Are Contactless cards creating problems on the Tube?

A Reddit user had spotted the following sign at a London Undeground station recently, implying that some contactless bank cards are being charged on Oystercard readers on the Tube.  As most people know, TfL recently rolled out a service where those with contactless cards could pay for bus fares.  From late 2013 you will be able to use cards to pay for Tube journeys too.

No one else on Reddit the specific issue above but someone had said their contactless Barclaycard messes up the gates on the Tube.  I was wondering if anyone else had experienced their contactless cards working on the Tube, or somehow confusing the barriers.  When the whole idea of contactless payments for travel was first planned back in 2006, there as already some worry expressed about confusion.  Head of credit cards at Moneysupermarket at the time said: "This type of innovation is very much welcomed in the cards market," said  "However, the convenience of having three payment types on the same card could potentially lead to customer confusion about which part of the card is being debited."

I'm sure that someone from TfL will be able to shed light on the above photo, or explain what the problem at this station was, however it there are warning signs on TfL's website about not keeping your Oyster card and contactless cards together.

"If you keep your contactless payment card and Oyster card together (for instance in a wallet) and touch them on the yellow card reader together, the reader will normally reject them both. This is because we can't be sure which card you want to use. If you have more than one contactless card (Oyster card, payment card or building pass), please choose the card that you intend to pay with, and touch it on its own on the yellow card reader. If you don't there is a small possibility that payment will be taken from a card that you did not intend using."

Bear in mind this is relating to buses and not the Tube.  Nonetheless the above sign is worrying and hopefully it's a one off case. Any thoughts appreciated, specially if you've noticed your own contactless cards causing havoc with the barriers on the Tube.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Print on Demand Posters of Max Roberts' Tube Map Redesigns

Map fans and Tube geeks love Max Roberts' re-designs and re-workings of the London Underground map. His posts are some of the most popular on my blog and recently his Circular Tube map received a ton of coverage online and in national and London newspapers. Over the years, a number of people have asked for poster versions of his maps and in response he's produced a poster print on demand service for your favourite maps from his collection.


They're availabe in A2, A1, A0 and oversize (44 inches for the short dimension) and printed on Olmec matt photo archival paper, 230gsm. Max is a stickler for detail and will check all prints for quality and pack to perfection before dispatch.

As as special introductory offer when you buy any poster, and have the opportunity to buy his book Underground Maps Unravelled for just £35.00 including postage, which is £10.00 off the cover price.

You'll see a small selection of Max's maps on this page but remember Max has designed over 100 different maps for cities worldwide, too many to list on that page. He says "You will also find designs scattered around the internet, sometimes as slideshows, also included with exhibition reviews. If you would like a specific design, and you can describe it verbally (e.g. the page number from my book) then order directly by using the button below. I will email back with a thumbnail to confirm that this is the design that you want. Alternatively, email me with a description and an image, and we will take it from there."

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Saturday, March 23, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Queen on Tube for Underground Birthday Celebrations

Later today the Queen will be winding her way down to Baker Street, where along with the Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess of Cambridge, she'll be visiting Baker Street London Underground station to mark the Tube system's 150th birthday.

The Queen has recently been suffering symptoms of gastroenteritis and this is her first public engagement in more than a week, so the Tube should be quite honoured. Although unsurprisingly the Queen isn't an anorak and doesn't make a habit of visiting stations or travelling on the Tube. She is pictured above on the opening of the Victoria Line in 1969.  As you can see she's making the major faux pas of having her bag take up a seat.  Still it was only her second trip ever on the Tube.

She last visited a Tube station for a much more sombre occasion in February 2010. She went to Aldgate station to view a memorial plaque dedicated to the seven people killed at Aldgate during the July 7, 2005 bombings.

The Queen, Philip and Kate will view a restored 1892 carriage and then meet station staff and apprentices involved in the restoration of the rolling stock. They won't be travelling on a moving train, but will walk through a new S7 train before the unveils a plaque, naming the train Queen Elizabeth II. 

TfL would be missing a trick if they didn't give Kate a "Baby on board" badge - but we'll have to see.

The royal party will also meet staff from the Railway Children charity, an international organisation which works to help homeless youngsters.  More on the BBC.

The Queen first travelled on the Tube in May 1939, when she was 13 years old and still a Princess. She was pictured with her governess Marion Crawford and Princess Margaret.

UPDATE - Pleased to see that TfL did give Kate a Baby on Board Badge

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Wednesday, March 20, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Geri Halliwell's Top Tube Travel Tips

Yet another celebrity waxing lyrical about the joys of travelling on the London Underground. After 17 years of Tube-free travel, for some reason, Geri Halliwell travelled one stop on the Piccadilly Line on Wednesday morning.  Such a momentous occasion for her she felt obliged to Tweet travel tips too.

  

Carrying a copy of the Financial Times, with a hole in the front cover - presumably so could travel ingonito and still peer at fellow commuters - she Tweeted "Forgive me for being a brat:-after 17 years & yesterday's 2 hrs of traffic-lets save time & money-the tube".

Quite why she bothered remains a mystery, when walking between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square would have saved her even more money.

Feeling "liberated" by the experience and since not travelling Underground for almost 20 years, Halliwell tweeted a couple of Tube tips for those of us not used to a daily commute.

"Tube tip – doors stops at platform entrance, or below sign, more seats at end carriage. oh & it's not smelly just saying."

"Rules of the tube, I notice no one smiles or looks at each other, like stay out of my zone."

It's almost as though Ms Halliwell felt she'd be travelling on a whole new system from when she last took the Tube.  One where those of us who don't have a daily commute of 40 minutes or more, or have the luxury of an empty carriage, feel the need to smile at each other.

Fellow Spice Girl Emma Bunton who co-presents the breakfast show on Heart was challenged by Jamie Theakston to use the Tube this morning when she revealed she hadn't used the system for 15 years.

Bunton has some problems swiping her Oyster card and said: “I got an Oyster card and as soon as I put it down, it said ‘seek assistance’. I started saying hello to people but no-one was having any of it.”

She added: “I know everyone has to do it in the mornings and the rush hour in the afternoons and it’s a toughie, but I enjoyed my moment.”

I'm worried that Victoria Beckham might decide to follow in the footsteps of Emma and Gerri and Tweet about how Tube travel plays havoc with her bunions.  Or how no one noticed her travelling in her shades and just returned her pouty look with an equally dark Paddington stare.

Will there be more of a trend of A list celebs travelling on the Tube now if only to give them something to Tweet about which make them seem like "normal Londoners"?

 

For my part, I get more joy out of spotting celebs like Alex Kingston, Roland Gift and Justin Lee Collins on the Tube.  They don't see Tube travel as a special event or a moment to be enjoyed.  Like the rest of us commuters, they just look bored or end up staring into space hoping there won't be any delays or random people trying to strike up a conversation with them.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Thursday, March 14, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Tube's Original Mind The Gap Voice Returns

Celebrations during the 150th anniversary of the London Underground are continuing throughout the year. Whether it's coins, stamps, art, lectures or steam trains running on the Tube, it seems we can't get find enough ways to celebrate what the Underground means to us.  I just heard a delightful story (which in all likelihood has nothing to do with the 150th celebrations - but it's fitting it will happen this year anyway) - the shouty man is returning to London Underground.

When I originally wrote this blog post, it was reported that Peter Lodge, the man who did the original booming "Mind the Gap" announcements from the late 1960's - was returning to the system.   However it's actually Oswald Laurence's voice that is returning.

Nigel Holness, London Underground Director, said: “Transport for London were approached by the widow of Oswald Laurence to see whether she could get a copy of the iconic Mind the Gap announcement her husband made over 40 years ago. We were very touched by her story, so staff tracked down the recording and not only were they able to get a copy of the announcement on CD for her to keep but also working to restore the announcement at Embankment station.”  

Over the years his voice became as much part of the Tube as moquette and the roundel.  But gradually new recordings were introduced to the system and the only place where you could hear "the shouty man" was on the Northern Line's northbound platform at Embankment.

That was up until last year when it was replaced, much to the sadness of Oswald's widow who used to travel on the Tube to that station simply so she could hear his voice.  

However, London Underground in a fit of kindness, nostalgia and romanticism, have decided to re-instate his voice to Embankment, so not that his widow (and everyone else) can hear it. 

Peter Lodge also recorded a Mind the Gap announcement.  His son who commented on my post to say his mother sadly died a few years before Peter.  How Lodge came to record the announcement is re-told on  Mark Mason, author of Walk The Lines, blog.  He writes:  "An actor had already done a version, but his agent was demanding royalties every time it was played. London Underground replied, understandably, that it was going to be aired thousands of times a day across the system, and they couldn't possibly afford it. So someone from their office who had a nice voice was dispatched to do another version.

As the studio engineer, Peter Lodge, waited for him, he recorded himself saying it, just to get some microphone level. When Mr London Underground arrived Lodge played him the recording, and got the reply ‘that's as good as anything I could do, let's just use that'."

Good on London Underground for bringing Oswald's voice back and thanks to Peter's son for the correction and update to this story.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, March 08, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Tube Strike Threat by Jubilee Line Drivers

We almost made it into March without the threat of strike action this year.  However, Tube drivers on the Jubilee Line, working out of the Greenwich and Stratford depots, are to be balloted for industrial action.

Photo by Ofer Deshe

The RMT union claim the reasons for this current dispute include "bullying of staff" and a "decline" of working conditions. TfL are meeting the  RMT and Aslef later this week to discuss the issues in greater detail.

RMT has highlighted the major issues in a letter to London Underground:

• The "unfair and disproportionate" treatment of drivers in disciplinary meetings
• Many facilities on the Jubilee line being in a "very poor" and in some cases a "disgusting" state
• The "removal and threatened removal" of some benefits
• A "severe lack of support" from managers for their staff

 Bob Crow by njbarnett

Bob Crow said: "RMT will not sit back and allow the wilful misuse of procedures on any part of the Tube network as a means of bullying and intimidating our members."

"That is exactly what is happening at the moment to drivers working out of Greenwich and Stratford on the Jubilee Line and we are demanding that the practice be called to an immediate halt.

"Our members are also sick of the gradual decline in working conditions and facilities which have been allowed to degenerate into a disgusting state and which appears to be another petty and vindictive way of sniping at union members on the Jubilee Line.  Communication with staff and union reps has also been undermined and support from managers for staff has been systematically stripped away.

"RMT will begin immediate preparations for a ballot for industrial action and no one should underestimate the anger amongst Jubilee Line staff at the moment. RMT remains available for talks aimed at resolving this dispute."

However it appears that this isn't just a war of words about TfL's behaviour as a spokesman for the union said that drivers had also been attacked in The O2 car park late at night due to poor lighting, and that their Greenwich toilets were frequently broken and left uncleaned.  Surprisingly this was not mentioned by Crow in the statement on the RMT website.

Surely us commuters might find these reasons a better reason to strike than Crow's continual mantra about bullying from the powers that be?  One tends to hear Crow mention strikes and his emotive language about vindictiveness and think "here we go again".  Yet if safety and hygiene were publicised at the forefront of the complaints there might be more sympathy - who knows? 

Obviously while discussions are still taking place, there is still room for resolution, so keep an eye on the news.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Thursday, February 28, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Tube Boss goes "Down Under" - Howard Collins to head up Sydney's rail system

After 35 years at TfL, Howard Collins (who's been Chief Operating Officer of London Underground for the last five years) is going "down under". Later this year he'll be taking on the challenge of Sydney's rail system - City Rail soon to be re-named Sydney Trains.

Photo by TrowbridgeEstate

Collins who visited Sydney a couple of weeks ago, and feels Sydney's system is decades behind the Tube He said:  "When I travelled it reminded me of the London Underground 25 years ago in terms of the ticketing, the technology, the environment. That's what I want to help improve."

Howard Collins at London Underground 150th Anniversary Celebrations - photo by Hawkeye2011

Throughout his long TfL career, Collins has done everything from driving trains, to working in signalling.  As head of London Underground, Collins was instrumental in dealing with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on our network in 2005.  He also surprised critics by making sure the Tube ran smoothly during the last year's Olympics.  Add putting Wi-Fi on the Tube and it's clear he's had a highly successful career and is respected amongst TfL staff and seen as part of the "old guard".  He was noticeably very "hands on" during the operation of steam trains for the London Underground's 150th birthday celebrations.  He was awarded an OBE in the New Years honours for his services during the Olympics.

His new job as CEO of Sydney Trains comes with a $530,000 (£350,000) salary and Collins thinks he'll be "good value for money".  He said "It's a big life change, it's a big move. Living in Sydney's probably one of the most expensive places in the world."  In addition to investment, Collins is aware that  improved customer service will go a long way to encourage more people in Sydney to get onto commuter trains.


Although Sydney doesn't have an underground metro system (yet), some of the stations on the central loop are below ground.  However, it appears that the roundel is already in place to make Collins feel at home (even if this is in a below ground railway bar)!

Hat tip to Aussie P from Sydney who first told me about Collins' new role.

I'd like to wish Howard all the best in Sydney and hope that his replacement understands railways and has the same enthusiasm for the Tube's heritage too.  Maybe they'll even have the same taste in colourful ties (presuming a man will get the job!).  Are there any women that reach senior positions on the London Underground or on railways in general.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Sunday, February 17, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Tube Centaur / Zebra - Tube Photo of the Week

Probably one the strangest London Underground pictures I have seen and I've seen some strange ones in my time. As wurding who spotted him & posted on Reddit quite rightly said "This guy was the centaur of attention on the Tube today". 



My mind boggles in so many ways on how he manages to walk on those feet. How he's going to negotiate any escalators (or stairs for that matter)?  Is he going to fit through the gates?  How's he going to fit through the Tube doors?  As you can see he's pretty tall in that outfit. 


I love how he's managed to get Tube commuters to actually turn their heads to look at him. Most of us feel we've seen everything on the London, but this is an eye opener.  

He wasn't destined for Blackhorse Road, but for Angel Tube where he was off to a Rumpus: Myths & Legends party. Kudos for the costume and extra kudos for using the Tube to get the party.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Monday, February 04, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Underground Orchestra Concert Review

Regular readers of this blog may remember Shaun Buswell's challenge to form an orchestra made up of strangers met on the Tube.  His project finally came to fruitition last weekend and Tube Challenger Adham Fisher has a great report of the night. 

"The entrance queue snaked around the corner of Shepherd’s Bush Empire, a sign of how far Shaun Buswell had come in his quest to form an orchestra entirely comprised of strangers met on the London Underground. Although, not only was he unsure of the event taking place due to low ticket sales, but he would not know exactly who was playing until the night itself due to the perilous nature of this exercise. Despite Australia Day celebrations spilling out of Walkabout next door, the ticket tout was not required.

"VIP tables with gold stars, line names and gift bags were on the Empire floor and people at that level sat at them or stood against walls, below the three reasonably populated gallery levels. Everyone was in good spirits, probably more so when compere Carl Chamberlain encouraged them to talk to a complete stranger before the night was out, as Shaun had done 330 times.

"Kicking off proceedings was a 40-minute documentary of Shaun’s quest and the concurrent growth of his beard, from nothing in January 2012 to substantial in November. Perhaps new hair sprouted with each confirmed musician. He took three days to find the first instrumentalist and then came peaks (targeting stations adjacent to music colleges and the Royal Albert Hall) and troughs (“I calculate that one in 500 people are carrying an instrument [on the Tube]. There are 12 people on this platform…”). One negative highlight was a man who, when asked if he was carrying a flute, replied that it was a violin, it was none of Shaun’s business and told him to go away. That reaction would have been even more worthy of television had the man actually realised he was being filmed. On the plus side, Shaun managed to snare twins, separately, two months apart, at the same station. What were the chances?

"An interval followed, then Shaun introduced the orchestra one by one, including four paying patrons that had stepped in at the last minute. They played pieces by Grieg, Holst and Dvorak before Shaun’s namesake band joined them on stage to present their own songs with orchestral augmentation. It’s You began with subtle string arrangements, building to an all-encompassing, impassioned instrumental featuring a flashmob orchestra of about six in the gallery. The melodica player had apparently come all the way from Barcelona for the event. Conscious of time, some songs were dropped to make way for the medley, a hybrid of movie themes from films which feature the Tube. Hilarity and applause ensued as the audience was treated to Mission Impossible, James Bond and Superman amongst others.

"Aptly deciding to leave The Road until last instead, the D major triplets pounded through the hall, Shaun having written this during and for his challenge, telling us not to give up on something however difficult it might be. He had a crazy idea and felt like quitting, but he went from that first tentative Tube talk to a renowned London venue, and that is just one example of what can be done. This might even see a legacy; I wait to hear of a band formed in such a fashion.

"Ropey at times, yet successful for what it was, the Underground Orchestra triumphed. The audience stood for an ovation, their claps and cheers carrying their warmth and respect towards the stage. Originally this was planned to take place on 12/12/12, but for various reasons it was put back – the first full rehearsal happened on that date instead. Perhaps that was for the best, however, as it was more than fitting to have this show in the Tube’s 150th anniversary year. The primary reason Shaun met his collaborators was because of the Underground, and this showed the creativity and fraternity that being on the system can produce. Transport for London would have done well to list this event in their official anniversary programme. Well done, sir."

Well done indeed and I'm also pleased this happened in the 150th anniversary year.  Thanks again to Adham @directiontravel for the review

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Sunday, February 03, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Tube Map In Circles

Regular readers to my blog will know that London Underground map expert, Max Roberts, has long suggested that the Tube Map is getting too cluttered.  His curvy Tube map has been a popular way of re-visiting the map and now with the orbital London Overground he's designed another way of re-mapping the map.  Max kindly explains his approach in this guest post.

Detail of Max Roberts In Circles Tube Map

"With the new orbital loop surrounding Central London, some people are suggesting a mapping approach based on circles to emphasise this feature. There is nothing new here, and Berlin, Paris, Moscow and Madrid have all received this treatment in the past. Grounding a map in familiar shapes such as circles can make it easy to comprehend. However, it is also possible to push a design priority too far. As the old saying goes, be careful of what you might desire, in case you get it.

http://londonist.com/2013/01/alternative-tube-maps-circles-within-circles.php

"Let's start from first principles. Mixing straight lines and concentric circles on the same map is fine if there are pure orbital lines, and pure radial lines. This works well for Moscow, but in London the lines tend to be a bit of a mixture, never quite deciding whether they are heading for the centre or avoiding it. Circles are not particularly bothered about whether straight lines are at 45 degrees, vertical, or horizontal, with the consequence that the straight line and circular elements can integrate poorly, impacting on the harmony and coherence of the design. How can circles and straight lines be made to communicate better? Answer, by using straight lines that are directly related to circles: tangents and spokes (and, in emergency, lines that are parallel to other tangents and spokes). If a map is to be based upon concentric circles, then it might be an idea to rethink all the design rules from the ground up.

"If we really are going to throw away the design rules, and switch emphasis to orbital lines, then we need at least one full circle to make the concept convincing. However, forcing the Circle Line into this shape is a bad starting point. Its actual route is nothing like circular, and the British have a preference for nice orderly horizontal lettering, which tends to force out the width of the map. Going into battle on two fronts (geography and typography) simultaneously is just going to end in disaster: a horribly unbalanced design with areas of dense hard-to-decipher stations, and gaping holes in others. The Overground loop is far more suited to this sort of design abuse, and a much more interesting shape is possible for the Circle Line itself.

Max Roberts In Circles Tube Map - Sharp Corners - click to view full size

"So, here are the results (the sharp corner version has some usability issues, but is more dramatic aesthetically). Quite attractive in a distinctly weird way. Although parts of the map suffer horribly (Thameslink to West Hampstead for example), it is surprising just how much of London is resilient enough to withstand the attack. Intriguingly, this is the only map I have ever seen where Crossrail looks convincing, especially in East London.

Max Roberts In Circles Tube Map - Smooth Corners - click to view full size

Overall though, I don't think I will be sending this one to TfL for comments. No great advances in usability here, but it was fun to make it."

What do you think of his maps? Fun? Usuable?  Max would be keen to hear your thoughts.  If you'd like to hear more from Max he'll be at the Design Museum of the evening of the 19th February giving a great talk - Underground Maps Unravelled - more details here.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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London Underground £2 coins in circulation for 150th anniversary celebrations

Look out for the special £2 coins in your change at Tube ticket machines.  To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground, these new coins by The Royal Mint are firstly going  into circulation at selected Tube stations in machines, then you might find them amongst your coins from change at ticket offices and finally in general circulation later this year.

There's two different designs. The roundel £2 coin,  was created by designer Edwina Ellis and the edge inscription simply says 'Mind the gap'.

 

The other features a 1967 Victoria line Tube train.  The coin was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby who designed the world-famous London 2012 Olympic Torch.  This coin shows the front of the train coming out of a tunnel, but also has a linear reprsentation of the Tube map running around the edge.

 

If you don't fancy your chances of getting one in your change, The Royal Mint are selling sets of London Underground coins on their website from £20 - see photo above - you can get both coins in some nice packaging.  Inside the CD sized pack there's a double-sided poster, which  features a close-up of Tower Hill station on the London Underground map.  Apparently The Royal Mint was housed there from 1279 until the 1960s.

There's also a whole host of the fun facts or most famous figures about each Tube line on the poster.  For instance you may now that the Bakerloo Line has the station that uses the most platforms.  But did you also know that during the war after an air raid a whole wedding party had to move to Edgware Road station.  The stationmaster even provided the newlyweds with an improvised honeymoon suite, by ushering them into a lift and stopping it halfway up the shaft.

Mike Brown, the Managing Director of London Underground, said: "London Underground has always played a vital role in the economic growth of the capital and the UK and these attractive coins are a wonderful celebration of its success over the last 150 years."

The Royal Mint said "It's very rare for two circulating coins to have the same theme, adding to the appeal of these stunning coins for collectors, Londoners and transport enthusiasts alike."

For those who want to splash out on more than £20, the Royal Mint has gold & silver proof coins at the more professional collector's price range starting at £50 and rising to a couple of thousand!

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Saturday, January 26, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Steam Train on the London Underground for 150th Tube Anniversary Celebrations

This is the view of the train that I was supposed to be on! I'd very kindly been given a press ticket to be on the evening steam train that was running from Kensington Olympia to Moorgate as part of the 150th birthday celebrations for the London Underground.


Ironically even though I got to Earl's Court in reasonable time to go one stop to Olympia - due to the steam train itself, the train that I needed to get was pulled with no announcement to this effect. It was quite galling to be waiting on the platform and for over half an hour to be hearing the birthday announcements about a train that you were supposed to be on. Particularly when I thought I'd still just about be able to make it in time.

When it became clear that the train bound for Olympia wasn't coming (or certainly wasn't coming in enough time for me to catch the restored train - I was still kind of hoping it would turn up and I'd make it in the nick of time), I decided to cut my losses and join the other people who were now crowding to see the train coming in.


The staff at Earl's Court were really helpful (I'd particularly like to thank the guy who even tried to see if the train would be stopping at Earl's Court, so I could get on - sweet of him to try). Bearing in mind a normal Sunday service was running today and people were getting on ordinary Tube trains while the restored steam train was in operation. So Earl's Court had that feeling of "business as normal", yet "let's celebrate as something unique is about to happen".


Up until the moment the restored train pulled in, staff were keeping the stairs to the platform clear. There was a general orderliness in the crowd.  However, those who turned up on the off chance of getting a good view, and started to push in front of those who'd been there earlier were politely asked to stand back.

Although when the train pulled, it was like royalty had arrived and the orderliness turned into a mini scrum with people trying to get a good shot.

My shots were fairly rubbish - firstly as I was still galled as I wasn't on the train, waving regally from the interior and secondly as it actually came through the station much faster than I was expecting.


You can just about see the steam train from this picture above. Bear in mind, I myself couldn't see it at this point and just had my hands in the air, wildly pressing the shutter release on my camera and hoping I was steady enough.


There's more of a sense of what the train complete with the steam looked like in this photo, plus you can see the level of interest from the amount of people that had turned up on a very cold Sunday evening.

TfL Photo of the Stream Train's morning run

You'll see lots of much better pictures of the steam train pulling through stations on the Metropolitan, District and Circle Lines today.  IanVisits made it onto the train I was supposed to be on and I'm sure he'll have some great shots.

Let me know if you managed to get some pictures on the journey today or if you were on one of the trains. Even though I missed my train, it was great to see steam and electricity running side by side today and a wonderful tribute to 150 years of the London Underground.

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Steam Train on the London Underground - Video - Test Run for 150th Birthday Celebrations  

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Sunday, January 13, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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No Trousers on the Tube Day 2013

Snow predicted this weekend, so get timing for the fourth, annual No Trousers on the Tube Ride which will take place on Sunday 13th January 2013. As part of the Global No Pants Subway Ride, last year over 150 brave travellers made their way around the London Underground sans trousers. This year over 450 people are already signed up to take part.


No Trousers on the Underground 2011 by Idil Sukan
The requirements are simple:

1) Willingness to take trousers off on the Tube
2) Ablility to keep a straight face about it

Full details are on the Facebook page but in a nutshell the plan is to turn up at an allocated spot in China town at 3pm where you will be divided into groups. The aim is to then travel from Leicester Square Tube and go around another seven zone one stops as nonchalantly & casually as possible with no trousers on.

As Rammi one of the organisers says "You can wear fun underwear if you like, but nothing that screams out, “I wore this because I’m doing a silly stunt.” Wear two pairs of underwear if it makes you feel more comfortable. Don’t wear a thong or anything else that might offend people. Our aim is to make people laugh, not piss them off

We want this event to be fun and safe for everyone, so anybody found to be removing more than their trousers will be kicked off the train and reported to the British Transport Police and station authorities. ."


No Trousers on the Underground 2011 by Idil Sukan  

Even if you're not brave  enough to take part, the organisers are welcoming people who want to take pictures or blog about the event.  If that's you, contact Rammi or any of the organisers listed at TheStiffUpperLipSociety

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, January 11, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Google Doodle London Underground 150th Birthday

If you're searching from Google in the UK today, take a look in the top left hand corner and you'll see that Google are celebrating the Tube's 150th birthday. Today marks the 150th anniversary of the first journey on the underground railway (although it opened to the public on 10th January 1863).

25 million Google searches in the UK will today be met with a Tube Map inspired Google logo that clicks through to a TfL Tube page! The early pioneers of the London Underground and map designer, Harry Beck would certainly be proud and I think this is one Tube Map mash up, the TfL powers-that-be will be very happy about too.

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LU150: London Underground Past, Present & Future
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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Wednesday, January 09, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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TimeOut Tube Infographic

I've already started seeing some interesting archive photographs & posters to celebrate the 150th birthday of the London Underground this week.  However, I really liked TimeOut's Mind the Gap infographic with lots of "vital" stats to help you out with any "Did you know xxxx about the Tube?" questions that may come your way

One page with the fastest lines, number of days the average commuter spends on it each year - surprisingly only 11.5, length of the system measured in Oyster cards, number of mice estimated living in the tunnels, number of miles travelled by each Tube train in a year and lots of well presented stats.

Now if only they'd list the Tube stations at you can pick up your free copy TimeOut at and we'd be sorted!  It's probably just me, but since it went free, I find I actually find it quite hard to get hold of now and only get one on off chance if someone's left it behind on the Tube.

You might also like
LU150: London Underground Past, Present & Future
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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Tuesday, January 08, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/01/timeout-tube-infographic.html

LU150: London Underground Past, Present & Future

On 10 January 2013, London underground railway system celebrates its 150th birthday. Throughout this year there will be a number of celebratory events as part of LU150 (the name London Transport Museum have coined to mark the occasion), however only one on the actual anniversary. To mark the occasion, Londonist is teaming up with London Historians to put on a very special event.

Photo by L J Rich

 

From 6.30pm at London Transport Museum an expert panel (and the not so expert me) will discuss the past, present and future of the Tube.

Joining me will be:

• Christian Wolmar – leading transport commentator, with plans to run in the 2016 London Mayoral elections 
• Mark Mason – author of Walk the Lines 
• Gareth Edwards – historian and Editor of transport site London Reconnections 
• The panel will be chaired by Matt Brown, editor of Londonist 

As well as revealing some of our favourite stories from the Tube’s history, we'll also be tested with a short Have I Got News For You-style quiz about the underground, and asked to speculate about the future of the Tube.

There'll be lots of time for Q&A too. Tickets are likely to sell out fast, so get in quick.

London Underground: Past, Present and Future is at London Transport Museum on 10 January, 6.30-8.30pm. Tickets are £10 or £8 for London Historians members - call 0207 565 7298 to get your ticket.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, January 04, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Stop Leaning Alarm Subway App

We've all seen people falling asleep on the London Underground and leaning on the shoulders of fellow commuters.  There's even a clip of a woman who took this one step further and started snuggling up to her neighbouring traveller.  If you don't want that person to be you, Japanese energy drink provider Guronsan have come up with a solution and created the world's first "Stop Leaning Alarm Application"!

Apparently 75 percent of Japan's salaried men are so exhausted from work that they end up dozing on the trains and leaning on neighbouring passengers. For them, the train serves as their "Second Bed"

With the Stop Leaning app, all you need to do is turn on the app, slide your mobile into your breast pocket, and it'll use your smartphone gyroscope to alert you right before you tilt over onto your neighbour's shoulder. Just when exhaustion is at its peak, the app kicks in and wakes you.

The app has already had over 200,000 downloads and has other useful tools such as a handy train schedule to alert you before you reach your destination (eliminating the need for those "Wake me up at XXX station" stickers). It also has a "slipping out function" that you can use if you nod off in boring meetings.  The alert would go off once you start dropping off and you can excuse yourself for a reason - saying you have an important crisis to attend to.

The free app's available on iTunes and on Android and you can find out more about it, including a super cheesy promo video for it here.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Wednesday, January 02, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Bond on the Tube - Skyfall - Tubefall?

Many of you know that scenes from the third highest grossing film of 2012 - Skyfall - were shot on the London Underground.  It was one of the biggest film productions ever to be filmed on the Tube, with over 450 cast and crew filming at the disused part of Charing Cross Tube station over several weeks. I'm not a Bond fan, so haven't seen the film.  Fortunately Tube Challenger Adham Fisher (@directiontravel) went along to see it recently to review how accurately the Tube was featured

"Londoners who have viewed the latest James Bond offering, Skyfall, might have felt there was something not quite right about the depiction of the Underground. 

Bond pursues Silva in the subterranean passages of London. From headquarters, Q tells him that he is near the Tube: “The District Line is closest.” Bond emerges in a single tunnel. A train bears down on him, which he evades. But it appears to be 1996 Stock. 

007 then finds himself in Temple station. Green and yellow lines adorn the platform walls to denote Circle and District service. On board the next departing 1996 Stock train, the carriage number is 96069 and the line diagram grey. The Jubilee Line is incriminated. 

Silva alights at the next stop, Embankment. Bond gives chase again and soon the two of them are back in tunnels. Silva blows a hole in the roof through which a train crashes and returns to Embankment; the entrance can be seen in the background as a police vehicle picks him up. Bond, having survived the wreck, runs beneath the Tube to Westminster, where he emerges from an exit and runs up Whitehall. 

The station progression is correct, but really, anyone who has ever travelled on the District Line should notice the glaring errors. The whole thing just looks wrong. 

District Dave’s passengers note that Bond is required to end up at Westminster in the story. Thus, setting it on the Jubilee Line would have made much more sense; Bond could have been put at Southwark, chased Silva through Waterloo and then gone to Westminster. 

It is a shame that the production team did not appreciate the detail of famous British transport in the iconic franchise of a British secret agent."

Have you seen Skyfall?  Did anything about the Tube's depiction jar with you?  Or were you happy enough to let the film makers have creative licence?

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Friday, December 28, 2012 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Boxing Day Tube Strike - Services running December 26th 2012

For the third year in a row members of the train drivers' union Aslef are staging a Boxing Day walkout in a row with London Underground over pay. A statement on Aslef's site aims to simplify the row by saying: "What we are asking for is not complex. We want a volunteer service on Boxing Day with those working getting more than flat time. An enhancement for this day will ensure members will be able to swap duties with someone who wishes to work".

Aslef have blamed LU management for not offering anything constructive to resolve the dispute.  In an acknowledgement of the disruption that will be caused, Aslef ended their statement with "We don’t expect support or gratitude from the public who will be inconvenienced on 26 December. But we hope there will be understanding".   As further strikes are planned on 18th and 25th January 2013, there will probably less understanding as the inconveniece to the travelling public continues into working days.

If you were planning on using the Tube on Wednesday, you'd be very, very wise to find alternative arrangements. London Overground doesn't run on Boxing Day anyway, so that's not going to be an alternative. However, buses, the DLR, Tramlink and some River services will all run.  Additionally TfL have put out a PDF of services they expect to run.

Howard Collins, London Underground's Chief Operating Officer,  called the action of Aslef members "scandalous" and said: 'Train drivers are paid a salary that reflects some Bank holiday working, but the ASLEF leadership is demanding to be paid twice for the same work and has rejected our attempts to resolve the matter.

'The scandalous actions of the ASLEF leadership are an attempt to hold Londoners to ransom, and demonstrate a wholesale disregard for our customers - making life harder for shoppers, sports fans, retail workers and businesses amongst others at an important time. They also show a disregard for the thousands of transport staff who will be working hard to help people get around the Capital."

As usual with all strikes it's always best to check TfL's website and local TV and radio news for up-to-date travel information before you travel.

Related posts
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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Monday, December 24, 2012 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Kim Wilde serenades train commuters

Tis the season to have drunken carriage singers! We've all been on the London Underground when either buskers or party revellers decide to belt out songs to everyone on board. Usually we're not treated to celebrities doing this though. Katherine Eames was on a First Capital Connect train heading towards Potters Bar and did a double take when she saw 80's singer Kim Wilde with a pair of antlers belting out a medley of her songs.

She said: "After a truly rubbish day, I got on the train home and couldn't get a seat, a man pulled out his guitar "Oh here we go!" I thought. Then a drunken woman starts singing. Hang on a minute, I know that voice?! It really was KIM WILDE! This totally made my day. Thank you. She is an absolute legend! Merry Christmas everyone."


I love this.  I love how she makes an effort to get everyone else to join in. I love that she's certainly not doing the "I'm a celebrity, look at me using public transport".  She seemed genuinely surprised at the reaction after this was uploaded to YouTube.  As far as she's concerned it was just her and her brother Ricky just having a sing a long. The video received over 800,000 views and she Tweeted "truly, i am overwhelmed and confused at such a huge reaction to my night out on the tiles. Making me giggle a LOT: )".

If only we could get her to pair up with Roland Gift who I spotted on the Tube last year, perhaps we could get an 1980's "Here & Now" style Tube sing-a-long crawl / ride going!

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London Underground; Tube Posted by Unknown Sunday, December 16, 2012 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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