|
Post by will on Jul 4, 2016 21:13:24 GMT
I've recently started using LU again when visiting my Daughter in Balham and it's painful waiting for the doors to open now. It was much slicker in the past. Having been a bus driver in the past my ritual was stop - parking brake on - hit that door open button ASAP. A bus or train stopped is not earning it's keep. Definitely agree the 1995/6 stocks seem to take an age to open their doors. The whole TBTC ATO system seems so sluggish even with accelerating and the breaking rate is painfully slow compared to say the Victoria Line. Is it my imagination or is the Jubilee faster than the Northern ?
|
|
|
Post by will on Jul 4, 2016 17:52:14 GMT
Perhaps Westmister station. It's a station that isn't too busy for a major interchange in the central section and generally has a steady stream of people coming through all day. It's obviously served by 3 different lines on 2 sets of platforms and it's a large station so you likely wouldn't be bored or have the same duties every day due to the varied requirements of being a CSA. it's a nice station being rebuilt/ built in the very late 1990's and it serves a particularly nice part of London. 😃
|
|
|
Post by will on Jul 2, 2016 22:29:18 GMT
That is true, I suppose we will always be chasing capacity on the underground. This is the problem of having the most populous city in the uk. I do worry with over crowding especially coming into clapham common and clapham north with the island platforms. I can see stations like that being closed more often the more crowded London gets. After they have picked the low hanging fruit as it were by enabling large capacity increases on the SSR after they finish rolling out the S stock and finally get the signals upgraded and introduce the NTFL it's really unclear how they are going to increase capacity other than enlarging stations .
|
|
|
Post by will on Jul 2, 2016 22:21:29 GMT
What was the peak frequency years ago? 30 tph in both peaks, in both directions. OK, so they run 34 tph for half an hour in the am peak in the westbound direction, but 30 tph in both directions hasn't been achieved for years. And that's before you include the trains cancelled every day (usually at least 7/10) due to them being faulty, taken out of service or unable to enter service. On most days the Central line doesn't manage to meet its peak service frequency targets with usually 2/3 trains an hour missed in at least one direction in the peaks.
|
|
|
Post by will on Jul 2, 2016 8:23:15 GMT
One day, the Central line peak frequency may even be increased to what it was 40 - 50 years ago . . Progress for you! What was the peak frequency years ago?
|
|
|
Post by will on Jul 1, 2016 19:04:43 GMT
It's really positive to finally see them attempting to run trains at 100kph / 62 mph. This hopefully will allow them to run a more frequent service for longer than can be achieved currently. I also wasn't aware that the Central line had regenerative braking capacity.
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 17, 2016 21:32:46 GMT
with another 400 million people predicted to use the tube in 10 years time it may not be long before we see line shutdowns for months even years to increase platform lengths from 8 cars to 9,10 maybe even 11. I don't think we're talking abut 10 years you know.... more like 75-100... when I'm long gone As for 400 million..... which party political broadcast have you been listening to... ??!! I'm slightly ashamed to say - mutters quietly Evening Standard - Don't judge me
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 17, 2016 21:14:15 GMT
In recent years TfL have concentrated upon increasing train frequencies, however once trains have reached 34-36 trains per hour, there's not much wriggle room to increase this to even 40 tph.... you need to enable sufficient station dwelling times to allow passengers to alight and board after all !! IMO the next step, once line frequencies improve, will be to extend train lengths and consequently platforms.... and hey, if you're going to extend a platform by one car length, economies of scale dictate that you might as well increase them by two, or even three car lengths if you can !! They after upgrading signals and trains to increase capacity will eventually be forced into increasing the size of stations. They will have to increase the number of escalators and lifts as well as the size of the platforms - width and well as length to allow people to more around more but particularly to get people off trains and out of the station to manage dwell times.
They will have to increase the length of trains and obviously at the same time platforms. The Victoria line - the only line that's closest to achieving full upgrade status has almost reached its limits operationally and in terms of capacity and while soon it will have an extra train every half hour in the peaks (36 tph) this will do very little even in the short term to alleviate overcrowding. Building more Crossrail lines 1 - in the pipeline, 2 - likely to open 2030 ish wont be enough as they will largely serve new areas particularly Crossrail 2 serving south west London rather than being built to relieve tube lines.
with another 400 million people predicted to use the tube in 10 years time it may not be long before we see line shutdowns for months even years to increase platform lengths from 8 cars to 9,10 maybe even 11.
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 14, 2016 15:03:29 GMT
In years to come its likely that the national rail network will have to become far more efficient than it is currently. If many of the lines in future followed what's been achieved on London Overground particularly the East London Line that runs the most frequent service (I think) as currently the service is quite poor with some stations only having 2 trains per hour.
An example of this is Brixton; Natioanl Rail usage per year 897,000 London Underground usage per year 27,220,000 using figures from 2013.
This is set to improve with the future Elizabeth Line service and soon hopefully Crossrail 2 that will take over lots of south west London Lines.
How much control do TFL have over the London Overground as presumably Network Rail own and manage the rails and signals etc. If in the future they wanted ATO installed (similar systems to those used on LUL) who would pay and could it actually be achieved.
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 13, 2016 21:31:21 GMT
Have they ever lengthened platforms Ever? Yes, definitely, most notably on the CLR parts of the Central and the CSLR parts of the Northern. I knew they had but my brain wouldn't tell me where
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 13, 2016 21:19:37 GMT
Other than replacing signalling systems, introducing new faster higher capacity trains and expanding/rebuilding stations is there anything else they can reasonably do?
Have they ever lengthened platforms - would be useful on all lines particularly the Northern, Piccadilly and Waterloo and City Lines. Naturally this would cost large sums of money and take time but it would be worth it if it was practical and when new trains are eventually introduced they could be 8+ cars long. Recently they have had those smallish tunnel excavators used to create cross passages in creating new station cross passages that could be used.
Also on the Jubilee line Extension the platform edge doors end about 3/4 or a cars length away from the end of the platform. Its always baffled me that with a bit of reorganisation of the PEDS although not feasible now but in the future they could increase train length to 8 maybe 9 at a push cars. On the rest of the line there are only 5 deep tube stations and although these would need more major work to lengthen with the street level/cutting platforms shouldn't be too difficult to increase capacity that way.
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 12, 2016 20:48:59 GMT
The whole situation will only worsen station wise as the upgrades keep coming:
The Northern is still to be increased and seperated from 24 to 36tph - considering the upgraded Kings Cross and London Bridge stations cant cope as well as the work thats required at Camden Town it doesnt bode well.
The Jubilee is still to be increased from 30 to 36 tph - Stratford needs major surgery and something will have to give in a few other places mainly Waterloo and the New(ish) Canada Water station.
The Victoria from 34 to 36tph - even the stations at the end of the line cant cope most notibly Brixton.
The Piccadilly will be badly overcrowded when it goes from the current 24 to 36tph with trains of a higher capacity - stations that will need major upgrades easily - Finsbury Park, Holborn, Leciester Square, Piccadilly Circus and mabye Kings Cross and Green Park in the future.
The Central line going from 27/30 trains in the peaks (not really the 34 claimed) will be even more hellish - while the Elizabeth Line should take some of the strain of this line it will likely always be extremley busy. Some stations needing upgeades - Laytonstone, Stratford, Bank, Liverpool Street, Holborn, Oxford Circus & Bond Street and TCR in the pipeline.
The Bakerloo line should in the most part be fine, as should the Waterloo & City with its future additional extrance/exit at Bank.
The SSR shouldnt be quite as bad as the deep tube, particually due to their ability to lenghen trains on the Circle, District and Hammersmith and City lines. In the future a major remodel at Baker Street may be required to increase the core Metropolitan from the propsed peak frequency of 28tph.
Those who believe the Elizabeth Line will be immediatley full wont be far wrong
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 12, 2016 13:39:27 GMT
Article from the Evening Standard - www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/tube-network-to-be-put-out-of-action-within-15-years-due-to-soaring-population-a3269481.html
Miles Ashley LUL programme director for construction has said parts of the tube will be "inoperable" within 15 years due to the capital's soaring population. Problems will only get worse with passengers at 50 stations in Zone 1 having such little space that it will be the equivalent of four people crammed into a telephone box.
Even with the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail 1) any benefit from the 10% increase in capacity wont be there in 2026! and things will be just as bad as ever with an extra 500 million people a year.
|
|
|
Post by will on Jun 10, 2016 12:55:40 GMT
Is it announced in the same way as the Victoria Line i.e. "The next station is Canary Wharf doors will open on the left hand side - change here for the DLR"?
Thanks
|
|
|
Post by will on May 23, 2016 19:12:51 GMT
Lambeth North is one of the dirtiest, scruffiest and most disgusting stations in London, combined with the fact that its two elderly lifts aren't exactly the reliable sort its about time it was given a major refurbishment and brought up to standard.
|
|
|
Post by will on May 23, 2016 11:54:24 GMT
Agreed they could do with saying something like trains from Leytonstone to Hainault via Newbury Park are suspended with a good service for trains running to Leytonstone from Hainault. You definitely aren't the first to be confused and they should really rename the platforms to anti-clockwise trains run on the anti-clockwise platform rather than inner rail and vice versa as once you've worked out which direction their going then you have to almost know the plan of the station to plan your journey.
|
|
|
Post by will on May 15, 2016 13:22:16 GMT
The whole system is falling apart, they don't seem to be able to quite master how third rail power rail systems work leading to fireballs in stations with incompetent service controllers not allowing their own staff access to the track to fix problems - www.bbc.co.uk/news/36223607 - when LUL was in a similar state although no fireballs. Makes you grateful they got their acts together and eventually improved the tube.
|
|
|
Post by will on May 15, 2016 13:02:22 GMT
Working time table 39 now implemented from today (May 15th) onwards:
All Week This timetable introduces end to end running between Walthamstow Central and Brixton all day, with no trains terminating at Seven Sisters except for periods of starting and stabling. This increases service frequency between Seven Sisters and Walthamstow Central generally from 25 to 34 trains per hour at peak times and from 18 to 27 trains per hour at off-peak times.
Mondays to Fridays The service around the shoulders of the evening peak has been enhanced to 30 trains per hour for approximately 30 minutes before and 20 minutes after the evening peak. Saturdays An afternoon peak service has been introduced, with a train service frequency of 30 trains per hour between 16.00 and 19.30.
Really shows just how busy the tube is now operating 30tph on Saturday nights when that was the peak frequency in the weekday peaks just a few years ago. Is this the final timetable before 36tph is introduced or will they go to 35tph?
|
|
|
Post by will on Apr 19, 2016 22:18:41 GMT
The whole station information board is pointless as often a station is closed like London Bridge is closed and the information is buried under Chesham a station that almost has its own fare zone might be busy in the morning rather than it being at the top. They could also do with adding more features to the maps as you used to be able to turn off the line view of Minor/Severe and Suspended delays whereas now the maps only show Severe or worse. They also used to have the ability to show station disruptions like lifts and escalators out of service. It seems common sense was lost when the new website came in . It seems TFL is getting progressively worse information wise always now providing far too much.
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 31, 2016 20:00:47 GMT
There were a couple of moments from Monday's edition that stood out for me...
The freshly opened incline lift at Greenford broke down almost immediately.... with guests, one of whom was wheelchair bound, were stranded on the platform. While the station staff dealt with the issue, at least one LU/TfL senior manager could be briefly seen almost literally wringing his hands, looking distinctly uncomfortable...
The second was at the former Jubilee Line platforms at Charing Cross, soon after the LT staff clothing event, when a member of Victoria station staff approached a senior member of TfL asking that he visit the station to see the congestion for himself of a weekend. IMO the way in which her concerns were dismissed (commenting that he lives in Birmingham), IMO the staff member certainly didn't shower himself in credibility... Its when he says NO! ill come when I come. The arrogance of the man
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 31, 2016 9:13:13 GMT
The reason will be to provide cross platform interchange as well as a crossover between the northbound Bakerloo and westbound jubilee and the same in the other direction obviously. Also wasn't there allready 3 Bakerloo line platforms with 2 southbound platforms resulting in the Jubilee having to follow that path to utilise the existing southbound platform so only 1 platform needed constructing (northbound Jubilee ) before curving quite sharply to Bond Street. Carto Metro shows similar curves carto.metro.free.fr/cartes/metro-tram-london/index.php?station=baker-street
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 29, 2016 14:02:20 GMT
The ticket touts had a mention last night. Dumb question, but how do they operate? They operate by standing by ticket gates and unsuspecting passengers give them their tickets as they believe the have to. They then sell the tickets to other people who either don't know they shouldn't buy them or think its a cheap way to travel.
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 29, 2016 13:07:00 GMT
PeterC, I like your system, but I thought I'd make a few additions (mine in blue): Also, I think the closure terminology should be revised. Closed (or part closure) should mean that it is planned (planned engineering works or a standard shutdown like on the W&C) and Suspended (or part suspended) if it is sudden. The same terminology should be used in announcements etc. They really could do with a Moderate delay message as they do tend to say Minor delays when the delays are more serious but not quite bad enough to say Severe delays. Agree with the need for changes in terminology and they need to say Suspended during more serious delays as they only ever use the term for the Waterloo & City and Circle Lines with other lines only ever Part Suspended with Severe delays when few if any trains are running on a line.
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 22, 2016 19:48:44 GMT
Apparently the power supply issues will go on all week! This will add to the delays and disruption caused by the Piccadilly Line strike tomorrow night and Thursday.
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 22, 2016 18:30:16 GMT
<<The show really does show just how the whole tube is reaching its limits.>> Yes, and the govt in its infinite wisdom wants development around stations! Colindale is an example of a place where tower blocks keep going up, the scale and density of which is frankly distasteful. At the rate things are going up there will probably be enough demand just from there to fill up the Edgware branch. Even when they build new lines like the Elizabeth Line all that happens is housing along the route booms and those who predict it will be immediately full look like they will be right. Any increases in service frequency and service quality just lead to more people using the lines where this will end I don't know
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 22, 2016 13:15:40 GMT
Anybody watch last night's first episode? I enjoyed it personally but didn't realise the 1973 stock were in such a state! Yes it was really interesting, I wonder what components Tube lines had to get from eBay to keep the 73's running. The show really does show just how the whole tube is reaching its limits.
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 22, 2016 9:48:23 GMT
Does that mean 39 trains for the whole line or just between stations i.e Stratford and Mile End? Thanks ?
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 21, 2016 18:15:33 GMT
According to Twitter delays are going to affect the line till the end of traffic anyone know more ? Thanks
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 13, 2016 0:01:53 GMT
There is now an advert for the series showing on channel 5, cant wait for it!
|
|
|
Post by will on Mar 9, 2016 21:39:48 GMT
Why in the last 2/3 weeks has there been around 3 obstructions of the track at West Ham suspending services?
Thanks
|
|