Just occasionally, something good happens on the internet. Jon Brady, a reporter at Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper, tweeted that he’d unearthed a two hour MP3 containing all ScotRail’s automated station announcements. A coder named Matt Eason split them into 2,440 individual …
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Meetup: Change of day and change of location
We are changing our pub venue and day of the week when we will meet. We will give more details nearer the time, but for the moment please note that from March onward we will …
Continue readingThe Slow Death Of Heathrow Express
When discussing Crossrail, commenters have often speculated on the ultimate demise of Heathrow Express – the private train operating company that runs a non-stop express service between Paddington and Heathrow. This speculation is generally predicated …
Continue readingPop Art tunnel Michelangelo – Dragados & the Art of Tunnel Scanning
On July 20, 2022, the heat from an exploratory drill inside Montréal’s century old Mont-Royal railway tunnel, advance work for the city’s modern Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) automated Métro line, caused an explosion. It was …
Continue readingJakarta’s Transport & Urban Planning – Progress?
Jakarta, the (current) capital of Indonesia and home to over 10 million inhabitants, has long been plagued by choking traffic and air pollution. It spent the previous decade developing integrated public transport to increase modal …
Continue readingChristmas Quiz 2022 Answers
Well, this year it is really a case of mark your own homework. However, the answers sent in were invaluable in providing alternative correct answers and giving a feel for which questions were actually found …
Continue readingLondon Reconnections 2022 Christmas Quiz
2022 sees a shorter quiz than usual primarily because your quizmaster has infrequently visited central London. Thank goodness for the opening of the Elizabeth line which has helped provide some of the questions. We hope …
Continue readingIn Pictures: Blackpool’s Historic Trams
We take a look at the hidden history of Blackpool’s tram network, lurking in the sheds at Blackpool Transport.
Continue readingTrouble in Tram Paradise by the Antipodean Light?
Melbourne City Snapshot While the rest of the public transport universe sees the world’s largest tram network in Melbourne as a public transport success, the reality is more complex. Having recently discussed the rebirth of …
Continue readingIKEA’s Crimes Against Cartography
Shopping at IKEA is an ordeal, an expedition. And IKEA has just made it harder. Whilst IKEA is the McDonald’s of housewares, its approach is quite different. IKEA offers the same products and experience all …
Continue readingGet him on the Blower!: The origins of Pneumatic Railways
Telegraphs were the internet of the Victorian Age. News of political and business developments could be sent around the world in near real time. However, the mass of telegrams converging on the network hub in …
Continue readingThe Crossrail November Timetable
TfL fairly recently issued a press release announcing daily through running on the Elizabeth line from Sunday 6th November 2022. This was not a surprise as a combination of leaks and intelligent guesswork based on …
Continue readingWe’re gonna need a bigger boat – London’s First Highway: Part 4
As passengers are returning to London’s transport, with some overcrowding, it’s time once again to turn our attention to the Thames’ role in expanding the region’s transport. The River was the capital’s original highway, and …
Continue readingElizabeth Line Envy: Thameslink deserves some map respect
In an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Commander Riker was challenged by a subordinate. His response was “I bring all the options to the Captain.” This needs to be one of TfL’s map …
Continue readingCentral London Bus Cuts – An Alternative Viewpoint
With all that has been going on in the world, it may have actually escaped your attention that TfL are now consulting on a new round of bus cuts in central London. This is nothing …
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