Pancras and just 17 minutes from Ebbsfleet. The official timetable can be accessed here. Pricing Using Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-58889270403404279082009-05-22T22:25:00.001+01:002009-06-04T17:31:21.364+01:00Shoreditch High Street - UPDATEAfter weeks of waiting I finally got a reply from TfL over why all of a sudden Shoreditch High Street has been re-branded from a Zone 2 to Zone 1 stations. The following is what TfL told me;“Thank you for your email.Yes, I can confirm that the Secretary of State (Department for Transport) has set out a condition that Shoreditch be a Zone 1 station as part of the funding deal that’s been agreed.AsMackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-9523490735295273062009-05-20T17:56:00.002+01:002009-05-20T18:00:00.661+01:00378 Passenger debut setA new date has been given out for the first of TfL Overground class 378 Electrostar to be I passenger service. The first unit is now planned to take its first paying passengers on the Monday 15th June, just over three weeks away. This is some six months later than originally planned. This is due to the lack of parts that have also affected the 378s cousins, the 377/5 for FCC. This is good news Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-81078574854228356122009-05-18T13:31:00.004+01:002009-05-18T13:40:35.522+01:00Great Northern Timetable changesAfter three years of planning First Capital Connect are introducing the biggest timetable change on its Great Northern (GN) route for 15 years. With the addition of five trains to the FCC GN fleet and regular 12 car trains, FCC will introduce an extra 5,000 seats during the peak period.The work to introduced this timetable has progressed with both Network Rail and stakeholders being involved Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-80702248990879564712009-05-15T23:54:00.001+01:002009-05-15T23:55:58.183+01:00First Crossrail station begins constructionWork has begun on the new station at Canary Wharf as part of Crossrail today. The new station is the first part of the project to be built and is expected to be among the first to open in 2017 with the Stratford branch following on a few months later. The huge new station is being built in the dock to the north of Canary Wharf, next to the West India Quay station of the DLR. The station will haveMackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-80138343461445188682009-05-13T23:54:00.000+01:002009-05-13T23:56:17.087+01:00Beckton is getting three car services from 2011An agreement for the Beckton branch of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to get three car services has been signed. Costing £18.2m the deal will see the following seven stations extended;Royal VictoriaCustom House for ExcelPrince RegentBeckton ParkCyprusGallions ReachBecktonThe money is coming form the following sources£10.8m from the Olympic Delivery Authority£2m from London Development Agency£Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-16948606789958385402009-05-03T22:37:00.003+01:002009-05-03T22:40:21.992+01:00National Express East CoastAfter months of rumors do one of the rail franchises handing the keys back to one or more franchise, one has finally collapsed and has done a deal with the government. National Express East Coast franchise have has previous issues when GNER had to hand the franchise back due to its parent companies inability to guarantee premium payments. Two years ago National Express (NX) won the rights and Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-20259359996490900152009-05-01T22:53:00.000+01:002009-05-03T22:54:43.675+01:00Crossrail Safeguarded to ReadingThe full Crossrail scheme was always supposed to get to Reading rather than Maidenhead but the link was pulled to reduce the costs as the business case wasn't as solid that far out of London. Also cut was the the Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet International link which would have provided a second link to the HS1 services that will be running by Southeastern by the time Crossrail opens, enabling people Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-90174459601672275812009-04-29T12:03:00.002+01:002009-04-29T12:06:39.507+01:00Shoreditch High StreetAs have been reported it has now been announced that the new station at Shoreditch High Street has been confirmed as a Zone 1 station. Rumor has been abound that the station was going to be put into Zone 1. I recently contacted TfL press office to ask about this and was give the following information;“Thank you for your feedback form.Shoreditch High Street is a new station on the extended East Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-91808085276600210642009-04-28T15:08:00.001+01:002009-04-28T15:11:17.406+01:00Midland Mainline ChaosLast night northbound commuters and travelers were greeted by chaos just before 9pm due to a train fire with an East Midlands Trains (EMT) heading for London St Pancras. The service was the 1928 Nottingham to St Pancras service when shortly before 2100 reports came in that the rear power car was smoking and flames were seen. The train came to a halt just south of Leagrave station at 2057 when allMackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-15051424159422900022009-04-14T19:23:00.004+01:002009-04-20T10:46:59.963+01:00Transport News Bites - 14th AprilJust a few minor updates that don't actually need a full story. But worthwhile reading I think. December 2009 the AC being installed on both platforms at City Thameslink will go live and all traction change will take place there instead of Farringdon. This is because of Smithfield sidings being the place to store failed trains now Moorgate branch is gone. Three 377/2 will return to Thameslink Mackenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18431918580413092219noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8129508731280026240.post-60798176953044855802009-04-13T05:40:00.007+01:002009-04-13T06:01:22.404+01:00Blackfriars ShieldAs part of the engineering work over the Easter period a shield was installed around the sub surface tracks of the District/Circle lines at Blackfriars was lifted into place. This shield is to protect the tracks and allow running as both the Underground and First Capital Connect stations during the 30 month rebuild that's costing £350m as part of getting ready for Key Output One (KO1) which Mackenzie_bluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743771114553315245noreply@blogger.com0