Naked Train Drivers, Copulating Train Drivers

And who said driving trains was dull.....

Sadly (or not, depending on your overall opinion) this didn't happen on the London Underground but on National Rail. Train drivers on Midland Mainline, which operates trains across the East Midlands and into London, have apparently been daring each other to do wacky things on the train. However, the latest escapade involved a pesky driver getting sacked for stripping naked and taking a picture of himself while driving a train at 125mph.



When I first read this in Metro I thought it was hysterical, but I spose today, now that I've seen more reports of it and realise it's probably not the most responsible thing in the world, to be in charge of a high speed train with 400 commuters and stripping off to have a lark with your mates!

However, I also found through The Sun, that a couple had been found well... er.... copping off with each other in a state of undress in the driver's cab of a train.



The Sun in a rather outraged fashion reported that "A SHOCKING video of a train driver having sex with a woman in his cab sparked fury last night. The tape, handed to The Sun, shows him groping the brunette, stripping off her clothes and performing sex acts....."

"It emerged on the day we revealed another driver had been sacked for stripping naked in his cab in a high-speed game of dare. At least FIVE other Midland Mainline drivers are said to be trying to out-do each other in shocking antics.

But the Derby-based company insisted the driver in the steamy train sex video was not one of their employees. The new 53-second mobile phone video shows the uniformed man putting passengers' lives at risk as he abandons the controls to romp."

Ah, how I love the word "romp".

The article continues "One furious railway worker accused the drivers of 'playing Russian Roulette with passengers' lives'." Andy Reid, Labour MP for Loughborough, Leics - which is served by Midland Mainline - said: "This is a serious issue. Some people might see this as a bit a laugh but I think most passengers would be worried if they knew the driver of their train was not fully in control. There is a time and a place for pranks and behind the wheel of a train travelling at 125mph is not one of them."

The Sun - ever the public watchdog and I'm sure in an attempt to find the evil sex crazed driver, rather than in an effort to get an exclusive scoop and sell more papers close the article by asking "DO you know the driver? Call The Sun on blah, blah, blah, blah."

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 12, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/naked-train-drivers-copulating-train.html

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas (part one)

My Tube Love gave to me

A personalised London Tube Station Logo hoody /hoodie (or mousemat, T shirt or mug)



Here's another gift I wanted to highlight today just because it says to allow 14 days for delivery on the website - although they do try to despatch within three working days - FREE UK Delivery too. So you would really have to order these today or tomorrow to stand a chance for Xmas delivery.

Basically, in a nutshell, from Printshop's London Underground Shop you can "Get your favourite tube stations and underground signs on mugs, mouse mats and other must-have goodies here. Choose from over 300 stations for a cool t-shirt and ultimate souvenir of London."

I am simply loving the hoodies and you can potentially see yoofs prowling the streets wearing Chancery Lane, Knightsbridge, St James's Park, Bank and other upmarket or inappropriate stations across their chests.

(Thanks to Skytower for jogging my memory about these)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, December 11, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-eleventh-day-of-christmas-part-one.html

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas (part two)

My Tube Love gave to me (another gift cos he/she was feeling generous)

Some London Underground Tea in Tube Map Caddies



Now, I'm sure that London Underground staff don't have these sweet little caddies of tea and proabably drink some dark brown stuff from tea urns that spoon would stand up in of its own accord. So when I say London Underground Tea, I mean three varieties of tea - Earl Grey, English Breakfast Tea and, the mysteriously named, London Tea.

This pack of three caddies was found in a Whittard's shop (can't see it online) and they even do an instore 10% student discount if you're a student and want a further discount on the very reasonable fiver they charge for them.

Inpsired by above, here's the perfect mug to drink your London Underground Tea from (although you can design your own too - only £8.99 including free UK delivery)



BTW what is London Tea?

(See the Tenth day of Christmas Gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, December 11, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-eleventh-day-of-christmas-part-two.html

Armageddon in the Chilterns - or Buncefield by Bloggers

Leverstock Green Oil Depot Explosion



Just in case you haven't turned on the TV or radio yet, there was an explosion - highly likely to be accidental - at an oil depot near Hemel Hempstead, north of north London in Hertfordshire at 6am this morning. Absolutely nothing to do with London Underground or the Tube, but maybe Watford, Chorleywood or Chalfont & Latimer may use it as an lame excuse to close because of the visibility! Smoke from the fire could actually be seen from many areas in London.



People as far south as Holland are said to have heard the explosion which has led to one of the biggest fires the UK has seen in 10 years. Check out the Flickr for pictures tagged Buncefield and Technorati too.

Thanks to Ken Douglas for the excellent title for this post and some impressive photos. Fortunately there have been no fatalities and amazingly only 36 injuries.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, December 11, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/armageddon-in-chilterns-or-buncefield.html

London Underground Bombing Victim gets married today

Congratulations to Gill Hicks who WILL be walking down the aisle

Australian Gillian Hicks, who lost both her legs below the knee in the terrorist attacks at Kings Cross London Underground Station, will be going down the aisle today with prosthetic limbs and a single walking stick as she gets married.

"The priest who will officiate described her performance at the rehearsal as inspirational and courageous.

'She did walk up the aisle. She has been very brave,' Father Kit Cunningham said.

'She has character and determination. If you have been to the gates of hell, it must have some effect.'

As well as losing both feet in the bombing, Ms Hicks lost 75 per cent of her blood and her heart stopped twice on the way to the hospital." Read the full story here.

Inspiring people like Gill Hicks, blogger Rachel and the many other survivors of the attacks do more to defeat the aims of terrorism than a lot of politicians and senior police's posturing and spinning! Congratualations Gill, I hope you have a wonderful day.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Saturday, December 10, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/london-underground-bombing-victim-gets.html

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

My Tube Love gave to me

A copy of One Stop Short of Barking - Uncovering The London Underground



Well it had to come. The book that I helped my friend Mecca to research. The book where I get mentioned in the credits. The book where some of the royalties go to me - yipee!

When I was in Stanfords on Thursday there were still a couple left nestled amongst the other London Underground books. Basically if you like this blog and www.goingunderground.net, you, your family and friends really will like One Stop Short of Barking. Check out the various reviews and TV and radio mentions on this site. Enjoy!

(See the Ninth day of Christmas Gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Saturday, December 10, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-tenth-day-of-christmas.html

London Underground Conflict Resolved - No Tube Strike

Hoorah - no Xmas Tube Strike

The London Underground potential industrial action has been called off! See the BBC for the full story and thanks to Alan P for alerting me to it in the comments, and to Steve for also emailing me the announcement from the RMT's website.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 09, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/london-underground-conflict-resolved-no.html

More Oystercard Pre-pay Tomfoolery

How much did this refund cost in admin?

I keep hearing announcements on the London Underground as to how the Oystercard is "Faster, smarter and cheaper", and yet their Oystercard poster ad saying it was better than a travelcard this was pulled because it was certainly not cheaper thank a paper travelcard if you use National Rail as part of your journey.

You may remember a few days ago that one of my new colleagues at work told me that he'd been sent a refund for the grand sum of 30p for some Oystercard kerfuffle. It turns out that it was the remaining amount of pre-pay on a lost card.

He let me borrow the letter, envelope and the refund voucher itself for me to blog



As you can see London Underground spent 29p in postage - almost as much as the refund itself, plus the cost of someone having to write his name and address on an envelope, and the cost of printing the pretty expensive looking vouhcers and the time taken to get it all out. Why not just round it up to an amount worth having or why not even send 30p in an envelope through the post?

More on the cost of Oystercard Pre-pay

Louise O'Sullivan wrote to me about the various emails and arguments she has been having with London Underground when after some clarification over whether an Oystercard would or wouldn't be cheaper for her. The outcome was unsatisfactory and she decided to produce a spreadsheet to see if she could work it out.

She said: "with pay as you go journey costs being the same for certain zones e.g. same cost for a single journey between zones 1-5 and zones 1-6, it seems harder and harder to justify why season tickets continue to go up in cost"

However, this reminded me that James Cridland had worked out a cool "Oystercard Pre-Pay is it right for you" online tool.

He says: "Is it cheaper to have an Oyster pre-pay card, rather than an annual travelcard? Sometimes - notably for commuters in zone 4 - it is. Similarly, sometimes an Oyster pre-pay card ends up cheaper than a monthly travelcard, too. This page will help you work out what's the cheapest option for you. Is it Oyster? Or is it Travelcard? "

The only problem with the otherwise excellent tool is that it doesn't take into account people like me who live in Zone 4 but use National Rail which doesn't accept Oystercard pre-pay at its station!

However, I'm sure this tool will be useful some people.

Anyway, try the tool it might help you if you don't have to use National Rail.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 09, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/more-oystercard-pre-pay-tomfoolery.html

On the Ninth Day of Christmas

My Tube Love Gave to Me

An official Mind the Gap Thong



I'm sure you can think of your own amusing comments for this present. I'm pretty sure they are available in the London Transport Museum Shop.

However, if you want to buy an unofficial Mind the Gap thong, click here to get one online.



Now whether these thongs are unisex is a matter of opinion. Imagaining a man in them does conjure up the image from the excellent Bob Rivers Song "Waking Round in Women's Underwear" and sung to the "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" tune. Listen to a snippet here (you need RealPlayer for this).

(See the Eighth day of Christmas Gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 09, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-ninth-day-of-christmas.html

London Underground Fashion Victims

No Fashion victims this week - apart from me

It's been fairly busy at work at the moment, so I've either been reading reports or reading papers and keeping my head down on the Tube so haven't noticed any London Underground Fashion victims. Any I saw on escalators, I couldn't get my camera out in time to snap them. So there will be a break this week and normal service will resume next week.

However it was our work Xmas party on Wednesday (a very good time had by all) and the theme was black tie. I wore a black dress, but too late found out that I couldn't find my only dressy black shoes to go with them. Then I came across my gold shoes last worn at my wedding in 1998. I thought, they're really not going to go with black are they, but then I thought, OK what if I go the whole hog and use all the gold wedding accessories from my wedding.



So I did. Bracelet, earrings, bag, chiffon wrap and the shoes. The result was fine, except the shoes absolutely murdered me after two hours of standing in them. I had to pull them off and spent the rest of this evening in bare feet. Loads of people said I was mad dancing in bare feet, as the night wore on there was a fair bit of broken glass on the floor, with glasses getting knocked over and there was also the odd bit of sharp glitter too. At 12.15 am I realised they were right and put my shoes back on and continued the festivities for another hour. So I am this week's fashion victim, as when I got home at 2am - the soles of my feet were black and I had a number of cuts over them - D'OH!

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 09, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/london-underground-fashion-victims.html

Metro and National Rail photographic competition

Have a snappy Christmas.....

said the Metro on Monday as they are calling all amateur photographers to enter a competition where you have a chance to win one of two prizes worth around £1,000.

All you have to do is take a shot of London from a train. Now that's a National Rail train, not a tube. According to Metro "Viewing London from a train offers a wealth of photographic opportunities. Competition entries could show famous monuments or landmarks ......Alternatively, photos could be of attractive parks, streets or skylines that simply sum up the city at Christmas - a view that may be missed from the pavement or in a car." The full terms and conditions of the competition are here, and photographs can be submitted in either print or digital format and entrants must include their name, address, date of birth, contact telephone number and email address. They should also include details of where the photograph was taken.

The prizes are a Pentax Optio 55S digital camera (worth £179) and a weekend break for a family of four in London (consisting of return rail travel, two nights bed and breakfast in a Best Western hotel, tickets for the London Eye, dinner and tickets to a West End show). There are two categories - one for under 16's and one for over 16's.

All entries must be received by 6th January 2006. The winners will be announced week commencing 9th January 2006. Prints must be sent to Metro photocompetition, Fourth Floor, 121 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 6Ql and digital images, no larger than 8Mb should be emailed to londonphotos@atoc.org.

Good luck!

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 09, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/metro-and-national-rail-photographic.html

Can anyone read Japanese?

Japanese London Underground Tube Map

I emailed Max Roberts from the brill Metro Maps and Subway Architecture of the World talk yesterday to tell him that his book - Underground Maps After Beck - had made it into one of my Days of Christmas London Underground related gifts. He was really pleased about this and also sent me another one of those London Underground Maps from countries around the world that can't be bothered to pay London Underground the licence to reproduce the map for their guide books or their own maps:



He said: "Of course, there is much more than foreign London Underground maps in my book, but this topic seemed to fit in well with Mark's general theme.

I've attached scans of the all-Japanese map, feel free to put one up if you like. The people who designed this were too mean to give us permission to include it in the book, which is a shame as it deserves a wider audience. Unless you have any Japanese visitors to your blog, we will never know what the mistakes are!

There are lots of other places in London for tracking down strange mutant Underground maps, the Japan Centre at Piccadilly Circus is always worth a look, and there are two large international bookshops near Regent Street, one at Great Marlborough Street (behind the back entrance to Oxford Street M&S) and one in Warwick Street."

Cheers for that tip Max and if there are any Japanese readers around maybe you can see there were any mistakes!

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 08, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/can-anyone-read-japanese.html

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

My Tube Love gave to me

A Great Bear London Underground Jigsaw Puzzle



The jigsaw puzzle to end all jigsaw puzzles. Not only is the map of the London Underground a great idea for a jigsaw puzzle (get them at Stanfords), but this guy has taken it one step further and custom-made a jigsaw puzzle of Simon Patterson's "spoof"/ "arty" map of the London Underground - The Great Bear - where he replaces station names with the names of comedians, philosophers, sports people etc etc to draw a connection between them and the lines they are on. The Great Bear was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1997 and made over ten thousand pounds for Patterson when it was auctioned.

In the jigsaw puzzle above many of the shapes are also represent things found in London and there are travel references like commuters, a bowler hat(!) and the British Rail logo too!



It rocks!

If you want something more affordable and easier to get hold of pop along to Stanfords - they have a special 20% off most things sale tonight and each Thursday up till Xmas where you can get a jigsaw puzzle of the normal Tube map.

(See the Seventh day of Christmas Gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 08, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-eighth-day-of-christmas.html

And The Winner Is (Part 4)

Yes, here we go again with the announcement of the winner of yet another Annie Mole competition.

You may recall the Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen post from last Friday where we asked what linked the floppy-haired twat TV presenter with the London Underground. The answer is here.

Well, as usual, the paperclips came out to play and I can reveal that the paperclip chosen on this occasion was the RED one which means the winner is .....

IanD!

So well done to him for his interior design knowledge and Annie will no doubt email you sometime in the near future to get you your pize of the "Wake Me Up at" London Underground stickers. And thanks to all the many people who didn't enter ...

London Underground; Tube Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, December 07, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/and-winner-is-part-4.html

Will there be Skeleton Staff on the Tube

Will London Underground be running a skeleton service at Christmas?

On Friday we'll hear whether the potential London Underground Tube strike and industrial action will take place or not. Incidentally Transport for London are confident that the conflict will be resolved and District Dave, a blogger and Tube driver who occasionally comments on here, doesn't think there will be too much disruption even if it isn't resolved (see his latest comment).

However, I must thank Mark Ovenden who gave the brilliant Metro Maps and Architecture talk a few weeks ago, for sending me this fab picture he took at Barons Court



So however much we may moan about London Underground staff, let's not forget that some of them, have a good sense of humour.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, December 07, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/will-there-be-skeleton-staff-on-tube.html

London Underground and Gay Weddings

Same sex marriages and the Tube

As almost every paper in the UK seems to be jumping on the gay wedding bandwagon (same sex marriage is now legal in the UK), here's my little tribute to show that the London Underground are also aware of the issues surrounding the rights of gay people to be married, or rather, the rights of manufacturers and retailers to cash in on a newly released opening to the "Pink Pound".

Firstly, the very lovely Mark Ovenden - he of Metro Maps of the World, sent me a sign he had seen on his travels (see image on the left). I asked him whether it was to promote the popular TV programme Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and he believed it was.

Secondly, even though Monday's Metro was trumpeting about Brighton's gay wedding show, it appears to have forgotten that London had one in November, and I took a picture of the ad promoting it at Waterloo Station.



The Metro article concluded by saying "The City of Brighton and Hove has one of the country's largest gay communities and is known for its tolerance". At the risk of sounding like Dafydd from Little Britain and being "Gayer than thou", I'd place bets on London having the largest gay community in the UK. My main site goingunderground.net also featured in one of London's largest gay magazines - Boyz (and sponsor of London's Gay Wedding and Lifestyle Show) - back in August 2003. Thanks boys, that was much appreciated.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, December 07, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/london-underground-and-gay-weddings.html

On the Seventh Day of Christmas.....

My Tube Love gave to me

Underground Maps After Beck



Bear in mind you won't get this book in time for Xmas if you order through amazon.co.uk (these guys look as though they can deliver faster in this instance). However, as I'd been mentioning Mark Ovenden so much today, I wanted to give some notice to his co-speaker Max Roberts who gave us a fascinating look at how guide books around the world have their own interpretation of the London Underground map, when they are too tight to pay the rights for the real one.

Max says "I am particularly keen to hear about unofficial London Underground maps, both from Britain and from around the world. I already have over 50 in my collection, mainly from Japan, France, Germany, and USA, and mainly from the last 5 years. Complete maps are the most interesting, and any unofficial maps from before 1990."

However, Max's book "picks up where Ken Garland completed his work (Mr Beck's Underground Map) to take the story of the map from when original designer Henry Beck's services were dispensed with for good, to the present day. Based upon extensive research of London Transport archives and at the London Transport Museum, this book surveys the major changes that have taken place to the map over the years, and the reasoning and political background that led to them."

(See the Sixth day of Christmas Gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, December 07, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-seventh-day-of-christmas.html

A moment's diversion.....

Try this meme about life in general

It's the nearly the end of the year and a time when people contemplate on the year before and the year ahead - try this Life in General challenge or Meme on my Non Tube Blog and post your answers in the comments or on your own blog.

Have fun and as with all good memes spread the word!

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, December 07, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/moments-diversion.html

Signs of Christmas on the London Underground

Eeyores must be carried

One of the signs of Christmas on the Tube is seeing people struggle with oversized Xmas gifts, like the woman below with her giant sized Eeyore or stuffed donkey



Of course another sign of Christmas is the infamous Santa having a slash London Underground poster and amazingly, I haven't seen one this year.



Where are they all, or has Santa been killed off??



For the latest on the Stockwell London Underground shooting see yesterday's Independent.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Tuesday, December 06, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/signs-of-christmas-on-london.html

On the Sixth Day of Christmas.....

My Tube Love Gave to me...

An District Line Ironing Board Cover



London Underground seat upholstery or moquette has been used to cover a wide range of items, and this ironing board is one of the stranger ones I've seen.

Available from Squigee call +44 (0) 141 959 8860 for futher details, including price or email them at info@squigee.com.

(See the Fifth day of Christmas gift here).

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Tuesday, December 06, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-sixth-day-of-christmas.html

Waterloo escalator repairs overdue

Looks like I can still do my steps exercise

For the last six months (maybe more) me and load of other commuters have had to climb up loads of stairs from the London Underground exit at Waterloo station to the main British Rail station concourse. We thought the end was in sight in November, as that was when we were told the escalators would be repaired. Funnily enough we were incorrectly informed:



So I'll have to sign up for steps class in late December instead.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Tuesday, December 06, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/waterloo-escalator-repairs-overdue.html

London Underground Industrial Action - latest

Just a quick clarification on the potential London Underground Strike

As so many people have been emailing me and searching for information on this possible Tube strike and London Underground industrial action - basically unless the staff's demands are met by December 9th, it looks as though the unions will be staging three days of industrial action from December 19th.

That's about as much as I know right now but I will update you as and when I hear or keep checking out Google News for the latest.

For further details check out my original post on this from Friday and the comments including some from LU staff.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 05, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/london-underground-industrial-action.html

OHMIGOD Another Award Nomination - Best UK Blog

Weblog Awards 2005 - I'm up for Best UK Blog

Just as I was getting ready to see if I'd made it through to the finals of the Urbs - Urban Blogging Awards - it appears that I'm in the finals already for another award - Best UK Blog as part of the Weblog Awards 2005.

Again, thanks to whoever it was who nominated me, as I had no idea about these awards either.

Many other fine UK blogs on the finalist list including regular reads of mine - Londonist and Bloggerheads. Voting has started from today 5th December and runs till the 15th December, you can vote every 24 hours!!!

UPDATE - Also in finals for two categories for the Urban Blogging Awards 2005

Made the cut so to speak for World's Best Urban Blog - $500 worth of iTunes if I win that and bizarrely the World's Hottest Urban Blogger - I think you can guess which one I would rather win, but please feel free to vote for me in one or either. Polls for this open till 26th December.

There's very few UK blogs in the running for these awards, so you might want to vote for Girl With a One Track Mind for World's Best Urban Sex Blog.

Thank you very much for getting me nominated and thanks for any votes you care to give! Much appreciated.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 05, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/ohmigod-another-award-nomination-best.html

DLR Extension open two weeks early

London Underground early - what's the world coming to?

Many thanks to Diamond Geezer, Stephen Knight and Chris Green for all seperately telling me that the DLR extension to City Airport opened two weeks earlier than scheduled. It opened very quietly and unannounced (I think because the shock of it being early will have killed some people). DiamondGeezer said that meant that the stations were virtually empty when he travelled on them on Saturday.



Check out his photos on his Flickr photostream, and now we have the very wonderful pub like named "King George V" station at the end of the line until it is further extended in 2009.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 05, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/dlr-extension-open-two-weeks-early.html

Jubilee Line New Trains

Pictures of seventh car on Jubilee Line

More pictures from the London Underground that you may not have seen, as Mecca somehow managed to get hold of some pictures of the new extra carriages which are being added to Jubilee Line trains from the end of this year. Well she probably just asked Tubelines and they sent them to her:



For another picture of engineers working on the new carriage check out her blog entry for this.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 05, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/jubilee-line-new-trains.html

On the Fifth Day of Christmas.....

My Tube Love gave to me

A Limited Edition designer Oystercard/travelcard wallet

Right, we've had enough pictures of trains for today, so back to the London Underground related gifts that you might want to buy for your friends or family or add to your own Christmas gift list.



I love this travelcard wallet with little bits of doorways which match the colours of the Tube lines. Only available at the London Transport Museum's shop or online, and for £4.95 that makes it much more a bargain than the pre-pay Oystercard itself.

Oystercard discussion at Ealing - December 6th

Speaking of the Oystercard, if you fancy having a moan about it, sorry, taking part in a lively question and answer session, pop along to Ealing this Tuesday morning. London TravelWatch will be discussing the Oystercard issue with senior representatives of Transport for London (TfL) and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) at a public meeting, on December 6, at Ealing Town Hall at 10am. Thanks to Londonist for this news of this.

(See the Fourth day of Christmas gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 05, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/on-fifth-day-of-christmas.html

Friday's competition answers

You were floored by Laurence

I can't believe how few people entered the Friday competition where I asked what the connection was between Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and the London Underground. I'd said the connection was published in a paper that week. Well the paper was Monday's Metro - so you didn't even have to buy it!



The two connections were that the frilly foppy former Changing Rooms presenter and designer used to work for a company that produced industrial flooring and he was responsible for picking the colours for terrazzo, that mottled flooring you see in the London Underground carriages. He also designed a series of murals for McDonalds at Victoria station. Easy.

Only three people guessed correctly (and they only got the flooring option). Well four, if you include Fimb - who then disqualified herself for guessing twice - so Neil will do the paperclip selection of the three finalists who are Pete, IanD and Dennis the cheek. Watch this space for the winner's name who will win a fab set of "Wake me Up at" stickers.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 05, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005/12/fridays-competition-answers.html

On the Fourth Day of Christmas.....

My Tube Love gave to me

London's Secret Tubes and London's Lost Tube Schemes

These books are great if you or anyone you know is into the hidden parts of the Tube, London Underground's secret tunnels and just secret bunkers and tunnels in general.



London's Secret Tubes doesn't just look at the London Underground although it features quite heavily, but also focusses the fact that for strategic purposes between the 1930s and the 1960s, a substantial number of tunnels exist under London's streets and buildings that few people know about. It tells the story of these subterranean hideaways, separating fact from fiction with the help of new research.

"Other revelations include never-before published details of express Tube railway lines to relieve congestion on existing tracks, the plans to relocate the complete mechanism of government and parliament to north-west London, and the standby studios constructed underground by the BBC in case Broadcasting House was destroyed."

The next book London's Lost Tube Tube Schemes is only available in shops, most likely being, (The London Transport Museum's Shop and Ian Allen's Transport shop) in time for Christmas. It's so new it's being ordered from the publishers and amazon.co.uk can't guarantee delivery in time for Xmas.



This book is great if you or your friends like Hywel Williams' fantastic website about London Underground Stations which are hidden and no longer in use.

(See the Third Day of Christmas gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, December 04, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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On the Third Day of Christmas.....

My Tube Love gave to me

A DVD of Train Man from Ebay

I lost my eBay virginity a week ago (I know, I know, I've never bought anything on eBay until now) and I bought a copy of the TV series of the excellent Train Man or Densha Otoko story (look at UK and international listings). I saw the Japanese Train Man film on a flight over to San Francisco a few weeks ago, It's a brill story involving a geeky young man's romance with a woman he met on the subway. The book/film/TV series is based on actual messages posted on a huge internet discussion board in Japan. A million internet users followed the Train Man's romance, giving the poor hapless geek advice on how to impress the girl and take her out on dates.







I go into the plot in more detail on my original post about it, but it's a fab story and if you like this blog, trains, subways and the internet, you'll definitely like this film (make sure you get a copy with English subtitles though!).

(See the Second Day of Christmas gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Saturday, December 03, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Metro's Midweek Moment & Great Customer Service

Top examples of customer service

Not a tube related story but I was on the London Underground when I read it in Metro so it counts. A woman got a letter back from Tesco's after she had been complaining that her favourite brand of chocolate was no longer stocked.

Part of the letter said: "We have come to the conclusion that you and a select few have an astonishingly bad taste in chocolate and Tesco is not prepared to accommodate the less sophisticated market. We suggest you try Sainsbury's as their food is especially bland and may satisfy your plain palette (sic)"

Obviously the letter was someone larking about in customer service and it mistakenly got sent.

The woman Margaret Cooper was up in arms about this and said "I couldn't believe it when I got this letter, it came as a real shock. If it was signed 'Mrs S Upyours' I would have thought it was a joke but there is a Mrs S Upton at the store." More on this in The Mirror.

I love this and I bet there are countless times that people who work in customer service would like to send such an honest answer back to their customers.

London Underground Refund Letter

Which reminds me, one my new colleagues at work knows that I blog about the London Underground and he showed me a letter that London Underground had sent to him with a refund for something or other. The letter said here is your refund and apologised and was sent first class. The cheque inside was for the grand total of 30p. Fantastic, how much must it have cost them to adminster a cheque for 30p? Why not round it up to something worthwhile?

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Saturday, December 03, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Happy Christmas from London Underground

Tube Strike possibly announced later today

Yes, with the regularity that we've come to expect from the Tube (shame their trains couldn't run with the same predictability), it's time again for the annual threat of Christmas industrial action. Later today members from various railway unions will vote on whether to go on strike for a number of reasons.

The Daily Telegraph say: "London Underground Workers are expected to back a series of one-day strikes in a row over pensions and working conditions.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union will announce the result of a ballot (today), but officials are confident of a 'yes' vote by hundreds of engineers and other workers."

Perhaps someone who works for London Underground and looks at this site may outline some of the strike reasons for us and stop me from moaning about LU and their constant threat of strikes?

UPDATE - 5th December - as so many people have been asking and searching for information on this possible strike and industrial action - basically unless the staff's demands are met by December 9th, it looks as though the unions will be staging industrial action from December 19th. That's about as much as I know right now but I will update you as and when I hear or keep checking out Google News for the latest.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 02, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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On the Second Day of Christmas.....

My Tube Love Gave to me........

Some "Wake Me Up At" stickers



Absolutely excellent idea that was emailed to me by fgt. It's two sheets of stickers printed with the most popular London Underground stations on them in the colour of the lines the station is on, asking people to wake you up at X station if you should fall asleep. As the site says "Whether it's a heavy night out, too much mulled wine at the Christmas bash or just a long day at the office, these handy stickers will help you get home safe and sound".

There's even some blank ones in the pack "for you to write your own stop on (Handy if you live in Osterley, whereever that is".

A commercial and funny idea of something I'd blogged some time ago with the same idea. "Another tip for not missing your stop and waking up at Heathrow (yes I've done this) is to set your mobile phone alarm to wake you up at roughly the time it takes you to get home, alternatively wear a big badge or a sign round your neck saying "Wake me up at XXXX station", although sadists would probably let you sleep on until the end of the line!"

Bargain at £5 plus p & p or you can buy them offline at Magma, American Retro, Aria and Best.

(See the First day of Christmas Gift here)

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 02, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Tube Fashion Victims Week 7

Friday's London Underground Fashion victims

Part of our regular Friday look at commuters showing their fashion sense..... or not as the case may be.

Enter the Dragon

I thought I had somehow got to Old Street or Liverpool Street and was making my way to Hoxton, rather than the West End, when I saw this man with his Hoxton Fin haircut (BTW fantastic site about London haircuts by postcode!!!) and very strange suit jacket with a Dragon drawn on the back:



What is it about some men (offwhite and banksy) I've spotted quite regularly now who seem to think that graffti or stange imagery painted on suit jackets is a good look?

Bag Ladies - The Golden Bag

Just when I thought we were beginning to see the back of these hideous metallic bags, I see a prime specimen on the Northern Line.



Bag Ladies - The Black and White Bag

I really hate these bags that were extremely popular about a year ago, and again I thought I would be seeing the back of them. But it looks like the trouser suited woman loved having her black and white bag with a child's face and fake jewellery on it.



Well at least it wasn't a kitten wearing sunglasses one in a similar style. They unrock!

Pop Art Shoes

And finally for this week, something that's either quite cool or quite hideous. The jury's still out with me, but these little pointed numbers spotted at Embankment Tube station have a Pop Art design over them.



Pop Artist, Roy Lichtenstein would have been proud:



More London Underground Fashion Victims next week - BTW the full set of pictures is here on flickr.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 02, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Friday Quiz and Competition

A Friday Tube Teaser and chance to win

I seem to be having a fit of generosity at the moment and am actually handing out real prizes for some of the London Underground teasers, so make the most of it, as I'm sure I'll turn back into my normal Ebeneezer Scrooge mode after Christmas.

Anyway, I'd like you to tell me the connection between this man pictured below and the London Underground



There are probably a lot of connections, but a few were published in a paper earlier this week and those/that is the connection that I am thinking of as the answer. The more specific you can be the better!

So as with our usual competition rules - only one guess per person (any person who guesses more than once will be disqualified), place your guess in the comments below, leave your email address or website address if you want to be put through. In the event of more than one person guessing the correct answer/answers Neil will do his paperclips out of hat thing and that person will win the prize.

Oh yeah, the prize, it's a set of the fab "Wake me up at" stickers. You have until Sunday midnight (GMT) 4th December to make your guess. Good luck!

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 02, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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On the First Day of Christmas.....

My Tube Love gave to me.....

A mirror with the London Underground Map etched on it.

Here's the first of my advent calendar blog with gift ideas from now until December the 24th of pressies you can buy people who have a hankering for all things tubic or for presents that you might like to add to your own Xmas list.



Me and Neil saw this mirror in the Ian Allen Transport bookshop near Waterloo station but it also looks like you can buy them from the net at £7.50 each - bargain.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 01, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Subway Maps by Scale

How the London Underground compares in size with other subways

Prompted by the ridiculous price comparisons in yesterday's post where London Underground claimed that the Tube had one of the cheapest fares in the world. It did this by looking at the amount of stations you could travel in on an single Oyster card prepay fare £3.50 - this was quite a lot, and using their logic the tube looked cheap.

I said that's because in the zone one central area we have lots and lots of London Underground stations packed into a comparatively small geographical area. See just four systems by scale below:



Check out fakeisthenewreal for quite a few subway systems compared by size.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 01, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Time Travel Tube Map

London Underground Map by distances to travel

Oskar Karlin sent me a link to his blog where explains how he designed the beautiful looking "Time Travel Map" below:



He says: "Map in photo above is a part of one of my final projects I did for my last school, London College of Printing (now London College of Communication). It was an attemt to redesign the London Underground map. In the beginning when I didn't know what to do with the project, I called it "impossible mission". How could I come up with some innovative ideas to this piece of design that is by many considered as one of the best in graphic design ever?

"Well, I knew couldn't just do a normal re-design; something had to be added. I started thinking what's different in the world now from when the map was designed and one thing that are different today is time. No one has any time left any more. Time is money. Time is everything and so on. Today you never tell anyone how far away in miles you live, but in minutes or perhaps hours if you're unlucky. So I decided to create a re-design based on time instead of distance (normal maps) or simplicity (tube maps). By combining geographically accuracy with simplicity and time I started out with measuring the time it takes to travel between each station in the whole system."

See Oskar's blog for a whole lot more about this with photographs of each step it took to produce the map - it's a fascinating read.

Not sure how useful it would be as trains rarely run to time but I think it looks like a great idea and I wonder if the Transport for London or any professional mapping company would ever consider producing something like this?

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 01, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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World's Hottest Urban Blogger!!!!

Another nominatation in the Urbs

Oooer - looks like I've also been nominated as one of the World's Hottest Urban Bloggers as well as being in the nominations for World's Best Urban Blog.

So if you haven't already done so you can nominate me again, as it's only those blogs/bloggers with the most nominations by the midnight EST 3rd December who will go through to the finals.

One of my fave bloggers Diamond Geezer is also in the running for World's Hottest Urban Blogger so feel free to nominate one or both of us, and thanks to everyone who has nominated the blog so far! Just send an email to tips@gridskipper.com with your favourites for nomination - there is a list here and at this stage you can also suggest more new sites.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 01, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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