London Transport Thread

[nito]

EAST LONDON LINE

The ELL has finally now opened for service creating a new north-south route through London and creating an additional orbital route for Londoners to by-pass Central London. Londoners and surrounding area commuters from across London will have stronger access to regeneration areas in the Docklands and Canary Wharf.

The line incorporates 170 year old Victorian routes in tunnel, cut-and-cover, viaduct and new modern concrete, glass and steel structures. The core section of the route will handle a train every three and the line and is expected to manage in excess of 150,000 commuters each weekday. With the line running through several significant regeneration areas and areas that lacked a significant heavy rail link, the line is set to see significant ridership growth over the coming decade.

While the network will incorporate some 30 stations, the majority have existed at one time or another (eg Dalston Junction), or lacked a sufficient service or connection (eg West Croydon).

The current line serves 12 stations, but from the 23rd May, an additional 9 southern stations will open, by mid-2011 an additional 2 northern stations and by 2012 an additional 7 stations on the western branch to Clapham Junction.


Source: wikipedia



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DALSTON JUNCTION
Located in the London Borough of Hackney, Dalston Junction is the current temporary northern terminus for the East London Line consisting of a large island platform with four platforms (two through + two terminating). When an additional north-westerly extension is opened in early 2011, trains will continue running on to Highbury & Islington where the East London Line will terminate with interchange to the North London, Victoria and Northern City lines.

While the current station is brand new, there was once a previous station on the site that existed from 1865 to 1986. The new station has been built underground to allow for extensive high-density development above ground and a new bus interchange.

While interchange is possible with Dalston Kingsland station (150m to the north), it is an informal interchange and requires exiting the station. Construction of the proposed new Chelsea-Hackney would lead to an interchange at Dalston Junction.


Source: Normal for Norfolk on Flickr


Source: Normal for Norfolk on Flickr


Source: Adam UXB Smith on Flickr


Source: Stefan Shafer on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: Adam UXB Smith on Flickr




HAGGERSTON
Located south of Dalston Junction, Haggerston is located to the north of a previous station of the same name that existed between 1867 and 1940. To the south of the station, the ELL crosses over the the Regent's Canal,


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


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Source: tompagenet on Flickr


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Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr




HOXTON
Located on the final southern stretch of the brick-built Kingsland Viaduct (whereafter it then diverges on to a new route to Shoreditch High Street station), Hoxton station is contained within the brick arches that have supported trains running above for well over a century.


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


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Source: tompagenet on Flickr


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Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: diamond geezer on Flickr




SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET
Despite being built atop a viaduct, Shoreditch High Street is cocooned in a concrete box which will provide safety for commuters and trains while skyscrapers are built around the station. Going north, trains cross Shoreditch High Street and onto the old Kingsland Viaduct onwards to Dalston. Going southwards, trains cross the Great Eastern Main Line and West Anglia Main Line (both lines running into Liverpool Street) on their way towards destinations south of the Thames.

The Central line tunnels pass under the station, but it was decided that the cost to build deep-level tunnels and the risk of over-crowding meant that the interchange wasn't constructed. The construction of Crossrail and the new Chelsea-Hackney line could see a Central Line station and interchange constructed to provide greater interchange possibilities.

The adjacent disused brick-viaducts which acted as the foundations of the old Bishopsgate station & goods yard (1840-1864) are set to be re-used for retail and communal purposes for the surrounding high-rise developments. An excellent article on the station and the immense brick viaducts that remain can be viewed at the following website: http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/s...on/index.shtml


Source: Normal for Norfolk on Flickr


Source: diamond geezer on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: diamond geezer on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr





WHITECHAPEL
Dating back to 1876, Whitechapel is an important East London interchange for the District, East London, and Hammersmith & City lines. The station currently has 6 platforms, and prior to the ELL work, there was once a connection between the ELL and the District & Hammersmith lines above via the St Mary's Curve but the points have since been removed.

Come 2017, Whitechapel station will be re-built (except for the ELL platforms) to allow for easier interchange with Crossrail; Whitechapel will be an important station on the Crossrail route because going eastwards, the line will split towards Stratford and Canary Wharf.

A peculiar note is that despite the ELL officially being a part of the London Overground network, at Whitechapel, the London Underground platforms pass overhead.


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: Adam UXB Smith on Flickr




SHADWELL
Located south of Whitechapel, Shadwell is an interchange with the DLR (for journeys to the Square Mile and Canary Wharf).


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


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Source: tompagenet on Flickr




WAPPING
Located on the north-bank of the Thames, Wapping station serves a mainly residential area that consists of former waterside warehouses.

Immediately to the south of the station is the northern entrance to one of the most important engineering marvels created by man - the Thames Tunnel. Built by Marc Isambard Brunel and Thomas Cochrane, the 396m and 167 year old tunnel was the world's first underwater tunnel and the first in the world to employ a tunnel shield. Essentially the engineering behind the Thames Tunnel, is the same that is employed across the world in building today's tunnels.

Due to the Victorian origin of the line and the era of steam trains - voids were built along the old ELL course to allow for the steam to escape the tunnels. One such vast void is visible at Wapping where the Thames Tunnel northern portal exists.


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr




ROTHERHITHE
Located on the south-bank of the Thames, Rotherhithe is at the southern portal of the Thames Tunnel. Due to the confines of the station and its proximity to the Thames Tunnel, there were discussions as to whether to close Rotherhithe and Wapping because both station can only take 4-carriage trains. Fortunately both stations remain open and any future train lengthening exercise could involve selective door opening.

The Mayflower (of Pilgrim Father fame) sailed from Rotherhithe before making its final call at Southampton prior to its journey onto New England.


Source: ithinerantlondoner on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr




CANADA WATER
Located amongst a network of former canals and docks, Canada Water station was opened in 1999 as an interchange with the Jubilee line. Since the advent of containerisation, the area has been gentrified into a now largely residential area across the river from Canary Wharf.

The entire station was built using two large cut-and-cover boxes at right angles to each other and is an important interchange for south Londoners looking to access Canary Wharf.


Source: Kake Pugh on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


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SURREY QUAYS
Having opened back in 1869, Surrey Quays retains numerous Victorian characteristics at platform-level. South of the station, the ELL currently diverges into two branches: a short spur to New Cross, and another to West Croydon & Crystal Palace via New Cross Gate. Services beyond New Cross Gate will begin on May 23rd. An additional spur to the south of the station to Clapham Junction will open by 2012.


Source: Ewan-M on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr




NEW CROSS
Located on a short spur south of Surrey Quays, New Cross (not to be confused with New Cross Gate) is an interchange station station for Southeastern commuter services on the Bexleyheath, Dartford Loop, Hayes and London-Orpington lines. The station currently has four platforms with through lines for express commuter services.

The station was first opened in 1839 and is due east of New Cross New Cross Gate along New Cross Road.


Source: Kake Pugh on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr




NEW CROSS GATE
New Cross Gate is the temporary southern terminus of the ELL until 23rd May when the line will be extended down to Crystal Palace and West Croydon.

Having opened in 1839, the station currently consists of five platforms and allows for interchange with Southern and Thameslink services on the Brighton Main, Caterham, and Tattenham Corner lines.


Source: Kake Pugh on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr




TRAINS
To compliment the line, new trains from Bombardier have been built. The class 378 group of trains are the first by TfL to operate air conditioning (although many of the London commuter rail operators operate air-con trains already), and feature longitudinal padded seating with walk-through carriages to assist in dispersion of commuters through the train. Current trains are four-carriages in length, but have potential to be lengthened.


Source: tompagenet on Flickr


Source: tompagenet on Flickr

[M II A II R II K]

• Video Link

[Busy Bee]

I seriously just shat me trousers.

[ColDayMan]

I'm so jealous!!!

[nito]

The design is funky and fit for the 21st century, but I'm still split on what could be termed Boris' legacy project. There are several problems with this project, principally surrounding the issue that they are replacing bendy-buses, which while not appropriate for all of London's organic streets are better than old/new Routemasters and double-deckers. Costs need to be controlled and not used as an excuse to divert from say extensions to the DLR or tram network.

Then again it could become London's 21st century transport icon for which London seems to have a knack of creating (tube trains, double decker routemasters, black cabs, etc...) in abundance over the decades.








[M II A II R II K]

• Video Link

[Busy Bee]

Fantastic!!!

Whole story.



∞

The ghosts of Notting Hill Gate

By crownfolio | Published: June 8, 2010


I’m always intrigued by the afterlife of posters. Most design history – and indeed almost any kind of writing about them – concentrates on how they were made, who designed them, how they were printed and so on. But I’m just as interested in what happened to them afterwards. What did people think about them as they walked past every day? Were there lots of ugly ones as well as the good designs we treasure now? Why do some survive and not others?

Which is why I was so fascinated to find this photo set on Flickr. Here are a complete wall of posters, just as someone might have walked past them (well, a bit dirtier) preserved, not in aspic, but in a forgotten corner of the London Underground.

Read on.

[scalziand]

http://traintimes.org.uk:81/map/tube/

Live Train Map for the London Underground

What is this?

This map shows all trains (yellow pins) on the London Underground network in approximately real time (screenshot). Click the stations for a local map of that station. I have a (per-station) National Rail version, and a bookmarkable train times planner.

How does it work?

Live departure data is fetched from the TfL API, and then it does a bit of maths and magic. It’s surprisingly okay, given this was done in only a few hours at Science Hackday on 19/20th June 2010, and the many naming/location issues encountered, some unresolved. A small number of stations are misplaced or missing; occasional trains behave oddly; some H&C and Circle stations are missing in the TfL feed.

[View2saintmartin]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

• Video Link

excellent video mark!

[nito]

Originally Posted by scalziand

http://traintimes.org.uk:81/map/tube/

Live Train Map for the London Underground

What is this?

This map shows all trains (yellow pins) on the London Underground network in approximately real time (screenshot). Click the stations for a local map of that station. I have a (per-station) National Rail version, and a bookmarkable train times planner.

How does it work?

Live departure data is fetched from the TfL API, and then it does a bit of maths and magic. It’s surprisingly okay, given this was done in only a few hours at Science Hackday on 19/20th June 2010, and the many naming/location issues encountered, some unresolved. A small number of stations are misplaced or missing; occasional trains behave oddly; some H&C and Circle stations are missing in the TfL feed.

I have to give credit - that is an amazing map.

It would be even more amazing if the information was in the public domain for National Rail, DLR and London Overground services as they also use a similiar (if not near identical) system for train locations.

[nito]

Cycle Hire Scheme

Following on from the highly successful Velib scheme in Paris, workers are currently installing cycle racks across the city in preperation for the opening on 30th July. Usage will be free for use under 30mins and is being sponsored by Barclays. Pictures taken by Ian Buckland


















Crossrail

The latest designs for the re-built Whitechapel station have been released. The station is currently an interchange between the District, East London & Hammersmith & City lines, but come 2017 Whitechapel will be the station where the eastern branches of the Canary Wharf and Shenfield branches converge underground.

The concourse will be built in the void above the East London Line platforms which lie in a large trench on a north-south axis. Escalators will then link to the underground Crossrail tunnels.

Renders sourced by PlanningResource at flickr.com

[Jonovision]

That cycle hire looks awesome! More cities need to get those installed.

[LtBk]

I am very impressed with all the new projects London is doing to improve mass transit. Too bad other British cities don't have good transit based on stuff I read on SSC. BTW, how many people use London Overground daily?

[nito]

Originally Posted by LtBk

I am very impressed with all the new projects London is doing to improve mass transit. Too bad other British cities don't have good transit based on stuff I read on SSC. BTW, how many people use London Overground daily?

Going by the latest known figures (c.2008), London was growing by around 100,000 per annum so the reality is that there needs to be a lot more done in expanding transport infrastructure - the bus network has absorbed most of the growth however.

Ridership on the London Overground before the ELLE was at around 30,000; with the opening of the ELLE and other system-wide upgrades (new trains, higher frequencies, better performance) some 100,000 are expected to use the LO each day by 2011. An additional extension to Clapham Junction in 2012 and various mixed-use developments around the stations (mostly around Canada Water and Dalston Junction at the present moment) should see further growth in usage perhaps to 200,000 by 2015.

The problem with the other UK cities is that they have lower population densities and they lack a Mayor with any credible power (ie not just ceremonial duties). Things are starting to change, but they aren't happening overnight unfortunately.

[nito]

London Underground: S Stock

This weekend marked the first passenger journey of London Underground's new S-Stock class of train. A vast improvement on the current trains, these trains are part of the massive modernisation program that is currently being undertaken across the LU network. Exampls of the upgrades include;
- Air conditioning
- Regenerative breaking
- Faster (and more comfortable) acceleration and decceleration
- Walk-through carriages
- Higher frequencies (although this coincides with the rollout of modern signalling that I believe is behind schedule)
- Higher capacity seating
- CCTV throughout

There are two sub-categories of S Stock trains;
- The S-7 series trains consist of 7 carriages and have longitudinal seating and will be used on the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines
- The S-8 series trains consist of 8 carriages and have a mix of longitudinal and transverse seating; the below pictures are of S-8 series trains - these will be seen on the Metropolitan Line

Due to the potential of the rolling stock being used across the entire sub-surface fleet, the seating upholestry has been designed to represent all of the sub-surface lines that the new trains will be seen on;
- Green = District Line
- Pink = Hammersmith & City Line
- Purple = Metropolitan Line
- Yellow = Circle Line

The order is for a total of 191 trains or the equivalent of 1,395 carriages (133 x S7 trains; 58 x S8 trains); and will be delivered over the next three years. For comparison of the size of the order, Singapore's MTR system has a heavy rail fleet of 1,050 carriages, while Hong Kong's MRT system has 1,800 carriages.



















• Video Link

Images taken by londonstuff @ flickr.com. Images and some of the text sourced from iampuking at SSC.

[M II A II R II K]

I guess there are no more logos on the windows, or that funny dangling thing to hold onto from the ceiling.

[Swede]

How fast are the S-stock comming into service? When'll I be able to take them from Hammersmith (my brother lives in Barnes)?

[nito]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

I guess there are no more logos on the windows, or that funny dangling thing to hold onto from the ceiling.

A sign of the times - bars are easier to clean, although there are straps (or loops of plastic) hanging from bars on the new London Overground rolling stock.

Originally Posted by Swede

How fast are the S-stock comming into service? When'll I be able to take them from Hammersmith (my brother lives in Barnes)?

All 191 trains (composed from 1,395 carriages) are being delivered between 2010 - 2015. Unfortunately I don't have exact figures on how many will be delivered each month per each line going forward, but the average will be around 4 trains/27 carriages each month.

I do however have indication as to the priority of what lines are receiving the new stock:
Metropolitan: 2010 - 2011
Circle: 2011 - 2013
Hammersmith & City: 2011 – 2013
District: 2013 - 2015

I presume you take the Hammersmith & City to Hammermsmith and proceed to take a 33 or 72 bus down to Barnes rather than take a train from London Waterloo on the Waterloo-Reading Line?

[Swede]

So sometime next year Hammersmith should start seeing S-stocks? nice. That's a pretty fast roll-out.

Originally Posted by nito

I presume you take the Hammersmith & City to Hammermsmith and proceed to take a 33 or 72 bus down to Barnes rather than take a train from London Waterloo on the Waterloo-Reading Line?

yeah, since he lives in northen Barnes and our family is very used to the subway here in Stockholm and have used the underground in London plenty before, taking the tube feels natural in a way commuter trains don't I did take the 10 bus once last year tho since it went all the way to the hotel we were staying at by King's Cross. That driver was in a hurry, we passed to other 10s on the way!

[tpk-nyc]

I was reading on the BBC Web site that most Tube trains aren't air conditioned (something that these new trains will remedy). I was very surprised and then occurred to me that I have only ever visited London in the winter.

I can't imagine the New York Subway without air conditioning. It would be absolutely miserable. London takes much better care of its system than we do it seems strange that it should not have this amenity. Do the cars not get that hot? Are people just used to it?