Monday, November 21, 2005

Software error

Late journey today. It was Monday and I was feeling lazy after the weekend.

Looks like the railway was feeling the Monday morning blues as well. Train indicators were non-functional and trains were running very late. I had a 30 minute freeze on the platform.

More freezing weather forecast for the rest of the week. More frozen points and frozen information screens to follow no doubt.

posted by pete at 10:24 PM

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Routemaster buses

Lovely Ken, our Mayor, has waged a war of death against the lovely 40 year old Routemaster bus, a symbol of our fair city.

Ken says the Routemaster is out of date, inaccesible for the disabled, uncomfortable and dangerous. Transport nerds say it's an icon, convenient and efficient.

Ken has a point. However, Ken's idea of a replacement is the horrid bendy-bus, which is uncomfortable, unwieldy, takes up too much road space, a boon to fare dodgers, catches fire and is a menace to cyclists.

Routemasters have now been withdrawn on all but "Hertitage Routes" - i.e. the unlovely 159 to Streatham. So, you will see the odd Routemaster, repainted and rebranded as part of Ken's Master Plan.

We'll mostly miss the Routemaster/ What would make an improvement is sacking most of the maniac bus drivers who have a heavy brake foot.

posted by pete at 9:29 PM

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Metro sexual

A quick trip to Washington DC for business.


It's clean, efficient, well-used, safe, good value for money and fast: London could learn a lot from Washington's Metro system. Ironic that considering the story goes that the designers sought to replicate all the good things about other subway systems around the world.

Built in the 60s and 70s, the system copes well with commuters and tourists. The Metro is a part of the unique Washington fabric of life.

It misses out key neighbourhoods, but that's about the only complaint. Eating and drinking is not allowed to help keep it clean. For the most part people obey that rule, though I saw a few tourists slurping coffee.

I can just about stand the brown and orange colour scheme which was probably chic in 1974. This is Gallery-Chinatown stop, which also serves the MCI Center, home of the Capitals hockey, Wizards basketball and, last week, horse shows.

posted by pete at 11:01 PM