tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52396032011-07-15T00:42:34.220ZCOMMUTERLANDan open journal on daily commuting to/from work/schoolpetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comBlogger1201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1132612282354215422005-11-21T22:24:00.000Z2005-11-21T22:31:22.363ZSoftware errorLate 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.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1132090158178435342005-11-15T21:29:00.000Z2005-11-21T22:42:33.923ZRoutemaster busesLovely 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a war of death against the lovely 40 year old Routemaster bus, a symbol of our fair city.Ken says the Routemaster is out of date, inaccesible for the disabled, uncomfortable and dangerous.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, petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1130886828700924302005-11-01T23:01:00.000Z2005-11-01T23:13:48.713ZMetro sexualA 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 petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1128079000696561352005-09-30T11:15:00.000Z2005-09-30T11:16:40.703ZNumber 1 in the series entitled “The Reason I Will One Day Be Arrested For Beating a Complete Stranger Around The Face and Head With My Bag"Or “Why? Why Would You Do This In Public? Why?”We are all on the central line at around 5.45pm. We are all squeezed in very close together. We are all trying to pretend this is not happening. We are all studiously avoiding each other’s gaze. But you? You are leaning against the door, and you are reading a book, and you are picking food from your teeth. From your back teeth. You are picking the Shazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1122974156607490352005-08-02T09:09:00.000Z2005-08-02T09:15:56.613ZGatwick DistressToday's Southern Railway commuter challenge: broken down Gatwick Express train at Wandsworth Common.A shiny new Gatwick train disgorged bemused American tourists and jet lagged business travellers at one of London's less salubrious stations. Some tried to squeeze on to the West Norwood-Victoria stopping service; others took pictures on the platform. We struggled into Victoria 30 minutes petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1122551472464084662005-07-28T11:50:00.000Z2005-07-28T11:51:12.470ZPolice PresenceI can certainly vouch for this story as hurled about in the news all day today. This morning, there were two shiny faced infant policemen standing outside the train station. I noticed them particularly today (1) because of their extreme youth (they couldn’t have been more than 21) and (2) because one of them seemed to be extremely hungover and was clutching a can of red bull to himself like hisShazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1122551533281882502005-07-14T11:51:00.000Z2005-07-28T11:52:13.283ZSome of us ARE afraidOne week later, and everything seems to be going back to whatever passes as normal in London. We've all finally stopped staring at each other on the tubes, returning to studying our feet and rustling our newspapers, but new behaviour is beginning to creep through. There seems to be an understanding that the people who are left to crowd in the doorways and at the ends of the carriages carry the Shazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1122551583360805832005-07-11T11:52:00.000Z2005-07-28T11:53:03.363ZDefianceI hate the fact that the front of every single one of today's newspapers is proclaiming the London is returning to normal because we're all so bravely showing defiance in the face of the bombers and defiantly protecting our way of life, and defiantly getting back to our routine by getting on the tubes and buses. As if any of us have any choice in the matter.In the same manner of "defiance" I gotShazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1122551619786353942005-07-08T11:53:00.000Z2005-07-28T11:53:39.790Z7/7I got on the train yesterday morning as usual, arriving at the platform barely on time to get the (thankfully slightly delayed) 8.46am train to Liverpool Street. As usual, the train was full to capacity. As usual, I had to stand. As usual there were too many people cramming themselves on and as usual someone stood on my foot. I buried my head in my book and ignored all the newspapers crowing Shazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1114375888974521702005-04-22T20:41:00.000Z2005-04-24T20:52:06.533ZA QuestionA young woman in fishnet tights and shiny black leather boots sits opposite me on the train. I have trouble concentrating on my book. Does this make me a bad man?petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1113942939216266862005-04-19T09:00:00.000Z2005-04-19T20:37:41.653ZTemple StationD'oh! So engrossed with my book this morning, I missed my stop on the Underground. Wound up at Temple station.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1112216242146184632005-03-30T20:56:00.000Z2005-03-30T20:57:22.146ZTrouble on the LinePlatform 2 at Balham Station closed due to a broken down train at Clapham Junction.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1109283260084065512005-02-24T22:14:00.000Z2005-03-01T09:16:26.250ZIf God Had Intended Us to Fly He Would Have Never Invented the RailwaysProof that flying is for the birdsCopenhagen Airport.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1109107014435684032005-02-22T21:16:00.000Z2005-02-22T22:26:56.173ZSnowWest Norwood Station in the snow this morning. Two inches caused marginal chaos in the London area. Trains on the West Norwood line were about 15-30 minutes late. That's pretty good compared to previous snow falls. Are we getting used to bad weather?petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1109111107342136402005-02-21T22:21:00.000Z2005-02-22T22:25:07.343ZBus v. Train v. BikeA cancelled train yesterday cuased me to take an alternative route to work - the bus. I didn't fancy a 20 minute wait for the next train, which would have been standing room only. So, a chance to try out the express X68 bus from West Norwood to Waterloo Bridge.Two things learned:1. It's not that much quicker by train - I got to work about 5 minutes later than normal.2. Judging by the cyclists petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1108072119414305842005-02-10T21:40:00.000Z2005-02-10T21:48:39.426ZSenses Attacked at Victoria StationSight: man with a rainbow scarf
Sound: Thom Yorke yapping in my ear
Smell: Delice de France - croissants
Taste: lingering coffee beans
Touch (Pain): my knee gave me gip as I stood up to leave the train
petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1107990262640185232005-02-09T23:03:00.000Z2005-02-09T23:04:22.640ZBus Etiquette: Part TwoPart two of the things that muck up Bus Etiquette: Is that lady pregnant, or is she just plain fat?
Giving up your seat, as already covered, is a difficult mine field in which to venture your precious little paws. As a lady, and as a lady who can climb stairs, I quite often side step these mine fields, because the golden rule of bus travel is if you're sat upstairs you don't need to give up yourShazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1107983086271639482005-02-09T20:50:00.000Z2005-02-09T21:04:46.270Z...A Good Service Operating on All Other Lines...A wall of people trying to get down to the Victoria Line, blocked due to platform overcrowding.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1107898381560953622005-02-08T21:27:00.000Z2005-02-08T21:33:01.560ZVictoria StationGirls in fishnets, red lacy stockings and knee high boots. Can only mean it's Rag Week at some uni or college in town. I reckon it's medical students.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1107782366588252162005-02-07T13:17:00.000Z2005-02-07T13:19:26.586ZLast Thursday on the bus on the way home from work, I was suddenly and inexplicably surrounded by old people.
The events happened as follows: I got on the bus (no problems, everyone around me was under 30 and slightly odd looking, all perfectly normal for that time of night); I sat downstairs; I opened my OU book; I pumped up the volume on the discman; I immersed myself in the frankly boring Shazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1107558664848914662005-02-04T23:09:00.000Z2005-02-04T23:11:04.846Z"It doesn't matter how long you live, if Jesus is in your life"So sayeth the man bellowing at the top of his lungs at Victoria Station this morning. Yesterday, we only had Southern Railway managers fielding questions from irate commuters.
What will we get on Monday?petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1107428183296032192005-02-03T00:20:00.000Z2005-02-03T10:56:23.296ZCycling Commuter BlogJust came across a new commuting blog. McFlea is chronicling hisher biking into work - flat tyres and all.
I'll be following with interest; will add McFlea to the blogroll; and, ask if s/he wants to guest post.
And, of course, any reader is welcome to contribute to this blog. The e-mail address is on the left.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1103320299552326632004-12-17T21:49:00.000Z2004-12-17T21:51:39.553ZShout OutThanks to Tom and Overground for the link. Want to join in Tom?petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1103320153480136212004-12-16T21:37:00.000Z2004-12-17T21:49:13.480ZBrussel SproutsBuses in Brussels* are destined for "Andromeda".
Buses in London are destined for Catford Garage.
* - where I've been for a couple of days this week.
petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1103033861486846622004-12-14T14:11:00.000Z2004-12-14T14:17:41.486ZSpace-Time Continuum and Other Physical LawsTuesday morning: time for direct action by commuters?
Well, it was a little better today with only a 7 minute delay. Meanwhile, a train going in the opposite direction went from a 21 minute delay to 13 minute delay. There is obviously some sort of space-time continuum at Clapham Junction.
Changes to train times are all very well. My train last night left Victoria on time. We suffered no petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1102973423545571062004-12-13T21:26:00.000Z2004-12-13T21:30:23.546ZRail RevoltPolice boarded trains today to halt a revolt by passengers over new railway timetables.Sounds like a good idea...petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1102934488999419812004-12-13T10:16:00.000Z2004-12-13T10:41:29.000ZFreezing on the platformNew train times today, apparently to improve the service. That explains why the newly re-timed 0800 (formerly 0759) was 10 minutes late.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1102370299907566282004-12-06T21:48:00.000Z2004-12-06T21:58:19.906ZSardinesNot one of the more pleasant journies home this evening.
Problems with radios on the Northern Line led to trains on the Charing Cross branch terminating at Kennington. From Kennington, it was squeeze as many inside as possible. My train stopped in the middle of a tunnel. Suffering mild claustrophobia made that a distinctly unpleasant experience.
Meanwhile, northbound someone was taken ill atpetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1102018129406532132004-12-02T19:56:00.000Z2004-12-02T20:08:49.406ZUNUSUAL COMMUTER SIGHTING 2A lack of seats and space to stand on the 1752 London Victoria-London Bridge (via Crystal Palace) is not unusual. What was different tonight was the partial reason for such overcrowding. Taking up two seats, a drunk street person. Taking up two opposite him, his recumbent black mongrel dog.
Woof!
P.S. - why does the station announcement at Balham offer a change at London Bridge as a viable petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1102017407269573352004-12-01T20:00:00.000Z2004-12-02T19:56:47.270ZUNUSUAL COMMUTER SIGHTING 1As I drove up to Essex for my dad's birthday party, I passed a train on the M25. That's right, a train carriage being transported by road. Something wrong there.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1101765974772571152004-11-29T22:01:00.000Z2004-11-29T22:06:14.773ZSQUEEZEStuff getting in the way of a peaceful journey...
Yes, it's cold and the time of year for colds and flu. But, please Mr Passenger blow your nose if you've got the snuffles.
There's some event going on in Victoria Embankment Gardens which blocked access this morning to my usual route to work. Missed, then, a few tranquil moments before phone, fax and e-mail deluge.
Thanks to Southern Railwayspetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1101418635726752182004-11-25T21:31:00.000Z2004-11-25T21:37:15.726ZCommuter JettingFor the last couple of weeks it seems like I've been commuting to Brussels rather than W.C.2.
I'm getting used to the 4:30am starts, minicab rides, Magic radio, security checks, the bitter coffee in the business lounge, the scalding hot omelette paninis, the Brussels Metro and the excellent tram system, return journeys on the Heathrow Express, 20 minute waits for the Circle Line at Paddington.
petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1101245330571918642004-11-23T21:19:00.000Z2004-11-23T21:28:50.570ZFreedom PassSydney-siders get a free ride
"I think the rail service has been bloody atrocious. It has got to be fixed up. It is the biggest problem we face" - Bob Carr, New South Wales PremierSomehow I doubt Southern Trains will go for this.
Currently there's a mini-mild spell. Southern's lovely rolling stock are acting as roasting ovens. Helpful drivers like to switch on the heat in case we might feel petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1100036319175464842004-11-09T21:33:00.000Z2004-11-09T21:38:39.176ZService Update"There are delays on the Northern Line. A good service is operating on all other London Underground lines."What does London Underground mean by "Good Service"?
This evening there was a good service on the District Line. Yet, at Embankment there was barely room to get any more people on the westbound platform. The indicator board showed one train - a Circle Line train in 2 minutes. Two petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1099257954105993402004-10-29T21:21:00.000Z2004-10-31T21:25:54.106ZSouthern CrossFriday morning, the Southern Railways management were in situ Victoria Station.
I should have stopped for a chat.
Wednesday and Thursday this week I've been subjected to 30 minute waits at Balham on the way home. What should be an hour journey home has taken up to 2 hours on two occasions.
Add to that, the shiny new renovated trains on the line are already vandalised and one ran on Friday petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1099257681014797292004-10-26T08:45:00.000Z2004-11-01T09:51:36.546Z8:40 am, Victoria Embankment GardensOld John Fahey
Plucking his last notes
In my ears.
Raincoat, glasses man
Pixellating image of
The steel and glass wheel.
White knees,
Shiny black boots:
Young woman sits,
Fingers tapping out txt msg.
Tall raggedy guy,
Barefoot,
Unkepmt blond hair,
Long beard,
Blond jumper, blond
Yellow tracksuit bottoms:
Filthy.
petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1098738915740477282004-10-25T21:08:00.000Z2004-10-25T21:15:15.743ZTime to Re-vitalise CommuterlandThere's anew e-mail address for Commuterland:
iamad0nut-commuterland [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk
Take out the [at], replace with @
Take out the [dot]s, replace with .
Please join in. The purpose of this blog is simple. One or two lines avery now and then about your journey to work, school, college or wherever. Any contributions is worthwhile. Write a poem, tell us about the view from the petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1098444179045339392004-10-22T13:30:00.000Z2004-10-22T12:13:16.730ZObservations on the Underground*Big Ugli boots:
to keep warm or fashion statement?
Big ugly bloke:
but I’m sure he’s kind and considerate (bad skin and all).
Big dope wrong-waying up an exit:
rush or no rush, just dumb.
* - should that be "in the Underground"?
petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1098215627930651652004-10-19T19:51:00.000Z2004-10-19T19:53:47.930ZReturn Journey
Even with a slow tube journey, a late running train and having to run for the bus it was a good journey home yesterday. Made it in under an hour.
What a nice Monday.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1098103773615580532004-10-18T13:19:00.000Z2004-10-18T12:49:33.616ZAN UNUSUAL MONDAY MORNING
Unusual not only because of a post on the Commuterland blog, but also because the trains ran on time. By "on time", I don't mean within 5 minutes of the scheduled arrival time. The 0759 turned up (and departed at 0759). It was so "on time", that we were delayed at Streatham Hill so that the train could depart "on time" (as opposed to early).
Even our driver was petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1091105313067023522004-07-29T12:39:00.000Z2004-07-29T12:48:33.066ZA train announcement you might like the sound of:
Maybe, if we could hear the train annoucements at West Norwood station
South Central’s new name is Southern
Well, those announcements you can hear - at Victoria, for example, - sound like this.
"The train at platform 11 is the Sutton service to West Croydon..."
No, sorry. It's the "Southern service to West Croydon". Only it sounds like "petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1088019639919820552004-06-23T19:36:00.000Z2004-06-23T19:40:39.920ZTube Temperatures
What temperature will you be baking at on the underground tomorrow? A commuters' guide to weather on the tube will tell you.Graemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1086182641370722452004-06-02T13:10:00.000Z2004-06-02T13:24:01.370ZTrebles all round
Amused to see that Network Rail bosses have taken their respective bonuses despite the company failing to meet its targets for train punctuality. Apparently it's okay because the company (or public corporation or whatever it is) met its financial targets: i.e. they only lost £758 million despite taking the tax payer for a (metaphorical) ride.
"All staff will receive a bonus petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1084982698441116602004-05-19T16:04:00.000Z2004-05-19T16:04:58.440Z17th
for the May "Bears Will Attack Day 17 Project"
...and sort of Commuterland related...
"Jesus is my Homeboy" or so said the guy's baseball cap at Balham station.
There are so many ways to get home, each with it's ups and downs.
When the day drags, like it did on Monday, when I'm stuck in the office rather than being out and about, thoughts turn to the journey home, a sit in the garden petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1083011622633658452004-04-26T20:33:00.000Z2004-04-26T20:37:53.000ZBad Train Day
A failed train - what's a "failed train"? a tram? a bus? "I wanted to be a train when I grew up, but I failed" - in the Clapham area - couldn't be a bit more specific about that - led to delays on South Central Trains this morning. This evening a death at Gatwick Airport led to further delays. Add to that - the District Line was up the swanee this morning and I elected to take petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1078322110712063662004-03-03T13:55:00.000Z2004-03-03T13:58:05.903ZTransport Minister's web chat
Q. Mary Taylor: When was the last time that you travelled on the train - as a passenger rather than a politician? Were you satisfied with the service?
Kim Howells replies: I travel on trains most days. My most frequent trip is from Pontypridd on the 7.27am to Cardiff where I change platforms and catch the 8.25am to Paddington. The day before yesterday I caught the petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1077038196898439082004-02-17T17:16:00.000Z2004-02-17T17:19:12.200ZLondon's Congestion Charge - one year on
Happy Birthday C-charge (PDF file) - one year-old today. Transport for London (i.e. "Sir" Ken Livingstone) trumpets that the C-Charge has been a success.
- Traffic delays inside the charging zone remain 30 percent lower than before charging was introduced.
- Buses continue to experience significant gains in reliability in and around the charging zone
petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1076507067805838552004-02-11T13:44:00.000Z2004-02-11T13:46:54.530ZParp, Parp!
"Now it's the wrong sort of warning hooter plaguing London's new £1million-a-carriage commuter trains.
"The noise from the hooter is being blasted out "sideways" - rather than in front of the train - and straight into lineside homes.
"Local councils have threatened noise abatement orders and even an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights." petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1076098825011162192004-02-06T20:20:00.000Z2004-02-06T20:23:18.576ZACCESSIBLE UK TRAIN TIMETABLE
On-line train timetables are very handy, but if you've ever used the UK national rail enquires on-line service you'll know it works very badly, mainly due some very poor design decisions - even pressing the submit button is tricky in Mozilla (hint: use only the top portion of the button). Anyway dracos has built a very accessible front end to the site which I intendGraemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1075930249671871542004-02-04T21:30:00.000Z2004-02-04T21:33:07.716ZTHE GREAT FIDDLE YARD IN THE SKY*
The Evening Standard reports:
"Thousands of London mainline rail commuters are today condemned to travelling on overcrowded and "grubby" 40-year-old slam door trains because of a "catalogue of blunders" by industry chiefs. "
As opposed to the grubby 20 year old stock I ride on every day.
"Amazingly, [great tabloid word that] the train manufacturers were not petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1069336306866824972003-11-20T13:51:00.000Z2003-11-20T13:52:23.810ZLas Vegas Monorail
Live from the Third Rail reports on the proposal to sell the names of stations and trains on Las Vegas's new monorail.
Monorail?
Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
Obviously, the good burghers of Las Vegas have never seen that classic Simpsons episode.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1069251738082661312003-11-19T14:22:00.000Z2003-11-20T13:14:14.966Z3-D tube map
Not a particularly useful map and someone obviously has too much time on their hands, but it's pretty to look at.
Of course, a realistic picture of the tube should include:
- sweat rings (under the arms);
- grafitti (on the inside and outside the trains, including incising on windows, stations, lineside furniture, staff);
- empty fried chicken boxes (do people eat the bones too);
-petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1069076666825425832003-11-17T13:44:00.000Z2003-11-17T13:46:33.590ZMeet the Minister
Your chance to have your say/a go.
"This week, Transport Minister Kim Howells will embark on a regional tour to get to the bottom of rail performance."
I thought rail services had already reached the bottom of performance.
"The itinerary for the tour this week is:
Monday: Birmingham for trains going into London from the Midlands
Wednesday: Waterloo and Clapham Junction - topetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1068054251998314232003-11-05T23:12:00.000Z2003-11-05T23:12:22.250ZLeaves on the line story
If you're not a commuter in Britain you might not know the agonies that autumn leaves can cause to trains. Certain types of leaf leave a sticky substance on rails which causes train wheels to spin. This plays havoc with the train motors and damages the steel wheels too. So, every autumn we get the pleasure of "delays due to leaves on the line", only it now goes under petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1067894360293352522003-11-03T21:24:00.000Z2003-11-03T21:24:10.716ZE-motion Magazine is the brand new "Interactive Web-site" for South West Trains' Customers, where you can read all about their brand new rolling stock, train cleaning programs and *ahem* inspired information systems.
For an alternate point of view try travelling on any of their trains any day of the week. Graemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1066446403411369222003-10-18T03:06:00.000Z2003-10-18T03:06:43.530ZPiccadilly Line Train Derailment
A Piccadilly Line tube has been de-railed at Hammersmith at 9.25pm on Friday 17th October.
Fortunately, no one was hurt as the train appeared to be going slowly.
According to the BBC: "A London Underground spokesman said: "There was a very low speed derailment on a Piccadilly Line train.
"There were no reported injuries. As far as we understand at this Annie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1066225612832509622003-10-15T13:46:00.000Z2003-10-15T13:46:52.540ZBus Safety
This tragic article reminded me of a report I heard last week about the poor driving by London bus drivers. I haven't been able to find a link anywhere, but the gist was that the Driving Standards Agency claimed that the dirving skills of up to 50% of drivers were very poor. I think they're all on the 68 route. Common complaints: driving too fast, too heavy on the brakes, missing petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1065770685756165932003-10-10T07:24:00.000Z2003-10-10T07:24:45.603ZRail Safety News
News that Jarvis are to give up their contract to provide day-to-day maintenance for Britain's railways. Jarvis have been implicated in several fatal rail accidents and also the recent King's Cross derailment. The latter highlighted the lack of communication between the numerous organisations repsonsible for running and maintaining the rail network.
Sting in the tail: Jarvispetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1065445842644853692003-10-06T13:10:00.000Z2003-10-06T13:10:42.700ZGOING UNDERGROUND
Diamond Geezer is running a London Underground special this week. Mind the doors!petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1064299573069096962003-09-23T06:46:00.000Z2003-09-24T01:04:58.270ZText your London Underground delay Customer Charter Forms
After the debacle over the Central Line closure and the many claims for compensation, Tube Refund have come up with a great way of making your claims to the London Underground under the Customer Charter easy. The Customer Charter which offers compensation for delays over 15 minutes seems to be little known on the tube.
At present, Annie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1062141473516707382003-08-29T07:17:00.000Z2003-08-29T07:17:53.490ZWhere Were You When the Lights Went Out?
As Graeme mentions below, a major power failure in London caused transport chaos during last night's commute. It was not quite the scale of the big US East Coast blackout, but power was cut to 1/2 million people in South London for 34 minutes. Every train and tube line was affected, with thousands of passengers stranded underground. The knock-on meant petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1062108513098855602003-08-28T22:08:00.000Z2003-08-28T22:19:38.863ZThe major power cut in London this evening added a whole special dimension to my commute home. No trains, no tubes, even the pedestrian crossings were off. Chaos reigned in the streets as pavement and road merged into one and the line between pedestrian and traffic blurred.
Candle lit pubs seemed the best kind of refuge as I was turned away from an evacuated Waterloo station although my drinkingGraemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1061276496966079852003-08-19T07:01:00.000Z2003-08-19T07:01:36.810ZOver 3,000 entries for Cool the tube reward
Following Peter's entry you may know that Mayor Ken Livingstone issued a £100,000 reward to anyone who could come up with an idea for cooling down the tube.
I've just found out through the BBC that a spokesman for London Underground said: "We have received over 3,000 entries from all over the globe.
"But we cannot comment on specific ideas as thisAnnie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1060672215231484182003-08-12T07:10:00.000Z2003-08-12T07:12:29.496ZKeeping Cool Strategies
Today looks like being the last day of the intense heat in London. In case you missed it, we peaked at 100 deg F on Sunday, the record high for Britain since records began.
Yesterday I had a not too bad journey into Victoria Station, then decided to keep cool and ride the bus the rest of the way to work. It's usually a 10-15 minute walk, which in this weather leaves mepetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1060204044400105392003-08-06T21:07:00.000Z2003-08-06T21:07:24.386ZANOTHER BORING HOT IN LONDON STORY
It was 35.5 degrees C (95.7 F) today in London - the hottest ever in the capital. I know it's not that much hotter than say Miami or Singapore on a normal day. But, remember, the average high temperature for London in August is 26 deg C.
I don't think I've ever seen so many people carrying bottles of water on the train. The Standard claims that street petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1060204013224487782003-08-06T21:06:00.000Z2003-08-06T21:06:53.210ZTime Moves On
Mystery solved I think. The clock outside Victoria Station was being cleaned. It's working again now.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1060068399369398252003-08-05T07:26:00.000Z2003-08-05T07:26:39.350ZTime Stands Still
The big clock outside Victoria Station - on your left as the train pulls into the station - has been stuck at 4 minutes to 9 for the past week or so. I don't know if this is significant. I don't know if it's to do with the heat. It may have something to do with the poor timekeeping of the railways. It just may be that they forgot to change the battery.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1059918440078044152003-08-03T13:47:00.000Z2003-08-03T13:49:46.380ZDC Commute, Part 2
Part 1
…or I could have cycled to work…
Surprisingly, the Washington DC area has a very good network of cycle paths. The backbone of the system in my part of Maryland was the Capital Crescent Trail, so named because it was a crescent shape around the western side of the city. Intentionally or not, the system knocks the pants of Ken Livingstone’s London network.
The trail petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1059858440827904632003-08-02T21:07:00.000Z2003-08-02T21:07:20.823ZDark Thoughts
The other night I had a very bad dream. It was a recurring end of the world dream. But, of more interest to this blog is that as that dream ended and I was waking up in a cold sweat I had an equally horrific thought run through my mind. Instead of living through Armageddon, I was stuck in a Metro station and all the lights had gone out - totally dark. Then it was being on a petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1059720032480139322003-08-01T06:40:00.000Z2003-08-01T06:40:32.470ZBaby Born on the Subway
OK it was in America, but on the 30th of July Joyce Judge gave birth in the carriage of a subway train in Boston in the rush hour and then calmly wrapped the baby in the scarf and got of the tube. People did actually let her sit down and it all seemed to go very smoothly.Annie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1059426808844310042003-07-28T21:13:00.000Z2003-07-28T21:14:41.143ZA load of rubbish
I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but the DC Metro never let a graffiti ridden train leave the depot. This excellent, brave policy meant that you never saw a vandalised train on the Metro. The incentive to spray paint was removed.
Now, I'm not sure this would work in London. We'd have a Monday morning with no trains whatsoever. But, this Monday morning my train had not petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058963382297364752003-07-23T12:29:00.000Z2003-07-23T17:09:32.446ZA Nation of Car Drivers
A survey by the RAC Foundation shows that Britons have a longer average commute than those in other European countries - 45 minutes each way, compared with an average of 38 minutes in the EU, 44 minutes in Germany and 23 minutes in Italy.
Edmund King, the RAC Foundation's director, said the survey showed Britons remained a nation of car commuters. "We have the longest petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058768280675390192003-07-21T06:18:00.000Z2003-07-21T06:31:11.390ZCENTRAL LINE CLOSURE REFUNDS
Somebody had signed goingunderground.net's website the other day saying that they were appalled with the small amount of compensation they'd received as a result of the line being closed for months after the Chancery Lance accident. However today in the London by London weekly newsletter some people left the following message implying that others were pleasantly Annie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058714737394104712003-07-20T15:25:00.000Z2003-07-20T16:09:02.210ZTemplate Update: Spent most of the weekend updating the template. Hope it looks better.
...and we should have comments up and running...petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058714266856931412003-07-20T15:17:00.000Z2003-07-20T15:36:02.810ZDC Commute, Part 1
In case you didn't know, I worked in Washington DC, USA for four years (1997-2001). My home was in Bethesda, suburban Maryland, about two miles inside the Beltway (Washington's infamous by-pass).
Compared with the hour and a bit train and tube journey into central London I endured before, my commute to work in Northwest Washington was a 20 minute drive. My options for petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058545881837633512003-07-18T16:31:00.000Z2003-07-18T16:31:22.220ZNo steam trains today...
I met up with an (not so) old friend at lunchtime. I was a lazy lard arse and got the bus back. It was a bendy-bus - one of the new single decker, articulated bus that have appeared on the 507 and other routes.
At one stop, a guy in a wheelchair entered the bus using the ramp at one of the middle doors. Pretty cool. He was with another man with a microphone and a petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058478274809596352003-07-17T21:44:00.000Z2003-07-17T21:52:06.846ZMy train was just pulling out of Clapham Junction this morning. The platforms at Clapham Junction have signs on them now that unless you have business with South West Trains you may be removed from the station. Well, half the trains belong to South Central Trains, not South West Trains.
The sign is post 11 September security overreaction, which hit the news a few months ago when it emerged petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058448845897054272003-07-17T13:34:00.000Z2003-07-17T13:34:05.790ZCool Tube
Further to Annie's piece on cooling the Tube. The BBC website is on the case. I quite like the frozen peas idea! My idea was fill a train with ice and drive it up and down the tube lines.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058393021405185862003-07-16T22:03:00.000Z2003-07-16T22:04:45.153ZLooks like The New Scientist (19th July issue) have only just discovered the joys of the drivers announcements recorded on my main site.
FEEDBACK recently came across the Going Underground website - the "fun London Underground guide" at www.going-underground.com. As we regularly travel on the tube, we particularly enjoyed the page of quotes from tube drivers and station announcers.
They then Annie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058312806106568902003-07-15T23:46:00.000Z2003-07-15T23:46:46.093ZKen Livingstone's got the answer to all the heat on the tubes. He's offering a £100,000 reward to anyone who can invent an air conditioning system from deep level tunnels.
Kenny says:
"If someone can come up with a scheme that is workable that we can use to introduce some form of air conditioning on the deep level lines, we at Transport for London will give them £100,000. But so far it has Annie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058287795548599582003-07-15T16:49:00.000Z2003-07-15T16:50:44.533ZCommuting update
UK readers will know that we are experiencing record breaking heat - 32-33 deg C. A normal summer's day in my old DC haunt, but unprecedented in these parts.
Tonight's commute promises to be hot and frustrating. It's so hot [sic] that rails are buckling and trains have to go slow. Is this the 21st Century?
Tie removed, sleeves rolled up, sunglasses on, bottle of water in petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1058076859680798412003-07-13T06:14:00.000Z2003-07-13T06:14:19.650ZRandom Thoughts on a Train Ride.
It's amazing how the mind occupies itself during a period of time where most of its cognitive functions are not required. Some people read the papers/ books while others listen to music on their headphones. Some others chatter endlessly into their mobiles, while more others simply stare into thin air. It's interesting when you realise that these "starers" have scornfatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057934570016039762003-07-11T14:42:00.000Z2003-07-11T14:42:50.000ZI'm not a great bus person, but at lunchtime today I took one as I'd travelled up to Green Park and saw loads flying back to Piccadilly (my work location's in Soho) and thought why not. Not very exciting, but an old lady leapt on when it was pulling away from a traffic light. I was sitting next to the conductress who was marooned on the side seat like a beached whale. And she gave the old ladyAnnie Molehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816868593968863237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057928033483241482003-07-11T12:53:00.000Z2003-07-11T12:53:53.460ZAn intersting tidbit from a recent survey of Californians perceptions of environmental issues:
"Most employed residents in the state report that they commute to work by driving alone (73%); many fewer commute by carpool (13%) or public transit (5%)."
Any Californians out there want to share their experiences of commuting on the Angelino Freeways? Or even any Brits telling us about the horrors petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057918049742992382003-07-11T10:07:00.000Z2003-07-11T10:07:29.710ZThere is a woman who gets the bus with me most days that spends the entire time that I'm on the bus - 25 minutes - putting on make up. She's always already in full swing when I get on the bus, and she seems to continue even after I've gotten off. It's quite entertaining. I can always see if the bus is running in front of or behind schedule without checking my watch - if she's already on her Shazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057785391291854812003-07-09T21:16:00.000Z2003-07-11T22:23:45.010ZMany thanks to South West Trains for adding an extra hour to my commute, allowing me to see EVERY platform of Woking station, and for letting me experience two trains loads of commuters closeted into 4 carriages of close-up fun this evening. And all with no explanation of why this was occurring. It was a very special experience. It did allow me though to find the occasion when it is acceptable toGraemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057690680207064622003-07-08T18:58:00.000Z2003-07-08T18:58:41.426ZCommuting and Blogging
Searching out other transport or commuting related blogs yesterday, I found a few of note.
...Transport Blog is a Libertarian view of UK transport issues. If you want to vent your spleen you might try this site.
...The London Underground Tube Weblog is all things Tube related. It's an excellent source. A bit similar to Commuterland - in that it is a journal - but I petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057670451021856372003-07-08T13:20:00.000Z2003-07-08T13:20:50.986ZWilco and Coupland
it's become so obvious/ You are so oblivious to yourself
I had Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot for the longest time but it was only recently that I realise what a great album it is. I mean, I liked it when I got it the first time and everything but its multi-layered beauty was not revealed to me until I listened to it on the train again a couple of days ago. I remember that it scornfatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057580557075850322003-07-07T12:22:00.000Z2003-07-07T12:22:37.060ZWelcome to Sharon and Sharon.
I forgot to mail you guidelines for posting. Here they are:
"Remember, you can post anything you like about commuting into work, school or whatever. It can be a journal, an interesting anecdote, a rant (but keep the politics to a minimum) or anything else commuter related."
That's it!petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057580304165209222003-07-07T12:18:00.000Z2003-07-07T12:29:17.040ZLondon's weather week couldn't have started better: sunshine and 25?C. The drawback to such nice weather is that it can make commuting uncomfortable, if not intolerable. Commuter trains and tubes sitting in sidings all day with their windows shut tend to get a bit hot.
This country still hasn't cottoned on to the idea of air conditioning. "Too complicated and too expensive", says London petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057567035497973532003-07-07T08:37:00.000Z2003-07-07T08:37:15.490ZIsn’t that typical? You wait for ages for a Sharon, and then two come along at once...(sorry…)
This morning's commute was really relaxed for a change. I got a seat immediately, I even got a copy of the Metro, no one was trying to sit on any part of me, and the traffic wasn't too heavy. This, of course, is due to the fact that I got up very late this morning, and was on the bus 30 minutes laterShazzlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057498775565689522003-07-06T13:39:00.000Z2003-07-06T13:41:27.440ZHi Pete: Thanks for the invite again..
I thought I might suggest the following blogskin that seems fitting for the occasion. It comes with its own archive as well. From Blogskins.
What do you think?scornfatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057420707035624652003-07-05T15:58:00.000Z2003-07-05T16:00:13.703ZMEMBER UPDATE
We've got two new Commuterland members - both called Sharon! Welcome!
PS - you'll notice the template is a bog standard Blogger plate. Any suggestions on a new template would be welcome. Don't forget this site can't support graphics at the moment.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057265872582733262003-07-03T20:57:00.000Z2003-07-03T20:57:52.390ZSome of the things you see on trains: the guy sitting next to me this evening (and he could do with a bath) was using a letter from a collection agency as a bookmark. So now I now he owes someone £164.97 and they are taking court action to recover the debt.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057237865157800132003-07-03T13:11:00.000Z2003-07-03T13:11:05.160ZUPDATE
My other blog has a new contributor. Welcome Graeme (aka Lazylaces).
There's still time to become a contributor. All you need to do is e-mail Commuterland [at] blogspot [dot] com saying "pretty please". On second thoughts, I'm the one saying "pretty please". I don't expect Pulitzer Prize stuff (but you never know), just the occasional entry - journal like or random commuter inspired petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057219306619379622003-07-03T08:01:00.000Z2003-07-03T08:01:46.613ZMy 7.15 train this morning delivered me promptly to London Waterloo at 8.00am. It is disturbing that this noteworthy.Graemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057185593145610132003-07-02T22:39:00.000Z2003-07-03T08:04:01.353ZIt's an unwritten rule of train travel (at least around London) that you don't speak or make eye contact with any fellow travellers. At least I think it is. Perhaps it's just me and everyone else wonders why I am so anti-social. I rather fear not though.
It would have been nice to talk to someone on the way home today - I just needed a chat. Something to break me off from the working day. Graemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057182560955923862003-07-02T21:49:00.000Z2003-07-02T21:52:22.153ZThanks to Pete's open invitation I now have a place to air my tales, woes and thoughts on my everyday commute, something which I don't normally cover in my normal blog. I'm your regular London computer commuter which basically means I travel into London Waterloo everday to work in IT. Technology might mean you can work from home, from the park, from a beach in Bali, but nothing beats rubbing Graemehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04350914314752042945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057149422505162252003-07-02T12:37:00.000Z2003-07-02T12:37:02.390ZSTOP PRESS!!
Looks like we might have a new member of Commuterland. Stayed tuned for further details.petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239603.post-1057149348883498042003-07-02T12:35:00.000Z2003-07-02T12:35:48.770ZI'm not sure you should be celebrating if you commute on Connex, the disgraced rail franchisee for Kent. Connex used to run my line, but got turfed out back in 2001. The service has not got appreciably better in the 18 months that I've lived here. In fact, we've had two cancellations of morning trains in the last three days. Believe it or not, that's unusual. In the evening, the 1725 has petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15119324196526145439noreply@blogger.com