Goodbye Blackfriars

The first major thing to happen in the Thameslink programme has started. The closure of Blackfriars Tube station until late 2011 to rebuild a modern step free station providing greater interchange with First Capitial Connect's new 12 car station.

Customers must now use either Temple or Mansion House to get on the Circle or District Lines. Personally I prefer Temple as spring is coming a nice walk along the Thames is a great way to start the week!

Circle Line To Be Broken This Year?

I've recently heard that plans to spilt the Circle Line have been brought forward to December 2009. This has been reported by the Rail Professional February 2009 issue. They have said that London Underground have confirmed this . The plan to create a straighter Circle Line is not new as it had problems since it was first introduced as without ending at any point the line suffers from lateness as they can't recover a train. The issue with terimating trains from Notting Hill at Edgware Road means that both Circle Line and Edgware Road District Lines trains would terimate in the four platform station as well as Hammersmith & City and Circle Line trains to Kings Cross going through. This would mean the reduction of District trains which is proving very unpopluar. also chaging using narrow staircases and footbridge at Edgware Road in large numbers could be a safely hazard. The image above shows what the Circle Line would look like on the Tube map (along side the Northern Line spilt and Crossrail 2).

One good piece of news is London Underground will provide an fall back timetable allowing the change back to the current set up if its deemed unworkable with review dates after 3, 6 and 12 months after the change over. Extra staff at Edgware Road is expect as well.

Hopefully we'll have an offical statement from London Underground on this.

2009 Transport Events

London Overground 378 Derby
Originally uploaded by kpmarek

Well as we start 2009 I though it would be good to look at the transport events we will see during the year.

January
*The first one will be the DLR's Woolwich Arsenal extension which open on the 10th
*The first 377/5 for FCC will be deliveried and tested

Febuary
*The first 377/5 begins passanger runs late this month

March
*Blackfriars Tube station closes for 35 months for complete rebuilding
*All things being well the Moorgate branch of Thameslink along with the bay platforms at Blackfriars will close to allow rebuilding at Farringdon and Blackfriars on the 22nd

April
*DLR re-open Tower Gateway

December
*SouthEastern begin services using the 395's on HS1 speeding up services from Kent into central London

Other events without dates
*New Overground platforms are finished and opened
*378 fleet for the Overground comes into service
* First 09TS on the Victoria Line comes into passenger service
*PAYG Oyster on all rail services before the years end

There are also alot of things that could seriously affect our travelling lifes during 2009. The Thameslink programme along with the Tube upgrade are making weekend travel more difficult in the short term as is works around Stratford for the Olmypics. The next few years see large part of the networks affect but once we get through to late 2011 we will have six months of things being quiet before the chaos that being the focus of the world will bring before we start down the major works road. If everything hold to course then come 2018 (mostly expect the Bakerloo Line) we will see serious improvements in travelling around London with the Tube upgrade finished and new trains on most of the lines (Circle, District, Met, Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly), Completed London Overground works with longer trains, finished Thameslink with much improved links across the South East and a new fleet of trains, Crossrail open, High Speed travels to Kent and many open access operators to North France and finally another DLR extension opened. Its a long road of basically a decade but when they're finished London will be transformed. Just in time for HS2, Crossrail 2 and many other planned rail links to start?

Circle Line Party

09032008612.jpg
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Seems what could have been a way for people to get to know each other in friendly sprit has been wrecked by the idiots again. What's worse is that several Underground workers have been hurt which is never acceptable.

Seems the run up to the party the local free rags decided to announce the party including one well know paper running it a a headline. Bet that didn't help.

Hopefully now the booze ban will help keep the staff across the transport network safer as most sensible people leave the booze at home and enjoy their nights out. Well we can live in hope.

Tube changes

Tube changes
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Here's one of my maps that I recently did showing two of the changes to the Tube network that in official plans. The Bakerloo re-extension back to Watford junction and the Circle Line being turned into a "T-cup" services, Basically it runs from hammersmith to Edgware Road via Wood Lane, Paddington, King's Cross, Victoria and the back to Edgware Road agin. This has a few issues including no direct train from the west side of the Circle to stations east of Edgware Road (I.E. Baker Street) But it will help keep the Circle Line more robust in times of service problems as well as doubling the frequency of the Hammersmith branch. Oh and if your wondering why the map looks so weird its because its the Tube network not the TfL transport network (what is currently on the Tube map).

DLR - Western Leg

I occurred to me that the western leg of the DLR (that's Bank/Tower Gateway to Poplar) is going to be crippled this summer. Lets start with Shadwell which lost its East London Line connection and now has replacement bus services, hardly great for mass numbers. Next is Tower Gateway which closes shortly for a year, so they lose connection to Circle and District lines. Now we find that Bank/Monument is also being no interchange till august. So basically west from Limehouse the ONLY interchange the DLR has is with the Northern at Bank officially. Cue a summer of chaos on the DLR. 

TfL Engineering work on the 2nd March 2008

2nd March 2008
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Bakerloo Line/London Overground
No service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone due to Network Rail engineering works. No service on London Overground between Wembley Central and Watford Junction

Central Line
Shepherd's Bush station closed untill November 2008

Circle Line
Suspended all day with no replacement bus service operating.

District Line
No service between Earl's Court and Whitechapel. The is a limited lare night bus operating between South Kensington and Aldgate East, see stations for details

Hammersmith & City Line
Enhanced service all weekend on the whole time

Northern Line
No service between Camden Town and Kensington via Moorgate and Bank. No replacement bus service

Piccadilly Line
Southgate station closed for refurishment

Victoria Line
Northbound services not calling at Euston

DLR
No service fro Bank/Tower Gateway to Poplar/Canary Wharf. Also no service from Stratford to Canary Whaft. Replacement buses operating

TfL engineering work on 1st March 2008

1st March 2008
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

TfL engineering work on 1st March 2008.

Central Line
Shepherd's Bush station closed untill November 2008

Circle Line
Suspended all weekend due to engineering work

District Line
No service beween Earl's Court and Aldgate East

Jubilee Line
Suspended between North Greenwich and Stratford for signalling work

Northern Line
Suspended between Camden Town and Kennington Via Bank.
Highgate station closed.

Piccadilly Line
Southgate station closed.

TfL engineering work on 3rd February 2008

03_02_08
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Engineering work taking place on the 3rd February 2008. The Central line is suspended between Leytonstone and Liverpool Street for platform work at Stratford. This is due to new platform works at Stratford. The Circle line is completely closed as is the Hammersmith & City line west of Baker Street. The District line from Earl's Court to Edgware Road is also closed.

TfL engineering work on 2nd February 2008

02_02_08
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Engineering work taking place on the 2nd February 2008. The Jubilee Line is suspended between North Greenwich and Stratford for testing of the new signalling system. The Circle line is completely closed as is the Hammersmith & City line west of Baker Street. The District line from Earl's Court to Edgware Road is also closed.