Oxford Circus Tube Great Gatsby Makeover

Look out for an amazing 360 degree advertising makeover at Oxford Circus London Underground for the new Baz Luhrmann version of The Great Gatsby.  The entrance to the escalators there have been transformed into a 1920's ballroom.

Photo via @LovelysVintage

In something that looks like the palatial subway system at Moscow,  digitally printed floor graphics and huge graphic wall panels give commuters the impression they're being transplanted into the roaring twenties.

They certainly show how "wrapping" of Tube stations has come on and actually seems really well suited to the London Underground's own long history.  TfL have been known to be quite picky about the makeovers of stations by advertisers.  So this one clearly had close collaboration between CBS Outdoor UK (who are responsible for selling all the ad space on the Tube) and Applied Media (who produced the graphics) to get approval from London Underground for such lavish designs.

Apparently the floor panels have been designed to be extremely durable under the millions of footsteps, pushchairs, suitcase and trolley marks they'll be subjected too. It was also important that they were slip resistant and are easily removable at the end of the campaign.  Applied Media also worked with TfL last year to deliver 120 kilometres of temporary games lanes for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

I love this period and art deco too, so I'd be happy to see the flooring and ceiling panels left up after the campaign.  It's certainly set the bar for what can be achieved to temporarily immerse  us commuters into another time while we're travelling.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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WiFi on Tube - Skipping Virgin Ad

How many people are familiar with the Virgin Media "splash pages" which appear on logging in to London Underground WiFi?  Underground Magazine suggests that this may be all some people ever see.

Their spoof feature echoes a sentiment and frustration I've often felt. "A spokesperson for TfL had this to say: “At TfL we want to offer our customers the most cutting edge technology. That’s why we went in this direction. Emails, instant messaging, your files on the go – these are all things we could have offered, but no-one else currently offers what we do: non-stop, high-speed access to this one advert.......

"Virgin staff expressed delight at the service’s success. “Our research found people crying out for an internet service that was available for the thirty-or-so seconds whilst a train is stopped, and for twenty-eight of those to be spent trying to click past an advert. And in the bit where we we asked for ‘any more comments’, over 80% of respondents wrote, ‘make the button to skip past the advert really tiny, and make it so if you click anywhere else, you just get taken straight to another advert’. So obviously that’s what we did.”

Admittedly I don't hate the advert so much to pay to get it removed, but I wonder how many people would pay for its removal? 

While on the subject of using smart mobile devices on the Tube, have you heard new announcements on the London Underground?   A number of my friends have heard station assistants saying "Please stand back from the edge of the platform when using smartphones and tablets".   On the Victoria Line @michald said that the announcer  there sounded quite baffled by his own message.

Are TfL worried that we're becoming so mesmerised by the internet that we'll fall onto the tracks?  Surely we can be just as engrossed in newspapers, books or magazines and we should be warned to stand back from the edge when reading those too?

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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, May 10, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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Tube Carriage Supper Club - 25th May 2013

For those who were asking when the next Tube carriage supper club, there's bad news and good news.  The bad news is that Alex had set one up for 11th May which sold out in about an hour.  The good news is he's now going to run another on the 25th May, to cope with the demand and there's also a little extra capacity.

It really was great fun and you can find out more about what happened when I went to last Tube Carriage Supper Club.  My friend Rosana from Hot & Chilli, who told me about the event also has a post from the event.

Once again the menu looks great - it's different from the one myself and Rosana had and also being late May you'll be warmer than we were.  It's a lovely opportunity to roam around the old exhibits at the Walthamstow Steam Museum too.  Book online here.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, April 29, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/04/tube-carriage-supper-club-25th-may-2013.html

Tube Supperclub on Victoria Line Train

Eating on the Tube - love it or hate it?  TfL launched a poster campaign a few years ago encouraging us not to eat smelly food on the Tube which almost caused a diplomatic incident between Britain & Italy due to its implication that all Italian food is smelly.  We've probably all been on the London Underground when someone's been eating chips, chicken, a kebab or even a packet of cheese and onion crisps, and it's really got up our noses.

However, not all Tube food is a bad thing as I had the pleasure of dining on an old Victoria Line carriage last weekend.


This wasn't a rushed sarnie or breakfast croissant on the Tube, but a delicious four course meal as part of the Basement Galley's celebrations of the London Underground's 150th anniversary.  The by-line of Alex and Tom's supperclub is "Underground Dining", but this was the first time they'd taken the whole concept really Undeground.  OK we weren't on a carriage physically travelling on the Victoria Line itself, but on an old Victoria Line train stationed at the Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum.

If you've been to a supperclub before you'll know that the fun is all in the unknown. You usually don't know the location until the last minute. You don't know who you'll be eating with. Even though this was miles away from where I lived, I knew I couldn't turn down the opportunity of eating on the Tube.

My friend Rosana Mc Phee from Hot & Chilli who discovered the event, met me at Walthamstow Central Tube and we then spent about 10 minutes trying to find the right bus to get to the Museum.

Fortunately some fellow diners were also on the bus & confirmed we were going the right way. The Pumphouse Museum is a bit ramshackle from the outside, with old rusting coaches, buses and bus stops "displayed" in a fairly haphazard fashion.  So it was with some trepidation that we wandered round to back of the Museum to our train which was hidden in a very large marquee.


Once through the sliding doors we were more relieved.  All looked extremely well set out, crisp white table cloths and candles mixed against the backdrop of in-line carriage maps and old Tube posters. We stood in the aisles chatting, drinking wine  (we weren't strictly on public transport so not subject the Boris booze ban!)  and getting to know our fellow diners. The tables were set so most of us were sitting on the train's own comfy moquette seats whereas others were on seats by the sliding doors. 


We settled down to our starter of Green Pea & Basil Purée followed by Salmon poached in a Black Pepper Broth, Rucola Salad, Truffle & Parmesan Vinaigrette. With the sounds of the sliding doors swooshing open & shut as the food was carried in and our empty plates taken out, it felt as though the train should have been moving.


However, it didn't take long to forget that you were in a train and just spend time enjoying the meal, wine and company.


There were only 22 of us that night, but Alex thinks that by re-arranging the seating a little he could fit around 30 people into the carriage.


Our main course was piping hot, which was some feat considering Alex & his team only had a  very small kitchen at the Museum to heat things up in.  Kilner Jar appeared full of  yummy slow braised beef in a Móle sauce with garlic mash and wilted spinach.


This was followed by a Pimm’s Fruit Salad and a beautifully presented plate of sliced of cheesecake: White Chocolate &; Vanilla, Lapsang Souchong Tea, with a glass of Kiwi Smoothie.


Over tea and coffee we shared our amazement that no one (well no one as far as we knew had run a supperclub in a Tube carriage) and applauded Alex for his idea and great food.


It would be lovely to return in the summer for an event like this.  Firstly, as it was a little cold and secondly, as I wondered how it might look with less bright lighting from the Tube's overhead lights and more reliance on candlelight.  Both my and Rosana's Tweets during the meal led to many excited responses saying "How did you hear about this?", "When's the next one?".

Keep an eye on the Basement Galley's Twitter feed for when the next one will be, as Alex says he'll definitely run another.   There's some more of my photos from the Victoria Line Train Supper Club and the Pumphouse Museum here.

Eating on the tube :-s by fitzlaurafitz

In the meantime, next time you're eating on the Tube, close your eyes and imagine the white tablecloths, glasses, cutlery and candles and you'll get a rough idea of our experience. 

UPDATE - 29th April 2013 - due to popular demand, Alex is having another two supper clubs on this train.  11th May is already sold out but you can book tickets for the one on the 25th May now.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Sunday, April 14, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/04/tube-supperclub-on-victoria-line-train.html

Photobombing Fun Tube Pictures

Looking for a way to brighten up your Tube commute?  An anoymous photographer is making quite a splash across the net right now by strategically using free newspapers to create some fun forced perspective pictures.  "Photo bombing" fellow commuters means you can potentially get to see celebrities travelling with you every day.

The photos are mostly on buses or on mainline train journeys but you can easily see how this would work for London Underground journeys.

The photographer's choices for this are fun, but I loved a shot that I blogged about a few years ago where Meg Pickard captured a lady reading on the Tube.  This wasn't set up but just a lovely spontaneous  moment where everything worked together brilliantly

Photo by Meg Pickard

Chutney Bannister's "The Surreal Line" set of photos on the Tube also show how cross platform ads can mingle with commuters to create some interesting perspectives.

Thanks to @MichalD for initially alerting me the to current "photo bombing" photos and you can see the full set of them all on Shortlist.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Friday, April 12, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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We Love Steam! 13th - 14th April - Acton Depot Open Weekend

Here's a date for your diaries. If you missed out on seeing the Underground steam engine that travelled on the Tube system earlier this year, you can get a close up look at it at the Acton Depot Open Weekend on April 13th and 14th.

Photo by clogsilk

Also on display will be the restored Metropolitan Line 353 carriage which again was part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the London Underground. Model displays will feature miniatures of the Met No.1, and a Lego fans will be kept happy with a representation of Baker Street in 1863.  You can have a footplate ride on Ffestiniog Railway’s 150 year old steam engine Prince.


There's also steam rides on the Acton Miniature Railway, film screenings, hands on workshops where you can get the opportunity to make your own model steam train, talks, and book signings.

More details on the open weekend here. It's always an extremely popular weekend as the queues for the event often snake back to Acton Town Tube station.  With a chance to see the steam train up close I imagine this weekend will be busier than usual.

I've been to the weekends there several times and spent hours pottering around the Museum’s collection.  There's over 400,000 objects at the Depot including signs, vehicles, old ticket machines, station clocks, small objects, posters and more.

Tickets cost £10.00 for adults, £8.00 for senior citizens, £6.50 concessions and £5.00 London Transport Museum Friends. Accompanied children under 16 get in free.

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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Saturday, April 06, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/04/we-love-steam-13th-14th-april-acton.html

Train becomes Tube

For reasons as yet unknown an A Class 20 diesel locomotive at the Midland Railway Centre, has been painted in London Underground corporate livery.

The Midland Railway Centre is one of the homes for old trains undergoing refurbishment. More pictures of the train above can be found here. I love the idea that old locomative trains can get a make-over as a London Underground train.

Here's another carriage undergoing a makeover. You can see that most of its cab end has been replated.  Known in the trade as LU Choppers, it's unlikely that you'll get to see them in London, but they'd certainly turn a few heads if they made it down here.

These "hybrid" Tube / Trains remind me of the Tube/ Bus/Train that was refurbished last year



Thanks to @julog90 for bringing this to my attention. 

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London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Monday, April 01, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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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 annie mole Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/03/contactless-cards-creating-tube-problem.html

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 annie mole Saturday, March 23, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/03/print-on-demand-tube-map-posters-max.html

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 annie mole Wednesday, March 20, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/03/queen-on-tube-for-underground-birthday.html

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 annie mole Thursday, March 14, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/03/geri-halliwell-baby-spice-tube-travel.html

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 annie mole Friday, March 08, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/03/tubes-mind-gap-voice-returns.html

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 annie mole Thursday, February 28, 2013 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2013/02/tube-strike-threat-by-jubilee-line.html

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