Paranoia & dirty hands on the Tube

Apparently a good way of studying paranoia is to go on a London Underground train and watch how people look at each other. I blogged about Dr Daniel Freeman's paranoia Tube experiment from the Wellcome Trust on April 1st earlier this year and a number of you thought it was April Fool's Joke. However, The Guardian's Science Weekly podcast tried to re-create his virtual experiment on a Central Line Tube where the reporter describes the way people sit or stand, what they're reading or listening too & how that behaviour can affect other people's levels of paranoia.


According to his study one in four of the general public have paranoid thoughts. Freeman said the results suggest that paranoia was a quite normal emotion: "In the past, only those with a severe mental illness were thought to experience paranoid thoughts, but now we know that this is simply not the case."

In the middle of the podcast (about 15 mins in) they comment on last week's findings from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which states that commuters have dirty hands. That's no surprise really, but the further North you go, the dirtier people's hands get.


The scientists swabbed the hands of 409 people at bus and train stations in five major cities in England and Wales. More than one in four commuters had bacteria from faeces on their hands. Men were likelier to have dirtier hands than women except (and I'm ashamed to say this) in London. At Euston station men had contamination levels of 6% whereas women had 21% - urgh.

The one good thing for Tube travellers (if anything good comes out of this) is that people who had travelled on the bus had higher rates of hand contamination than commuters who had used the train.

The BBC reported: Dr Val Curtis, director of the Hygiene Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "We were flabbergasted by the finding that so many people had faecal bugs on their hands.

"The figures were far higher than we had anticipated, and suggest that there is a real problem with people washing their hands in the UK.

"If any of these people had been suffering from a diarrhoeal disease, the potential for it to be passed around would be greatly increased by their failure to wash their hands after going to the toilet."

Perhaps we ought to forget being paranoid about how people look at each other on the Tube & spend a bit more time washing our hands, not only after the loo, but before and after commuting.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/paranoia-dirty-hands-on-tube.html

Live blogging from BBC2's Working Lunch

I'm here at the studio of BBC2's Working Lunch doing some live blogging. Which is always a challenge specially as I was half way through a post and the computer froze!!! Such are the everyday trials and tribulations for a blogger - ooops presenter Declan Curry just asked me how things were going and I had to tell him.


So onto the blog post. The main story on Working Lunch today is the announcement that 350 million pounds is being given to small businesses to help them to train & learn new skills. The focus is on vocational skills with numeracy and literacy. The place to go to is Train to Gain

Anyway in other news Helen Pattinson's company Montezuma's makes tons of chocolate every year, which is music to my ears as last week was National Chocolate Week. I went along to a chocolate tasting with a number of other bloggers to well, err, taste chocolate.

However, she lives & breathes chocolate and put her family home up for sale to finance her business, which is a massively brave step - although she said it was "stupid" in hindsight.

Declan's asking Helen about that nightmare moment that every person who starts their own business has, when they think, can I actually do this? What am I doing here? Have I made the wrong decision? Thankfully she decided to carry on even though her product is a luxury item at around £2 a bar, so far things seem to be going really well and she's had massive growth of direct sales through the internet.

Update - if you're in the UK you can watch this episode of Working Lunch on BBC iPlayer.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/live-blogging-from-bbc2s-working-lunch.html

Want to buy some secret Underground Tunnels?

Underneath Chancery Lane London Underground station there are more than a mile of underground tunnels that are up for sale. So if like Griff Rhys Jones who explored them, you wanted a quick shortcut to work through the hidden network you'd be laughing. John Pannell & Jon Justice both gave me the heads up to this story which was part of Greatest Cities of the World with Griff Rhys Jones and also in the news & on the BBC's site last week.



The site is known as the Kingsway Tunnel (a deliberately misleading name, because Kingsway is hundreds of yards away) was originally dug in 1942 as a bomb shelter for 8,000 people during World War II. The tunnels were then taken over by military authorities as a communications and intelligence centre and after the war became a place to store historic documents.


They're now being put for sale by their current owner BT.

According to the Associated Press - "BT spokeswoman Gemma Thomas said that the company no longer needed the tunnel because the Internet was cutting down on the need for telephone exchanges. She said restrictions on the tunnels' use meant they could not be converted into a cool new concept hotel, an underground office or a subterranean home. BT suggested they might be suitable for government use or for a major corporation. Thomas refused to reveal was BT was hoping to get from the tunnels' sale."

BT are also remaining fairly cagey about how you find the tunnels. You won't find the entry door unless you know where to look.

Andy McSmith from The Independent was one of the journos lucky enough to get a tour of the secret site and said

"This would be a fabulous place to open a nightclub, but health and safety laws would never permit it. Likewise, a hotel, offices or living accommodation are out. Somebody should grab the chance to use the tunnels as a film location, because they are eerie, dated and full of places to hide away from the bad guys. Although much of the kit in use there in the post-war era has been removed to museums, I saw enough relics to make it a trip back in time. There were machines bearing names of manufacturers long since wiped out by mergers and recession, such as English Electric (Stafford), Metro-Vickers, Hackbridge and Hewittic Electric, and Ruston and Hornsby. The huge tubes forming the walls of the main tunnels bear the initials LPTB, meaning they were built by the old London Passenger Transport Board."

Now they are up for sale, BT are obviously trying to get some renewed interest in them again, but their secrecy was compelling for former reporters who were desperate to know what government secrets were going on down there.

"In the 1980s, the investigative journalist Duncan Campbell, then of The New Statesman, did not take no for an answer. John Tasker, the former manager of the Kingsway Tunnels, said: "He had an obsession about government secrecy. He phoned BT security one Christmas and told them 'if you go down, you will find a Christmas tree'. He had planted it. They still don't know how he got down there."

In the show Griff Rhys Jones hazards a guess as to how much the Tunnels might be going for (£5 million), but I'm sure with such limited commercial uses it'd only be in the price bracket of the mighty rich. Let's just hope that whoever buys it has an imaginative use for it & that more people get to see the eerie underground maze.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/want-to-buy-some-secret-underground.html

Wake me up at.... Subway Sleep Masks

The Japanese had to go one further than the "Wake me up at XXXXX station", stickers that you might have seen on the London Underground. The stickers were for people, like me, who want to be woken up before they miss their stop. Manga artist Pyocotan has invented "Noriko-san," a sleep mask which has an electronic scrolling display fitted inside that tells fellow commuters where the wearer wants to get off.


The video below shows the mask in action - but in this instance the Japanese haven't quite got it right:


Sadly it didn't work. The theory is that other passengers will feel compelled to wake you up so they can sit in the empty seat you leave behind or just wake you up out of courtesy. In this video above, passengers probably thought he looked like a weirdo and no one woke him.

Pink Tentacle said: "Pyocotan admits that Noriko-san is not 100% effective, perhaps because the unusual appearance makes other passengers feel uncomfortable and prevents them from acting. But the device will likely grow more effective as it becomes more widespread, he suggests. Until then, the fact that the mask might encourage others to act makes it a little easier for the user to relax and sleep more soundly.

Noriko-san cost about 20,000 yen ($200) to develop." Thanks to Jon Justice for letting me know about this.


It's a lot cheaper, but possibly not much more effective, to spend four quid on a set of "Wake Me Up at .... Stickers" and hope that someone does indeed wake you up.


As the instructions above imply, the problem is getting the stickers off the sheet in the first place. I'd add to that being sober enough to write your station on them, that's if you don't live at one of the most frequently used Tube stops that are already printed on them. You also need to hope that you don't fall asleep with your head down or have long hair that covers up the sticker.

I still stupidly rely on my "luck" with the Tube fairies, who have the sense to wake me up at roughly the right time. But on a number of occasions they've really let me down badly and I've woken up near Heathrow airport too many times than I'd like to admit. I also have that 30 second confusion thing if I just about wake up right at the station I need. It takes 30 seconds to get to the side of the carriage where the doors are opening, collect my thoughts and make sure I have all my bits with me. Usually by then the doors are just closing and I'm off on another trip to Acton Town, hoping not to fall asleep yet again and end up in Hatton Cross.

Any techniques which don't involve spending four hundred quid on a proto type "future boy" looking sleep mask & people's good Samritaness would be most welcome.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Monday, October 20, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/wake-me-up-at-subway-sleep-masks.html

New Wood Lane Tube Station photos

Continuing with the brand spanking new stations in West London, many of you probably know that Wood Lane London Underground station opened on the 12th October. The new station on the Hammersmith & City Line is supporting the new Westfield shopping development and is the first station to be built on an existing section of the Tube for over 70 years. The last one was Elm Park Tube station on the District line in 1935.


TfL predict around 6,665 people will use the new station between noon and 3pm on Saturdays, once the nearby Westfield shopping centre opens.

The thing I really like about Wood Lane, is that rather than go completely all 21st century with steel & glass like the new Shepherd's Bush Tube, architecture from the original station has been used.

Bowroaduk and Tompagenet took some great pictures when the station first opened.






This certainly gives the impression that old & new can get along together quite well and we don't have to wipe out all traces of the Tube's heritage for the sake of progress & modernisation.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Monday, October 20, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-wood-lane-tube-station-photos.html

London Underground Fashion Victims

It's Friday and time for the Tube Fashion Victims or the TFV's, commuters on the London Underground who have a unique look or have decided to go for "fashion for fashion's sake" regardless of how it looks or how practical it is for a Tube journey.


This week I wanted to start with the poster of Kate Moss above. I think it's from an old Calvin Klein campaign. It's amazing how her face is revealed from the layers of posters on top. It almost looks deliberate and I couldn't stop staring at it last night.

Miss White Boots

I mentioned practicality and I know that that fashion isn't always function, but I always marvel at how people managed to walk in such pointed stiletto heels.


I run for Tubes quite a lot and go up and down escalators quite quickly, so simply couldn't imagine myself tottering around in those without breaking my neck.

Rocking Boots, Torn Jean

Love the colour of the boots below, but I'd be a bit cautious about those heels too.


It's a shame that she went for the overdone torn jeans look with those boots. It was just a little too "hobo meets boho" for me.

Metallic's Back

Oh Noes, run for the hills. Just when you thought metallic bags had gone forever they seem to be making a comeback.


My eyes didn't know where to focus as the clashing metallics of the bag AND the shoes, were both fighting for attention to be the most hideous things on the carriage.

Yeti Girl

The woman below seems to have got to Old Street Tube via a trek from the Himalayas.


The boots almost look as though they have a life of their own, however can't quite compete with the Chewbacca boots I saw in July


Until next time, the previous fashion victim post is here and the complete picture gallery of all the TFV's can be seen on the following Flickr set.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, October 17, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/london-underground-fashion-victims_17.html

The Art Gallery of the Street - London Transport Museum talk

At the preview of The Art of the Poster - A Century of Design, exhibition I was introduced to Catherine Flood, a curator at the V&A. She also co-curated the London Transport's exhibition. I have no idea how you choose 60 pieces of artwork to represent 100 years of posters on London Transport, but she'd done a pretty good job of taking us through the Edwardian directive statements, through to more experimental art and the self-referential, slightly derivative work from the 21st century:


On Tuesday 21st October she will be discussing the growth of the public poster over the years and how it impacts us.

"From the suffragettes to Selfridges, advertisers were exploring new ways to claim a visual identity and presence within London in the early years of the 20th century. Catherine Flood, curator at the V&A, discusses the rise of full colour pictorial posters and their sensory impact on urban space. From posters by Toulouse Lautrec and Pierre Bonnard to those by the Beggarstaffs and John Hassall, she looks at the British experience of the international 'poster craze' and explores the context of the Underground's early and progressive patronage of poster art."

The hour long event starts at 6.30pm at the London Transport Museum. Tickets can be pre booked on 020 7565 7298 and cost £8.00 adults; £6.00 concessions; £4.00 student. I'm not sure if I can go, but the kind team at the London Transport Museum have offered us a couple of tickets. Please email me: themole AT goingunderground.net, if you'd like a ticket & I'll give them to the first to respond.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, October 17, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/art-gallery-of-street-london-transport.html

The Art of the Poster Exhibition - London Transport Museum

Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to a preview night of the London Transport Museum's latest exhibition which celebrates 100 years of poster art on London's public transport. As I mentioned yesterday, it was opened by Sir Peter Blake, who looked like a pocket sized Santa behind his podium. The art gods will kill me, I'm sure, for calling Peter Blake a diminutive Father Christmas before saying he's the Godfather of Pop Art or one of our greatest British artists.


The preview night was opened by a surprisingly amusing speech from the Director of the London Transport Museum, who pointed out the irony of some London Underground posters extolling the virtues of it being warmer down below. There was also another one which wasn't at the exhibition about how it's a place to escape the summer's heat!


The artists also were given the challenging brief of "By Bus to Staines", which I imagine would be difficult in anyone's books.

I was quite puzzled by the first picture in the post - The Seen by James Fitton. I did quite a lot of artistic chin stroking in front of it. Apparently the 1948 poster promoted the Tube's reliability & cleanliness to help boost the post-war blues. A guy next to me, heard me saying "What's this all about then?" to Fiona from Flickr who came the exhibition with me.

He tried to explain that it was all about the "seeing eye" which means that the Tube staff are all familiar and friendly with you and you'd feel safe knowing that. A good point for the 1940's but maybe the "seeing eye" would compare well with our CCTV / "Big Brother is watching" culture and today's Art on the Underground posters, "I think I'm being watched".


Me & Fiona chatted about these graphic "font based" posters and wondered what many of the artists from the past would have thought about them.

There was another poster that led to some imaginary beard stroking, which featured St Christopher, the patron saint of travellers, being zapped by some rays. Electricity supersedes St Christopher was from 1934 and the stylised approach "reflects a trend in European art known as "cubo-futurism" based on cubist forms and dynamic movement." The artist Vladimir Poulin was chief set designer of the Russian Ballet.


Continuing with the Russian'esque theme, we come bang up to date with Visit Leytonstonia, which was commissioned as part of the 100 Years of the Tube Roundel exhibition.

This poster is by Bob & Roberta Smith who is an alumni from Goldsmiths college in London. Normally you wouldn't necessarily be hot footing it over to Leytonstone Tube Station in the East End, but it does have those fantastic Alfred Hitchcock mosaics in it.

The Art of the Poster exhibition is certainly thought provoking and I'd really like to thank the team at the London Transport Museum for inviting, me, Fiona from Flickr & Jamillah from the BBC's Pods & Blogs along. I also got a chance to say hello to Ian Mansfield from Ianvisits who regularly comments on this blog.

The exhibition is now open to the public and runs from 15th October 2008 to 31st March 2009. Full details are on the London Transport Musuem's website.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Thursday, October 16, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/art-of-poster-exhibition-london.html

Circle Line to become Semi Circle Line?

Coming home last night I read a feature in thelondonpaper on TfL's plans to split the Circle Line, in a bid to ease jams. This London Underground line carries more than 75 million passengers a year and there's talk of splitting the service at Edgware Road. So all trains on the west side of the Circle Line would terminate & reverse there and if you wanted to go on to King's Cross or the City you'd need to change.


thelondonpaper said: "Tube chiefs believe the split would mean less congestion on the 14-mile line, which frequently suffers from a 'back-up' of trains at peak times.

Critics say that once a train is delayed in one of the 27 stations, it automatically has a serious knock-on effect for other trains on the line."

The good news for me as a West Londoner is that under the plans, the Circle Line would also be extended from Edgware Road to Hammersmith - which would increase the number trains from Hammersmith into the City.


A spokesperson from consumer group London TravelWatch said: "The idea is to make the service more efficient and our board is discussing the proposals today.

"We have an open mind at this point as this is the first time we have seen the plans in any detail."

Obviously this is just in planning stage at the moment and it could take some time for the blueprint to come to fruition. Transport for London are expected to make a decision on the plans next year.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/circle-line-to-become-semi-circle-line.html

Art of the Poster - preview night

Just a super quick post to say that tonight, thanks to the super lovely people at the London Transport Museum, I'll be going to private view of their new Art of the Poster - A Century of Design exhibition. I'm so excited as it's going to be opened by Sir Peter Blake who is one of Britain's greatest contemporary artists and responsible for the legendary cover of the Beatles' Sgt Pepper album.






I'll give you a full review of the event & the exhibition tomorrow.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/art-of-poster-preview-night.html

Seatless on New York Subway

Regular readers will know that a couple of weeks ago I went to New York for the first time in my life and was pretty excited to travel on the subway in NYC & compare it to the London Underground. However, one thing of the many things I didn't know about, was the Take a Seat project, even though I may have inadvertently seen part of it at Pleasantville station.


On my last day, I went even further north of New Rochelle, where I was staying, and was somewhat surprised to see some wooden household chairs on the platform at Pleasantville. I thought it was a bit strange, but then in Pleasantville, they looked at me as though I had just landed from Mars when I asked if I could get a taxi from anywhere, so it was power for the course.

However, thanks to Jon Justice, I learnt about the Take a Seat initiative. "Take a Seat is an ongoing series of public furniture installations aimed at increasing the availability of seating options in New York City subway stations. Perfectly functional chairs are rescued from trash piles and reassigned to stations where limited seating options leave subway patrons no choice but to stand for extended periods of time."


"More than 5 million riders pass through the New York City Subway system every day, sometimes waiting as long as an hour or more for their trains. Unfortunately, benches intended for waiting passengers are sparse and inadequate, leaving many riders standing. According to NYC MTA's founders, "the subway should be an inviting and pleasant environment, geared to the user, with the highest levels of design and materials." I agree! What is more pleasant than sitting while waiting for your train?"

This is a genius idea by Jason Pink and results in random seats being placed on New York's subway:






You can see more pictures on the Take a Seat Flickr set, including where the seats were originally found and their new home on the subway.

If anyone wants to have a go at doing this for the Tube in London, I'm sure it would be most welcome by weary commuters, although I bet Transport for London would say it contravened public health and safety or something equally jobsworthy.


From my last set of New York Vacation photos
While I'm here, I must thank Stuart for taking my posts about New York Subway and putting them onto Metafilter. It led to some interesting & funny comments about the Subway fashion victims and what a touristy dork I was! My favourite is the following: "That made me a little crazy: She called everything the wrong name and just seemed clueless for someone who likes subways. On the other hand, she was really excited and cute. So I am just so torn."

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/seatless-on-new-york-subway.html

London Transport Museum Roundel Scavenger Hunt - Vote for your favourite team

At the end of September about 18 Flickr photographers went on a photographic scavenger hunt hosted by the London Transport Museum to celebrate 100 years of the London Underground roundel.


The London Transport Museum said "A great time was had by all as the teams raced against the clock to solve the cryptic clues and recreate images from the Museum's photograph collection. Images from the day were creative, inspired and just down right cool. You can check them all out through the Museum's brand spanking new online Roundel exhibition or from our Flickr page."


You can now vote here for your favourite team photographs. The winning team will receive a roundel-themed prize and be featured on the Museum website.


Choose from Team Johnston, Team Holden, Team Pick or Team Schleger. You have until October 17th to make your votes.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/london-transport-museum-roundel.html

Plotting on the London Underground

Travelling on the Tube on Saturday I spotted the guy below wearing a "V for Vendetta" style mask, but as it was the London Underground, as usual, no one paid him any attention. But I've seen him a couple of times now and wonder if anyone else has seen him and knows what his game is:


He doesn't seem to do anything, but was wearing the same black and white suit when I last saw him. He was around this point 51.5004, -0.136213 when I spotted him and was travelling towards Richmond, but nipped off the Tube before I could see where he was heading.

A family sitting near me, saw me taking pictures, so they looked round and then started speculating as to why he might be wearing the mask.


The mother told her kids that he might have had a strange skin condition. It was a little too early in the day for him to have been going to a Halloween Party and there was just something very casual about him, as he checked his iPod, as though he travelled in the mask quite often. When I saw him before it was a weekday at about 8.30 in the morning.

Anyway, if you've seen him, know him, or indeed are him, please let us know in the comments. Any theories as to why he's wearing the mask would be much appreciated.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Monday, October 13, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/plotting-on-london-underground.html

Alan Partridge on London Transport

If anyone caught my Twitter Tweet yesterday morning, about buying the Steve Coogan guest edited copy of Time Out London, it wouldn't have conveyed my joy. I'm a massive Alan Partridge fan and had seen posters on the London Underground about Steve Coogan's takeover of Time Out this week.


I grabbed a copy at Glamoursmith, sorry Hammersmith, Tube and spent the next half hour giggling away to myself.

Most of Coogan's characters are from the North, or are certainly outside the M25 in the case of Alan Partridge. They have a deep suspicion of London and Londoners and think we're all an arrogant bunch of twats. Partridge says from the editor's desk "In London the only thing you are greeted by are robots that look like humans ... but are robots". One place we're at our most robotic is the Tube and it's a shame that we didn't get Alan's views on the London Underground.


However, he has plenty of views on London buses and bemoans the loss of the Routemaster. Although he's not a great fan of public transport in general "it's not the way forward" and the main quote you can see above, about God not wanting us to travel on buses, sums it up.

"The number of pedestrians bendy buses have knocked over suggests they're too quiet. I wrote to the former mayor suggesting the middle section pay a note whenever it concertinas, just like an accordion".

Coogan's Mancunian character, Paul Calf, likes a drink or 10 and wasn't too happy about Boris's Booze Ban on London transport.


"Getting pissed and shouting at fellow passengers is a basic human right. If anyone tried banning booze in Manchester there'd be a f**king revolution".

Coogan's edition of Time Out is dotted with quotes like this and it's great having a such a London focussed mag taken over by characters who say "Patisserie Valerie? I don't know what all the fuss is about. It's just a posh Greggs." and "My guide to being a student in London? Act like a twat, you'll fit right in".

The final word and as a lead into the Tube Fashion Victims must go back to Alan Partridge. On Londoners' style he says: "I'm baffled by people's reluctance to embrace smart-casual clothing. The same shirt-trouser-and-blazer combination can look appropriate at a job interview, in the pub, or at the funeral of a close relative".

Update - Bus Strike

Speaking of buses - the 24 hour London bus strike started this morning at 3am and will affect 207 routes in the capital. Workers union Unite said the strikes were called after pay negotiations broke down. They're seeking a single unified London-wide salary of £30,000 pounds annually and a standard working week of 38 hours. So if you use First, Metroline and Metrobus routes to get into work looks like you'll have to use the Tube instead.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, October 10, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/alan-partridge-on-london-transport.html

London Underground Fashion Victims

It's Friday and time for the TFV's. Back in London so it's the Tube Fashion Victims rather than my New York Subway Fashion Victims. If only I could have got Steve Coogan to guest post, I think that Pauline Calf "the most sophisticated dresser in Ottle" would have had fun. But you'll have to make do with me for a look at commuters on the London Underground, who've "taken a style and made it their own"!

Three Tube Boots

It's well and truly autumn and we virtually had no summer this year. But with the autumnal nip in the air we'll see a lot of boots on the Tube.


Last night I sat in front of a trio of ladies in boots. Clearly the woman in the middle stands out. Just look at the way she's holding her feet! This is what comes of wearing thigh high shiny patent boots with "F**k me" heels. Not the most practical footwear for the London Underground.

Leopard Skin Wedgies


Pauline Calf would have been proud of this look. You can't quite see the full glory of the leopard skin wedge heels on her shoes. Coupled with the just about the wrong length leggings and a err ... interesting Ra Ra Tiered skirt, I can't say I'm loving her look.

Tube Roundel Camouflage

A few Fashion Victim posts ago someone sent me a picture of a guy who matched the colours of some London Underground signage. The same is almost going on here, as the red headed lady with the blue scarf initially looks like she's trying to match the Tube roundel colours


It all starts to go a bit Pete Tong the further down you go. I'm not sure that camouflage and football player are two looks that go well together. And those dayglo Adidas trainers - they look a bit too box fresh for her to be sporty. But I could be wrong, she may have the rest of her training kit in her big bag or her "day wear" clothes.

Until next time the previous fashion victim post is here and the complete picture gallery of all the TFV's can be seen on the following Flickr set.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, October 10, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/london-underground-fashion-victims.html

100 Artists on the London Underground - 100 Years of the Roundel

Today sees the launch of an exhibition dedicated to 100 years of the Tube Roundel or the London Underground logo, one of the world's most distinctive symbols. It's amazing to think that something so simple is still one of the world's most recognisable images and has led to so many other subway & transport systems copying or being influenced by it.



You've probably seen posters for the exhibition, like the one above at the rather naked looking Green Park Tube station, across the London Underground.

St James Park (the station where the London Underground's head office still is), started testing a variety of logos in the early 1900's. The "Bullseye" was rolled out from 1908 onwards. However for a while the Metropolitan and District Lines used their own "Diamond" version.



Now, the people at Art on the Underground have asked 100 artists to make brand new works of art that are inspired by the Roundel. Transport for London said:

"Reflecting upon a tradition initiated by Frank Pick in the 1920s and 30s, the project presents a unique collection of works that will be permanently archived at London Underground after a public exhibition in October.


The exhibition, which will open at Rochelle School, Shoreditch on 9 October 2008, will present a contemporary vision of one of the world’s most recognised brands. The artists involved interpret what the ‘logo for London’ means to them today, employing the Roundel as a symbolic element of their works as opposed to its more frequent use as a branding mark".

You can see all on display for three weeks in the East End and a selection will be dotted around the Tube itself. The Exhibition runs from the 9 - 30 October, from Wednesday - Sunday each week at 12:00 - 18:00. Eventually all 100 will be online.

It's great to see these new looks at the Roundel and as I work walking distance from the exhibit, I'll be popping along to take a look soon. Although as the District Line has been so awful lately I've been able to spend plenty of time at Turnham Green Station studying the ones there.



Going back to the rather naked looking Green Park station, if you been reading the comments in my post about the new Shepherd's Bush Tube Station on the Central Line, you'd have seen some discussion on the replacement of the earlier tiles.

I appear to be one of the few people who liked the old green & cream tiles at Shepherd's Bush and think it's a shame they were all taken down to be replaced by white ones. However, I think more people will be with me on the refurbishment taking place at Green Park London Underground station.

The distinctive colourful leafy tiles there are being covered over by plain white ones.





Bloo Phoenix took the pictures above and said: "It makes me sad too. The only hope is that they're being tiled over (just like the posters!), so maybe one day they'll find them during another "refurbishment" and wonder what the heck those idiots in 2008 were thinking."

It's a great point and I'd be interested in your thoughts on this.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Thursday, October 09, 2008 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2008/10/100-artists-on-london-underground-100.html