With print copies now starting to land on subscriber doormats it is time to announce that London Reconnections Magazine Issue 2: Angels and Errors is now available to purchase in our online store. As with …
Continue readingAuthor: John Bull
John Bull is the Editor of London Reconnections. A transport journalist and historian, his writing often focuses on the political or strategic challenges facing London's transport network and beyond.
Reminder: LR Meetup Tomorrow
Firstly, our apologies for the relative paucity of articles this month. This was the consequence of a series of rather epic computer failures in LR Towers which have now thankfully been resolved (albeit at the …
Continue readingDevocalypse Now: Taking Control of South London’s Railways
The topics of rail devolution and London Overground are closely entwined. Without devolution the former Silverlink services in North London would never have become TfL’s London Overground. The success of the Overground has, in turn, …
Continue readingSecond Time Lucky: Rebuilding Camden Town Station
In 2005 TfL’s plans to rebuild Camden Town station were wholeheartedly rejected by both the council and the community they were intended to serve. Ten years later, with a station rebuild now critical, a chastened …
Continue readingSend in the Browns: London Gets A New Transport Commissioner
The Mayor and TfL Board have today confirmed the appointment of Mike Brown as Transport Commissioner. Brown has held the post in a temporary capacity since Sir Peter Hendy’s resignation in July. Before this, he …
Continue readingSir Peter Hendy: The Exit Interview
In his final days at TfL, we talked to the former London Transport Commissioner about his time in post, and the challenges that face both London and his successor.
Continue readingReminder: LR Meetup Tomorrow
Just a short reminder, for those interested, that our monthly LR meetup is tomorrow. As always, these are informal affairs where the beer flows, offering an opportunity to put faces to the names of a …
Continue readingThe Warehouse
The squealing of machinery comes to a halt and the large red light on the operator’s panel turns green. A buzzer sounds and he steps forward, opening a salt-encrusted gate to reveal a small miner’s …
Continue readingIntroducing… London Reconnections Magazine
Those of you who have attended our meetups will know that for some time now we have been working on something new and special behind the scenes. Something that we’re now finally able to publicly launch – London Reconnections Magazine.
Continue readingReminder: LR Meetup This Week
In recent months it may have seemed at times as if the Tube Unions had a dispute with LR as much as TfL, given the timing of strikes to coincide with LR monthly meetups. We …
Continue readingBlue Monday: Why the Victoria Line to Walthamstow is Closed
“Once again,” the BBC correspondent says wryly to camera, “They – with a capital T – are sorry that we have been troubled. But for once, can the inconvenience have been worthwhile?” “The Tube is …
Continue readingA Game Of Zones: Sir Peter Hendy to Leave TfL
To begin with, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s statement on Network Rail in front of Parliament this morning contained no surprises – at least not to those familiar with the works delays and escalating project costs …
Continue readingCrossrail: The End of The Beginning
It is said that one of the problems of Channel Tunnel construction was that the British thought they were building a tunnel that just happened to contain a railway. The French, thinking more realistically, saw …
Continue readingFare Trade: Breaking Down London’s Taxi Debate
“Look. A spot of intellectual honesty is always a good thing.” Says London Mayor Boris Johnson, as murmurs of discontent grow in the visitor gallery. “And the reality is that you’re not just dealing with …
Continue readingEast of Enfield, North of Stratford
At the end of the month London Overground will take over more of north-east London’s railways. It seems timely, therefore, to take a look at the history of the railways in the area. For though …
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