Boxing Day Tube Strike Going Ahead - December 26th 2011

Update Visit this post for news on  Boxing Day Tube Strike for 2012 

London Underground has lost a last minute High Court bid to stop the Boxing Day strike on December 26th 2011 by Tube drivers. Members of the union Aslef are staging a walkout in a row with London Underground over pay.


They are after additional payments and a day off lieu of working on the bank holiday. This is despite the staff concerned already earning a premium in their annual salary for working on public holidays. Aslef are also planning to hold three further strikes in 2012 on 16th January, 3rd and 13th February.

London Underground (LU) contested the validity of the Aslef leadership's ballot for strike action, as the union had balloted all of its driver members for action despite only a quarter of LU's total of 3,500 drivers being needed to work on 26 December. However, the court decided that Aslef's ballot was not invalid.

General Secretary of Aslef, Mick Whelan, said "Whilst we’re obviously very pleased with today’s verdict, we feel that two days have been wasted going through the courts when we could have spent that time finding a resolution to this dispute."

Howard Collins, LU's Chief Operating Officer, said: 'The Aslef leadership is calling strike action over an outrageous claim for even more money to work on a day for which their members are already being paid. We have done everything we can to avert this needless action, including reducing the impact of Boxing Day working on staff and, as a last resort, taking legal action.

'We remain ready at any time before these four strike days to work with the union's leadership to resolve this issue through talks, and I urge them to get back around the table.

'We will run as many Tube services as we can and extra buses will operate on the busiest bus routes. However, the action taken by the Aslef leadership is likely to cause serious disruption to Tube services across the network affecting the Christmas holiday plans of many Londoners.'

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, said: "This strike is unwelcome as it will harm London’s retailers, disrupt numerous Boxing Day events and lead to more cars on London’s roads – it is the last thing London needs.

"Londoners who are just days away from being hit by large Tube fare rises will find it hard to understand why this strike is really necessary."

She's got a point! What do you think?

Related posts
Boxing Day Tube Strike - What services are running December 26th 2011
Boxing Day Tube Strike Planned - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube
ASLEF vote for Boxing Day Strike 

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 23, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Keeping Tube Colds Away - 12 Days of Tube Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

You know it's Christmas on the London Underground, or at least winter, when the carriage is full of people sniffing, when the minute you cough someone instinctively pulls their scarf up over their face so they don't catch your germs and when you see people (mainly Japanese) wearing "flu masks".


I understand that these are supposed have a double whammy of not only protecting you from other people's germs but also to stop you spreading your own bugs around.

Actually you're on a bit of a hiding to nothing if you try to keep yourself from getting a cold and you travel on public transport, you're likely to get a "Commuting Cough". Even though yesterday's Evening Standard gave advice on avoiding the "Cough-ice". Doctor Christian of the telly, so nicely said "Being squashed together in a packed Tube carriage with the disease-ridden public will guarantee you won't escape uninfected this winter."

However he continued with something I'd agree with "Dramatic gestures such as wearing a face mask are unlikely to help much as most people pick up infections from contaminated surfaces rather than from droplets in the air...

"Struggling into work when you are ill is not valiant and dedicated, it is foolish and will only prolong your own illness and virtually guarantee that colleagues will catch your virus too. Stay home and recuperate."

You'll also see more ads like this one around for nasal sprays and the like


At least this one is Tube related with stops such as "Sniffingham", "Sick-of-being Hill"

My advice is layers, as you'll need to wrap up warm for the outside but remember the Tube is often over heated in the winter.  Finally, if you do want a stylish scarf to wrap round your face when the person opposite you has a coughing fit, you might like London Transport Museum's new Routemaster Moquette Design Lambswool Scarves.


Possibly too late to order online for a Xmas pressie (they have them in their Covent Garden shop too), but it's nice for yourself at £24.95.

You might also like
FluTube?
Commuting Colds & Cautionary Tales
Coughing Banned on the Tube 

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 22, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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More Old Posters found at Richmond Station

Following my post about the old posters revealed at Richmond Station, I was travelling through the other night and took some photos of more that have been uncovered there.


Remember when the TravelCard (or I suppose our Oystercard) was called a CapitalCard? No, me neither - but love this ad of the Tube, bus & train as part of a plug powering your journey around London

Simon Hickman from English Heritage had said "South West Trains is replacing the poster boards on the footbridge stairs, and in removing the old ones has uncovered some historic late '70s / early '80s ones underneath. They're very well preserved."

The one for Gatwick Express is also pretty cool


It's funny how the designers thought they would show the Gatwick Express train upside down as the answer to their question.

Finally the detail in the poster for the merits of travelling by train rather than by plane is rather lovely



View it large to see captions like "Bigger seat space so your neighbour can't recline his head on your lap" and "Proper tables instead of pop out plastic postage stamps" and "See the country not the clouds".

Related post
Old Posters found at Richmond Station

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Festive Seats - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

You know it's Christmas on the London Underground when people start using blind deer as seats. Why? I've no idea! Geddit, No eye deer, boom, boom. With a groan worthy joke that the photographer L J Rich herself would be proud of, I'd love to thank her for sending me this picture:


She tweeted: "Festive improvised tube seat! Bloke sits on deer on London's Central Line"

As we edge closer & closer to Xmas you will see a number of people trying to negotiate their way onto the Tube with very large presents. A favourite of mine from Christmas 2005, which people still seem to like, is a woman carrying a large Eeyore on an escalator



If you happen to see people with large gifts or using other strange things as seats, please us know in the comments.

You might also like
Xmas & NYE Tube Travel Guide - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube
New Tube Map Cover & Carrying Large Objects
Eeyores must be carried on the London Underground 

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Festive Hats - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

This week you'll see fewer people travelling in the morning rush hour on the London Undeground, as people are finishing work for the holidays. Yesterday morning in an unusually quiet carriage on the Northern Line, I spotted a guy wearing a Santa hat reading his book.


He wasn't drunk. He wasn't off to a party. There was no sense of "look at me I'm wearing a funny Santa hat". He was just reading his book as though the Santa hat was just the first thing he happened to have to hand to wear that morning.

Obviously there will be a fair few people in more outlandish Christmas outfits or festive headgear, but I liked the casual look of this guy. Below is one of my favourite pictures from a few years back.



You might also like
Signs of Christmas on the Tube - December 2008
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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Baker Street Tube gets "re-tiled" for new Sherlock Holmes Film

Fantastic spot by Lisa Lin who took a photo of Baker Street London Underground station on the Bakerloo line, where some of the lovely Sherlock Holmes tiles have been "re-tiled" for the promotion of the new Sherlock Holmes film with Robert Downey Jr & Jude Law which opened on 16th December 2011.


Obviously these are stickers rather than brand new tiles, but the impression is just as good.

Wonder if we'll be seeing more inventive re-tiling like this on other Tube stations?

To promote the release of the last Sherlock Holmes film in 2009,  a wax work of Robert Downey Jnr in his Holmes attire was placed on a number of platforms of Baker Street London Underground stations looking as though he was waiting for a train.



Related Post
Robert Downey Jr at Baker Street Tube

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, December 18, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Xmas & NYE Tube Travel Guide - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

One of the biggest signs of Christmas on the London Underground, is TfL's annual poster advertising Xmas & New Year Tube, Rail & Bus operating times and their "timetable".


I initially thought they'd chosen to use this picture of a rocking horse as if the Boxing Day Tube strike goes ahead, trains on Boxing Day will be as rare as the proverbial rocking horse's droppings. But it's supposed to show that if you look at their Christmas & New Year Travel Guide pdf in advance (like this gift wrapped rocking horse) there will be no surprises!

You'll also see signs at your local station with their specific ticket office opening and closing hours over the festive period.

Related Posts
Boxing Day Tube Strike Planned - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube
New Year's Eve Free Tube Travel Poster - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, December 18, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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London Underground: Architecture, Design & History Book Review - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Books as Xmas Gifts

One of the most beautiful books about the London Underground I have ever seen (& trust me, I've seen a lot).  This new book London Underground: Architecture, Design & History by David Long with 80 amazing black and white photographs by Jane Magarigal dating back from the 1970's "weaves the story of the Underground - its abundance of characters (some good, some not so good), design firsts and brand identity. From suburban expansion to Blitz bombings and Soviet adulation, this book celebrates what remains a magnificent engineering and aesthetic achievement while providing an affectionate if slightly elegiac portrait of a London which is now gone for good."

That was the book's "blurb" but I was extremely lucky enough to receive a review copy of the book, with the wonderful new book smell adding to the atmospheric "empty London Underground" shots. 

I could have spent most of this review focusing on David's hard work documenting the history of the London Underground where he looks at all people who made the Tube look how it does today. That includes its many architects to font designers like Edward Johnston and of course Harry Beck who designed the most popular Tube Map in the 1930's which we still base our current map on.

However, the photography is so stunning that it really becomes the book's hero and as many of you know the allure & spookiness of looking at photographs of an empty Tube, and may be keen photographers yourself, I want to turn my attention to the photography.

The story of how Jane Magarigal came to take this photographs was really fascinating to me as it shows how just an outsider's love of the Tube, photography, hard work & patience can eventually pay off. Jane is American and first came to London in 1976 and was struck by the beauty of the London Underground when she arrived.
"In one of the most beautiful & interesting cities in the world, I became a mole, travelling hundreds of miles exploring one stop after another, never knowing what was above ground. Unless I was running errands or visiting friends, I never left the stations because it would cost to get back in".

As this started off as a personal project, like most amateur photographers, Jane did not buy a license for photography and said: "Other than needing to avoid Tube employees, photographing the Underground had several technical disadvantages such a low lights and crowds. Shooting in this space required that I push the speed of the film to allow for the low light - another reason for shooting architecture rather than people.... 



"a monopod or tripod is recommended in order to get sharp pictures - dangerous to use in crowds, extremely time consuming and awkward if needing to leave the area quickly. So I stood planted firmly to the earth, elbows tucked tightly to my diaphragm and held my breath, waiting for just the right moment when, for example, all people had vacated the area or when a commuter hit the right spot."

As many of the images were taken in the 1970's they actually look "historical" already.  Jane attempted to market her shots but the time wasn't right.  She also went back to America but in 2009 returned to London and bought the series back to life with digital photography.


She concluded "I have always considered photography an art form.  Consideration of form, design, balance and when to include people are decisions an artist makes.  This collection is a metaphor that speaks to our separate and perhaps our lonely existence, among the multitudes, and hence the people in these shots are primarily by themselves: they come, they go, temporarily filling a space and rarely glancing at one another, reading or staring off into space or at maps and posters - they are for the most part in their own worlds 


The more architectural shots, void of people, speak of this as well.  It is when stations are empty of people that the history of the place comes alive.  For without the bustle of people one can feel the energy of by gone days - the Blitz raging overhead, the architects and designers' choices, the souls of plague victims unearthed in the building of the London Underground, the millions of people who have travelled through this miraculous labyrinth; all of this is there".

I'd like to thank The History Press for sending me a copy to review, but also for seeing the possibility of this book and not letting these pictures and David's story remain unseen.  The book is  available on The History Press's site and also on Amazon.  Any lover of photography, history, London and the London Underground would be happy to receive this as a gift.

You might also like
Walking the London Underground, Overground
Aldwych Underground Station Tours - November & December 2011
Railway Maps of the World - Mark Ovenden Guest Post
Has the London Underground Map lost its way? - Maps after Beck

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Saturday, December 17, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Long Copy Xmas Tube Ads - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

Another sign of Christmas on the London Underground is the Xmas related long copy cross platform ad. Obviously there are tons of ads for Xmas gifts on the Tube, but these "long copy" ads really stand out.



They are  specifically designed for when you're standing around, waiting for your train with nothing else to do but to stare at the ads opposite you. CBS Outdoor (the guys responsible for placing ads across London Transport) have been running campaigns & competitions to encourage more long copy ads, supposedly to improve Tube "ambience" but I imagine also to get more advertising revenue.

Still if it produces a great read like the one from Waterstone's I saw last night for a cook book by one of my favourite TV cooks, Nigel Slater, I'm happy.

Related posts
Want to see your quote on a Tube poster?
Create your own cross-platform Tube ad
CBS Outdoor Tube Ads on Tube Advertising
Monkhouse's Voice from the Grave wins Tube Ad Competition
Tube Ads are good  

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, December 16, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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London Transport Related Gifts - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

Obvious sign of Xmas on the London Underground is when you start to see TfL or London Transport Musuem's own ads for Christmas Gifts from their shops. I particularly like TfL's in this case with the "Lost property" theme. "Don't get LOST for Gift Ideas this Christmas".



This one features a number of gifts such as Tube seat moquette patterned oven gloves, cushions with Travelcard designs on them, various transport related mugs and the two lovely new umbrellas from London Undercover. I first featured London Undercover Umbrellas a couple of years ago. This was their "Commuter" umbrella



There are now some new ones featuring a retro Green Line Umbrella

Here's how it's described on their blog: Following on from the success of our Commuter Umbrella, we’re proud to introduce our new collaboration with Transport For London, The Green Line Umbrella

The Green Line brand, first established in 1930, was used for coach services linking central London with country towns within a 30-mile radius.The Green Routemasters were used on Green Line routes in outlying country towns, with a central station at Poland Street, Soho.

The Green Line Umbrella is based on a special fleet of Lincoln Green Routemasters. These were built for comfort with extra deep cushions featuring the now iconic Routemaster Seat Moquette. It’s this moquette pattern that makes up the interior of this special London Undercover umbrella and the Lincoln Green & Gold Paintwork, the exterior.

As I saw some lovely shiny Green Line buses on a recent visit to the London Transport Musuem's Acton Depot I'm tempted to get one of these myself.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Thursday, December 15, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Boxing Day Tube Strike Planned - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

Sadly another sign of Christmas on the London Underground is the threat of a strike. This year (as with last year) Aslef haven't let us down and their members have voted in favour of strike action on Boxing Day.

 Boxing Day Strike Action also threatened in 2010 - photo by Martin Deutsch

Aslef said in a statement: "The union balloted its 2,200 Underground drivers and they returned a 92.3% vote in favour of action. The company is currently offering no additional payments for working on Boxing Day. The union says its members require 'substantial incentives' to attend."

Aslef added that further action was scheduled for 16 January, 3 February and 13 February.

London Underground said the vote was not a resounding vote in favour, with only 42% of Aslef's Tube drivers voting for a strike and less than 1,000 members took part in the ballot.

London Underground (LU) claims that Aslef is seeking triple-time pay and an extra day off for members working on Boxing Day. Howard Collins, LU's chief operating officer, said there was a "longstanding" agreement between LU and unions over working on bank holidays.

He added: "It is disgraceful for the Aslef leadership to threaten strike action while we are engaged in continuing discussions on this issue. The threat of strike action will not achieve anything and I urge Aslef to join us in our commitment to resolve this matter through discussions."

Sadly if the action goes ahead, it is likely to bring widespread disruption because the union represents 2,200 out of LU's 3,400 drivers. At the moment the RMT union, which is the second largest driver union at LU, has not balloted its members on the dispute. But one imagines they will support fellow union members and refuse to cross any picket lines.

Update - Boxing Day Tube Strike definitely going ahead for 26th December 2011 as LU's attempt to get High Court to stop it failed.

Related Posts
Boxing Day Tube Strike - What services are running December 26th 2011
ASLEF vote for Boxing Day Strike

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, December 14, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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New Year's Eve Free Tube Travel Poster - 12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube

Day Two of the 12 Days of Tube-Mas & a big sign of Christmas on the London Underground is when you start seeing posters about free New Year's Eve Travel.



As blogged when announced, booze company Diageo are the sponsors of this year's free New Year's Eve travel on buses, Tube, Tram and DLR services from 23.45 - 04.30 and on the London Overground until last train times.

Diageo has signed a three year deal with TfL to sponsor free travel on New Year’s Eve. This first advertising campaign started running from 9 December and will carry on into until the New Year.

I quite like this poster and am pleased it doesn't feature Lewis Hamilton who was in the publicity campaign to kick off the announcement.   In their effort to sponsor responsible drinking, Diageo show a group of sharp revellers on the left of the poster in comparison to the rather blurred view & memory you would have of the same party goers on the right if you'd over indulged on alcohol.

Compare this to TfL's own posters about watching what you drink when travelling on the Tube, in an attempt to reduce the amount of alcohol related injuries



You might also like
Lewis Hamilton Heads up Diageo's Free Tube Travel on New Year's Eve
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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Tuesday, December 13, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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12 Days of Tube-Mas - Signs of Xmas on the Tube - Thoughts of Angel

For me seeing a bunch of Santas on the Tube - Santacon is a real sign that Xmas is approaching. So I thought I'd spend the next 12 days with my own 12 Signs of Christmas on the London Underground. Today, it's those wags at Angel London Underground Tube Station with their Thoughts of the Day @ThoughtsofAngel.


You know it's Christmas on the Tube when Thoughts of Angel starts talking about pantomimes.

Related Post
Thoughts of Angel Tube go online

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, December 12, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Santas on the Tube - Santacon London 2011

December 10th 2011: over a 1,000 Santas or Santae congregated in Central London (& other cities around the world) to celebrate Christmas in Santacon. I've blogged about Santacon a number of times in the past, but this was the first year I went along myself, dressed as Santa. It was really pleasing to see that large groups of people could still meet up & move around London without it turning into a riot, getting violent or an excuse for police kettling.



Here's my first sight of Santas en mass leaving Embankment Tube where we headed to Trafalgar Square, the lunchtime meeting point for Santacon.



Walking into Trafalgar Square you were faced with a sea of red with Santae swarming the whole square wearing some imaginative costumes






The atmosphere as like a carnival when we left Trafalgar Square and made our way to Piccadilly Circus. Even with masses of us in streets & when cars, motorbikes and buses were stuck in the Santae Jam, the drivers were good humoured as people gave them mince pies & sweets in the spirit of Christmas.

Highlights around that area included a Santaconga, trying to spot Where's Wally? & meeting Anonymous Santa outside of Boots



The Santa band of drummers were superb and kept everyone moving along, Santaconga'ing, dancing, chanting "What do we want? Christmas. When do we want it? Now! Hohooooooooooooooo!" & singing Xmas Songs like Jingle Bells & Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

The dancing continued into Carnaby Street and moved on to Argyll Street heading towards Oxford Street. We were stopped by a row of linked armed police from going onto Oxford Street, but instead of it turning nasty, we just carried on dancing & eventually turned round to head towards Bloomsbury.

@Jemimah_Knight and myself left at this point as we were freezing, tired and wanted to avoid the crush on the Tube home.



My full set of Flickr pictures from Santacon 2011 London are here & @Jemimah_Knight's here too.

I had a fab time and would certainly go again. Just remember to wrap up well, although a number of scantily clad "Lingerie Santas" were showing how Londoners can brave out the winter weather.

You might also like
Santacon 2010 - Santas on the London Underground
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Santas on the Tube - Santacon 2007

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, December 11, 2011 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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