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?

Hammersmith & City

18/10/2008
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Well not Shepherd's Bush Market has been renamed and Wood Lane opened at last its time for the Hammersmith & City Line to change its line diagram.

This picture is the new diagram I spotted today. problem is there's two errors with it. (Should we be surprised?)

First Wood Lane is a step free station (, yes Im aware that the lifts currently don't work as evidenced by the amount of lift engineers around on friday. But the system map shoulds it as step free so the line diagram should do.) Second is the fact that the Central Line diagram shows White City as 250m interchange with Wood Lane so why doesn't Wood Lane do the same back then?

Or maybe we are going to get another verison of the map soon then once the lifts are fixed?

Crossrail Update

Here's an update from Crossrail confirming what I had already guessed. West Ham reversing siding is to be used to replace Whitechapel as a reversing station.

Here is the email confirming this

Thank you for your enquiry dated 27th July 2008 to the Crossrail Helpdesk.

In regards to your enquiry concerning West Ham please find a response below.

Purpose of the West Ham Reversing Sidings

The Crossrail ticket hall is to be built above the District Line and Hammersmith & City Line (H/C) platforms. The construction of an interchange to serve Crossrail, the District and H/C lines as well as the East London line will require the District and H/C track layout to be simplified to just two through tracks. This is to create sufficient space to widen platforms to accommodate new entrance and interchange stairs and escalators. Before this can be achieved, alternative train reversing facilities for the District and H/C line need to be constructed, London Underground have identified that this can be achieved within existing railway land on the District and H/C lines between West ham and Plaistow Stations, this will allow trains to reverse in both directions.

This really means that Whitechapel station in a few years isn't going to look anything like what we are used to now. The fact is Whitechapel will end up a closed in station on four levels (booking hall, District/Hammersmith & City Line, East London Railway (Overground) and finally Crossrail). I'm also guessing the tracks will change on the eastern side to enable easier access to the southbound Overground platforms with longer platformed access over the tracks. One thing tho is that using a siding to reverse will create a longer turn around with LU's tipping out procudres. This means the train has to be checked as empty at West Ham before it can go into the siding, driver change ends and come back into the west bound platform. Currently at Whitechapel the train pulls into the platform and the driver changes ends. Simple, especially if there is service problems. Well my view anyway.

Tube Alternations 6th June 2008

Tube Map Alternations 6th June 2008
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

The picture on the side shows the level of problems that commuters faced this morning and still are facing today. The discovery of an unexploded bomb on monday caused service suspension of District, Hammersmith & City and c2c mainline services. Then yesterday during work to disarm the bomb it seem the bomb started ticking and oozing liquid. Not a good sign. The Army then requested the shut down of the local transport link within the damage range of this device. At the moment there is no expected re-opening other than 10am this morning so it could go on for awhile.

West Ham must be having its quietist day seen the opening of the JLE with only the two Jubilee line platforms out of the 8 platforms the station has.

The c2c services have been diverted at Barking onto the Goblin line for the link to Stratford and then onwards towards Liverpool Street. This is of course causing some minor issues for the normal services in and out of Liverpool Street with the extra services.

The Hammersmith & City is completely suspended at Whitechapel. The District does managed to go as far as Bromley-By-Bow. The main eastern end is Barking to Upminster. There is a limited Plaistow to Barking service but this is due to lack of reversible places as Plaistow is set up to reverse trains back towards Central London and only big enough for a C stock train.

More updates when I hear more.

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).

Wood Lane (Hammersmith & City)

Wood Lane (Hammersmith & City)
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

Here's a picture of the new Wood Lane station thats due to be open later this year as part of the White City development. Just 200m away from White City station on the Central line. The idea is this will be the main SSL station access to the development. The line is expected to be doubled in terms of trains by adding the Circle line to the route to Hammersmith (, although it seems this might not happen now). Its also rumored that this station will see the S stock shortly as early as next year. Time will tell but its always good to see more development on the Tube.

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 24th February 2008

24th February 2008
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

TfL engineering work on 24th February 2008.

Central Line
Shepherd's Bush station closed untill November 2008

District Line
No service beween Plaistow and Barking. Replacement buses calling at Plaistow, Upton Park, East Ham and Barking.

Hammersmith & City Line
No service from Whitechapel to Barking.

Metropolitan Line
Services north of Moor Park to Amersham/Chesham are suspended with a replacement bus services calling at Croxley, Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Chalfont & Latimer, Amersham and Chesham.

Northern Line
Highgate station closed.

Piccadilly Line
Southgate station closed.

Victoria Line
Complete line closure due to upgrades works. Two replacement operate. The north one operates from Finsbury Park to Manor park, Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Blackhorse Road and Walthamstow Central. The south bus services runs between Victoria to Pimlico, Vauxhall, Stockwell and Brixton. No replacement between Finsbury Park and Victoria, use alternate Underground services.

Docklands Light Railway
No service from Bank/Tower Gateway to Poplar. Also no service Canary Wharf to Stratford via Poplar. Replacement buses running calling at all stations.

TfL engineering work on 23rd February 2008

23rd February 2008
Originally uploaded by MackenzieBlu

TfL engineering work on saturday 23rd February 2008.

Central Line
Shepherd's Bush station closed untill November 2008

District Line
No service beween Plaistow and Barking. Replacement buses calling at Plaistow, Upton Park, East Ham and Barking.

Hammersmith & City Line
No service from Whitechapel to Barking.

Metropolitan Line
Services north of Moor Park to Amersham/Chesham are suspended with a replacement bus services calling at Croxley, Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Chalfont & Latimer, Amersham and Chesham.

Northern Line
Highgate station closed.

Piccadilly Line
Southgate station closed.

Victoria Line
Complete line closure due to upgrades works. Two replacement operate. The north one operates from Finsbury Park to Manor park, Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Blackhorse Road and Walthamstow Central. The south bus services runs between Victoria to Pimlico, Vauxhall, Stockwell and Brixton. No replacement between Finsbury Park and Victoria, use alternate Underground services.

Docklands Light Railway
No service from Bank/Tower Gateway to Poplar. Also no service Canary Wharf to Poplar. Replacement buses running calling at all stations.

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.