London Transport Thread

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Liverpool Street Station
More detailed plans have been unveiled of the proposed redevelopment of a previous 1990’s redevelopment of Liverpool Street. The proposals are still controversial (replacing previous even more controversial proposals by Herzog & de Meuron), but they would help to deliver more capacity, although some would argue that the improvements could be made without over-station development.

Liverpool Street has experienced a surge in use recently, driven mostly by the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, with 95mn (non-Underground) journeys made in the 12-months to March 2024, well above pre-pandemic levels (65mn journeys in the 12-months to March 2019), making the station the busiest on the UK rail network. Even before the pandemic the station struggled at peak hours, and today there are real issues with the limited egress out of the station.

In the short-term, retail kiosks are being removed to extend the gate line across the lower numbered platforms to remove congestion (posted previously). Images sourced from Time for Liverpool Street: https://timeforliverpoolstreet.co.uk/wp-...00-057-0-Website-Summary-S-241115-LR.pdf

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East West Rail
EWR have commenced a further round of consultation, including route analysis of the service, and more detailed analysis of the new route between Bedford and Cambridge which will now include some tunnelling. Images sourced from East West Rail: www.eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024

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East West Rail
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South Cambridge Station
Work continues on Cambridge’s new four-platform station which will unlock development in the south end of the city, and connect to London via the West Anglia Main Line (into Liverpool Street) and the Cambridge Line (into King’s Cross). The station is aiming for a 2025 opening. Images sourced from Network Rail on Twitter: https://x.com/networkrail/status/1888963440372236378






Wixams Station
Wixams is a new station under construction on the Midland Main Line which will serve the new community of Wixams to the south of Bedford. The station site is also on the eastern periphery of the proposed Universal Studios theme park and would probably be the main station to access the theme park if travelling from London. Whilst the MML is 4-track, there will only be two platforms on the slow lines served by Thameslink services. Targeting opening is late 2026.

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Beam Park Station
Beam Park is a proposed new station on the Tilbury Loop Line in East London. Located in-between Dagenham Dock and Rainham stations, the station would help to unlock a large amount of redevelopment of the old Ford motor factory. A planning application has been lodged, with a hope that construction can start soon so that residential development is not held up. Up to 10,000 people will use the station every day.
Images sourced from Havering Borough Council: https://msp.havering.gov.uk/planning/search-applications#VIEW?RefType=PLANNINGCASE&KeyText=P1534.24












Beaulieu Park Station
Work continues on the latest station to be added to the Great Eastern Main Line. Located to the north-east of Chelmsford, the 3-platform station will relieve the main station which is one of the busiest 2-platform stations on the UK rail network.

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Rugby Parkway Station
Rugby Parkway is a proposed new station proposed on the Northampton Loop Line of the West Coast Main Line. It would provide relief to the main Rugby station, as well as provide a station to a new community at Houlton and the Daventry Freight Terminal and logistics park. Images sourced from Warwickshire County Council: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/major-transport-construction-projects/rugby-parkway-station






Euston Station Signage
Euston station is the troubled terminus for the West Coast Main Line; it will eventually become the terminus for HS2 (being built next door), and it is expected that the post-war station will be rebuilt as it struggles to manage flows, particularly if there is a late departure announcement. Questionably, Network Rail opted to replace the main departure board system that ran the length of the concourse with smaller boards on the concourse itself. The old board was then converted into a giant advertising space. The subsequent uproar has resulted in Network Rail reversing its decision and reinstating the departure board with a few amendments. Image sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk...-strides-to-improve-passenger-experience




Leyton Station Upgrade
Leyton station is a station on the Central Line in north-east London. The existing station building is heavily restricted, and TfL have now started work on a replacement station hall that increased ticket barriers from 5 to 8, step-free access through two new lifts, and two new staircases and overbridge. Image sourced from Waltham Forest Council on Twitter: https://x.com/wfcouncil/status/1887142049431932996




Liverpool Street Station Improvement
With the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, Liverpool Street station is now the busiest train station in the country with 94.5mn journeys made in the year to mid-2024 (a further 57mn journeys were made from the Underground station in 2023).

One of the lingering problems with platforms 1-10 is that five retail and food kiosks separated the ticket gate line (36 standard and five wide-access gates). A problem made worse by these platforms being used by Stansted Express services and passengers with luggage. Starting over the festive break, Network Rail removed three of the kiosks and installing new ticket gates. When the two final kiosks are removed, 21 new standard and 4 new wide-access gates will be added; increasing the total number of gates serving platforms 1-10 to 57 standard and 9 wide-access.

The old ticket office will be moved further down platform 10 to allow for displaced kiosks to be moved.

There are proposals for a more radical overhaul of the station, but for the time being, the new gates will ease congestion at peak hours. Image sourced from Network Rail on Twitter: https://x.com/NetworkRailLST/status/1874782438767108394




Elizabeth Line
Ridership Hits 500mn
Last month it was announced that 500 million journeys were made on the Elizabeth Line since opening in May 2022 (full line service commenced May 2023). Source: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/eli...0-million-journeys-since-it-opened-78364

Originally Posted by IanVisits

TfL had expected before the line opened, when they were predicting post-pandemic passenger numbers would be in the range of 104m to 136m passenger journeys per year when it was fully open, rising to 130m to 170m per year by 2026.

During its busiest times, more than 800,000 journeys are being taken on the railway daily.

That is only marginally below the pre-pandemic predictions for the Elizabeth line of around 200 million passenger journeys per year, but TfL now expects to exceed that figure this year.

With Old Oak Common as a temporary terminus for HS2, the construction boom along the length of the line, and continued growth of London’s population, ridership will likely continue to increase beyond forecasts. Stations were future-proofed to enable two extra carriages (bringing train lengths to 250m) and line frequency could increase from 24 to 32 tph.


Increased Heathrow Frequencies
TfL also announced recently that they want to double the number of trains to Heathrow Terminal 5. An additional 10 class 345 trains are due to be delivered in 2026 to support the new station at Old Oak Common, but some of these services could be extended to Heathrow. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpor...eathrow-airport-terminal-5-b1210264.html


Eurostar to Amsterdam
Eurostar are resuming London to Amsterdam train services this month, with an initial three trains a day. The pause and a temporary restriction in passenger throughput (until September) is due to works to upgrade Amsterdam Centraal. Further details: https://mediacentre.eurostar.com/mc_view?language=uk-en&article_Id=ka4Rz00000CvEaWIAV. Images sourced from Gertjan Stamer on Twitter: https://x.com/stamer_g/status/1888997385465962606








Increased Bradford Service
Starting from May, Bradford will see daily services from Bradford Forster Square station to King’s Cross increase from two to seven daily services each direction Monday to Saturday. Further details: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98y9y78q0go. Image sourced from David Horne on Twitter: https://x.com/DavidHorne/status/1881766832627143056




Bakerloop
Whilst work continues to secure funding of the Bakerloo Line Extension down to Lewisham and beyond to Hayes, TfL are proposing an express bus service that would follow the route of the extension. Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/BL1-superloop

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Silvertown Tunnel
The opening date for the new dual-bore Silvertown Tunnel has been set for the 7th April 2025. Whilst the new tunnel will help to alleviate congestion on the existing Blackwall Tunnels and allow for double decker buses to traverse the Thames in this part of London. Image sourced from TfL on Twitter: https://x.com/TfL/status/1876320344455197058

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Heathrow Airport Expansion
Heathrow Airport have had plans for a third runway and sixth terminal for a while, pretty much ever since the opening of Terminal 5. However the problem was lack of buy-in from successive governments who were in two minds as to whether they would ever support it. As such, Heathrow has sat on the plans until a pro-infrastructure government came to power, which by most accounts is what the current Labour administration are trying to achieve. Images sourced from Heathrow Airport: https://www.heathrow.com/company/about-heathrow/expansion

Final proposals are likely to go in this summer. Whilst focus has been on the third runway and a sixth terminal, the proposals are far broader in their scope:

• A third north-eastern runway
• Terminal 5 would be massively expanded with a new terminal (Terminal 5X) to the west of the existing terminal (currently this is the drop-off/pick-up and car park)
• A new sixth terminal (Terminal 5X North) would be created, but in reality it would be a giant satellite pier for T5X connected by a passenger transit system
• Terminal 2 would more than double in size
• Terminal 3 would be replaced by more satellite buildings, creating a toaster rack system, to be served by a new passenger transit system
• Terminal 4 would be modified to cope with modifications to the southern runway
• Major new western bypass taxiways would be constructed to allow for planes to access all terminals and runways
• The M25 orbital motorway would be buried in a tunnel under the new runway

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Western Gateway
The Western Gateway Partnership involves multiple local authorities, transport authorities and enterprise partnerships that are focused on the Great Western Main Line (to Bristol) and South Wales Main Line (GWML onwards to Cardiff, Swansea and beyond), and branch lines and other routes to other regions. Whilst the scope of the scheme is on South Wales and Bristol, due to high integration of the UK rail network, the impact will be further afield (more detail is available on that is available on the report), but I have focused mostly on elements that are connected to London, e.g. reduced journey times, more access to London through new stations, increased connectivity, etc… In total the scope covers three city regions and a population of 5 million. Images sourced from Western Gateway Partnership: https://western-gateway.co.uk/research

• Reduced journey times along the corridor:
• London to Bristol in 60-minutes (currently 95-minutes), 2 trains per hour
• London to Cardiff in 90-minutes (currently 110-minutes), 3 trains per hour
• London to Swansea in 120-minutes (currently 160-minutes), 2 trains per hour
• Further electrification and deployment of bi and tri-mode rolling stock
• Direct access to Heathrow Airport from the west via the Western Link
• More train services along the corridor, including new destinations to London and orbital services such as Bristol to Oxford
• Additional tracks, including quad-track sections to segregate local, regional and intercity services
• More platforms to enhance through and terminating services
• Potential for up to 60 new stations across the area, many of which will offer a one-change or one-seat journey to London
• Total cost would be £11bn, which would require central government support
• The Western Gateway also propose a new Severn Tunnel at a cost of £1.5bn. The current two-track 7km long Severn Tunnel celebrates 140-years of operation next year, but suffers from significant corrosion from saltwater ingress, which necessitates the track to be replaced every 10-years, which is costly and disruptive. A new tunnel could replace or compliment the existing tunnel. If the old tunnel is retained, it would require a lengthy rebuild to be future-proofed, but would conceivably allow for 4-tracks all the way from London to Cardiff for vastly more services

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West Coast South Strategic Advice
Images sourced from Network Rail: https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.cor...%20South%20Strategic%20Advice%202023.pdf

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Kent Gatwick Rail Connectivity Strategic Advice
Images sourced from Network Rail: https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.cor...ectivity%20Strategic%20Advice%202024.pdf


























Medway Valley Line Strategic Study
Network Rail have commissioned a report into the Medway Valley Line, which is an orbital line in Kent, connecting various communities (including the county town of Maidstone) between Strood on the North Kent Line in the north to Tonbridge on the South Eastern Main Line in the south. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.cor...ey%20Line%20Strategic%20Study%202024.pdf

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Cambridge South
Further progress on Cambridge’s new southern station that will be served by main line services to Liverpool Street and King’s Cross. Target opening is sometime early 2026.

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Beaulieu Park
Work continues on the Great Eastern Main Line’s new station due north-east of Chelmsford. Image sourced from Network Rail Anglia on Twitter: https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1894812393068187944



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Surrey Quays Station Upgrade
A second ticket hall is currently being constructed at Surrey Quays station on the Windrush Line. The area was historically docks, before becoming low-rise retail and industry, but that is changing with proposals to build 14,000 homes in the immediate area. The new ticket hall is being built on the opposite side of the road to the existing ticket hall (visible in the third image) and as well as dramatically increasing the capacity of the station, it will also allow for step free access. Images sourced from TfL: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/maj...o-be-delivered-in-summer-2026-as-planned








St Pancras Station Expansion
London St Pancras Highspeed (formerly known as HS1) who manage the UK’s only high speed corridor from St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel are moving forward with proposals to expand station capacity from the existing 1,800 passengers per hour to 5,000 per hour. The massive rise in capacity will facilitate new destinations from London to Germany, Switzerland and France. Currently Eurostar has a monopoly on HSR services out of St Pancras, but other operators may soon seek access.


Contactless Payment Expansion
A further 47 stations have now been added to the contactless network, across the:

• London Northwestern Railway: King’s Langley, Apsey, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Cheddington, Leighton Buzzard and Bletchley, Watford North, Garston, Bricket Wood, How Wood, Park Street and St Albans Abbey
• c2c: West Horndon, Laindon, Basildon, Pitsea, Benfleet, Leigh-on-Sea, Chalkwell, Westcliff, Southend Central, Southend East, Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness, Tilbury Town, East Tilbury, Stanford-le-Hope
• Southeastern and Thameslink: Dunston Green, Sevenoaks, Eynsford, Shoreham, Otford and Bat & Ball
• South Western Railway: Ashford, Staines, Wraysbury, Sunnymeads, Datchet, Windsor & Eton Riverside, Egham, Virginia Water, Kempton Park, Sunbury, Upper Halliford, and Shepperton

Over the course of 2025 an additional 49 stations, including Stansted Airport and Southend Airport, meaning all of London’s airports will be contactless accessible. The next 49 stations include: Ashtead, Aylesbury, Aylesbury Vale Parkway, Baldock (new), Box Hill and Westhumble, Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Chelmsford, Dorking (Main), Dormans, East Grinstead, Great Missenden, Harlington, Harlow Mill, Harlow Town, Hatfield Peverel, Hitchin (new), Hockley, Hurst Green, Ingatestone, Knebworth, Leagrave, Leatherhead, Letchworth Garden City (new), Lingfield, Little Kimble, Luton, Monks Risborough, Oxted, Princes Risborough, Prittlewell, Rayleigh, Reigate, Rochford, Roydon, Sawbridgeworth, Saunderton, Southend Airport, Southend Victoria, Stansted Airport, Stansted Mountfitchet, Stevenage (new), Stoke Mandeville, Watton-at-Stone, Welwyn North, Wendover, Wickford, Witham, Woldingham

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DLR
YouTuber Wanderizm has a variety of first person videos (mostly upper deck bus journeys), but he also has some recent videos from the DLR. For those not aware, the DLR is an automated light metro system that spans much of the old Docklands, and whilst centred on Canary Wharf, its lines reach as far as Bank in the west, Woolwich in the east, Stratford in the north and Lewisham in the south. As much of the DLR travels along post-industrial landscapes, the scope for redevelopment is substantial, hence a large chunk of new housing delivered in the past two decades or so has been focused along DLR lines. The unexpected popularity of the DLR led to the Jubilee Line extension (25 years ago) and more recently, the Elizabeth Line Abbey Wood branch.

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Lower Thames Crossings Study
A new report has been published which looks at connectivity between London, Essex and Kent on the Lower Thames. Some of these projects are already in the works, but others are brand new, with some being a bit more visionary.

New Stations – 13 new stations

• Suffragette Line: Castle Green
• London, Tilbury & Southend Line: Great Berry, and Vange
• Grays Branch: Beam Park, Aveley Interchange, West Thurrock, Tilbury Author, Corringham, and Basildon South Interchange
• Ockendon Branch: South Ockendon, with the current Ockendon station renamed North Ockendon
• North Kent Line: Thames Way
• DLR Thamesmead Extension: Beckton Riverside, and Thamesmead

The authors also propose a new heavy rail tunnel under the Thames, comprised of two northern branches, one of which would extend the existing Liberty Line (which is a three-station line in East London that runs from Romford to Upminster), and the line from Southend via Tilbury. South of the Thames, the line would head west and east, serving a variety of destinations in south-east London and the Medway towns.

Another proposal would see the construction of a local tram system that would span the Thames, connecting Gravesend/Ebbsfleet in Kent with Grays/Tilbury in Essex.

Whilst there is a case that connectivity between Essex and Kent is lacking, and both banks of the Thames have some of the most deprived districts near London, the cost of such infrastructure may make such projects unviable. Infill stations are more likely to happen. Images sourced from Transport Action Network: https://transportactionnetwork.org.uk/campaign/lower-thames-crossing




Google Station View
Users of Google Maps can now use Street View across 36 of the busiest stations in London, including: Baker Street, Bank, Bond Street, Camden Town, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, Canning Town, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Clapham Junction, Custom House, Embankment, Euston, Euston Square, Farringdon, Green Park, Hammersmith (District & Piccadilly), Hammersmith (Hammersmith & City Line), Highbury & Islington, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Monument, Moorgate, Old Street, Oxford Circus, Paddington, South Kensington, St. Pancras, Stratford, Tottenham Court Road, Tottenham Hale, Victoria Station, Waterloo, Westminster, and Whitechapel. Images sourced from TfL: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/goo...-busiest-stations-making-journeys-easier

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Gatwick Airport - Northern Runway & Wider Expansion
In February, the Secretary of State for Transport issued an approval letter which will help to facilitate the approval of expansion of Gatwick Airport including a functioning second runway and substantial redevelopment of terminals, piers and broader aviation facilities.

Gatwick technically has two runways, but the existing northern runway is too close to the southern runway to be used. Therefore it is proposed to move the runway 12m to the north which will allow for it to be used. Other improvements include a heavily expanded South and North Terminal buildings, new western pier, new hotels, offices, reassigned car parking and aviation servicing areas.

Once complete, Gatwick will have capacity to manage 80mn passengers per annum, for context, 43.2mn passengers passed through Gatwick in 2024.

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Gatwick Airport – Pier 6 Extension
Gatwick Airport have appointed MACE to construct an extension to the mid-airfield Pier 6 which will deliver 8 new gates that will be used by 7.5mn passengers a year and save 12,000 bus journeys. Images sourced from Gatwick Airport: https://www.mediacentre.gatwickairport.c...h-ps140m-pier-extension-79bbc-40f32.html






London Growth Plan
The Mayor of London along with all London Councils have presented a plan to drive economic growth and development. The report makes specific recommendations to move forward on the following projects:

• Crossrail 2 [200,000 new homes]
• DLR Extension to Thamesmead [30,000 new homes]
• Bakerloo Line Extension [20,000 new homes]
• Devolution of Southeastern Franchise [10,000-20,000 new homes]
• West London Orbital [15,800 new homes]
• Devolution of Great Northern Franchise [4,000 new homes]
• HS2 to Euston [2,500 new homes]

Images sourced from London Growth Plan: https://growthplan.london/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/london-growth-plan.pdf












Superloop – Route 11
TfL are consulting on another express bus service that would run from Abbey Wood (Elizabeth Line and National Rail) to North Greenwich (Jubilee Line) via Thamesmead and Woolwich.
Images sourced from TfL: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/sup...-and-abbey-wood-consultation-opens-79535






ULEZ – Cleaner Air
A new report has shown that expansion of the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) has reduced the levels of nitrogen dioxide emissions by 27% across London, pariculate matter from exhaust emissions are down 31%, and for those living close to the busiest roads, there was an 80% reduction in people exposed to unsafe levels of pollution. Curiously the London boroughs that were most against ULEZ also saw the largest reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions. Further Detail: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgq9nnj274xo


Camden High Street Pedestrianisation
The London Borough of Camden are now looking to move forward with a trial pedestrianisation of Camden High Street which will run from Camden Town tube station up to the famous markets. Images sourced from Camden Council: https://consultations.wearecamden.org/supporting-communities/camdenhighstreet








Oxford Street Pedestrianisation
Oxford Street is London’s ‘High Street’; it is the flagship destination for many department stores and retail brands, however unlike many other High Streets across the UK (and even inside London) which are pedestrianised, Oxford Street has stubbornly remained open to traffic, predominantly buses and taxis. Various proposals have been proposed over the years to close the road to traffic altogether, but political interference from Westminster Council an opposition from locals (fearing traffic being diverted onto neighbouring roads) has not seen any movement.

As a consequence of this impasse, the Mayor is proposing a Mayoral Development Corporation that would take away ownership and management of Oxford Street and neighbouring roads from Westminster Council. The Mayor would then look to push through proposals for pedestrianisation. Image sourced from TimeOut: https://www.timeout.com/london/news/the-...-plans-heres-how-to-have-your-say-022825 and Mayor of London: https://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-launches...est-transformation-oxford-street-history






Great Northern Timetable Upgrade
30 x class 379 trains have been acquired for the Great Northern and Thameslink network out of King’s Cross to support:

• Three more peak time services and seats for commuters between Cambridge, Letchworth Garden City and London King’s Cross, including a new Letchworth to London King’s Cross stopping peak time service, calling additionally at New Barnet.
• New departures at Hertford North, Bayford, Cuffley and Crew’s Hill in the morning peak.
• Up to seven minutes faster journey times between London King’s Cross and King’s Lynn, Ely, Cambridge and stations along this route, including Foxton, Knebworth and Welwyn North.
• New early morning peak time service between Peterborough and London King’s Cross.
• Extra stops at Knebworth on morning peak Thameslink services from Peterborough to Horsham.
• More evenly spaced departure times so customers don’t need to wait as long for a train.
• Provision for all Thameslink and Great Northern services between Cambridge and central London to call at the new Cambridge South station when it opens.

Image sourced from Govia Thameslink: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-tham...-for-improved-december-timetable-3369224




c2c Class 357 Fleet Refurbishment
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Britannic Explorer
The Britannic Explorer is a new luxury sleeper train debuting in July 2025 that will provide luxury train journeys from London to Wales, Cornwall and the Lake District. As well as various suites, dining and rest areas, the train will also boast a spa. Images sourced from Belmond: https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/britannic-explorer

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Liverpool Street Upgrade
The planning application for a heavily remodelled London Liverpool Street has now been lodged with the City of London planning department. Some of my earliest memories of London are of arriving into Liverpool Street, and personally I’m mixed on the rebuild, particularly with the office block above the station concourse.

Something does however need to be done; the opening of the Elizabeth Line saw the station become the busiest in the UK, with over 118mn using the station every year, a figure sent to increase to 160mn in the years ahead. Originally opened in 1874, the station has undergone several substantial changes over the year, but this will be by far the most substantial since the last redevelopment in the 1990’s.

The proposed changes:
- Wholesale change to the existing 1990’s concourse including radical alterations from street level down to the concourse
- Two new north-south retail balconies running along the length of the train shed up to Exchange Square
- Expansion of the main Underground ticket hall ticket line and passageways
- Step-free access to all platforms
- Roof garden
Images sourced from City of London Planning: https://www.planning2.cityoflondon.gov.u...activeTab=documents&keyVal=SUJWJ4FHJYE00

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London Heathrow
Heathrow Airport have unveiled more detailed plans as to their strategy to rebuild much of the airport, deliver new terminal buildings and a third runway to enable 150mn passengers per annum to pass through. Images sourced from Heathrow Airport: https://www.heathrow.com/content/dam/hea...g-Heathrow-proposal-summary-31-07-25.pdf

















London Stansted Airport Expansion
London Stansted has submitted a planning application to increase the cap on annual passenger capacity to 51mn passengers per annum. The proposal would entail maximising the existing single runway without increasing the number of flights. The airport also envisions powering the entire airport from renewable sources, introduce improvements to the existing Stansted Express train service (undefined yet – but possibly an increase from the existing 4tph), and a target for half of all passengers arriving and departing by public transport. Source: https://mediacentre.stanstedairport.com/...-to-unlock-potential-of-existing-runway/.Image sourced from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stansted_Airport




Eurostar (various)
With the UK rail regulator looking to open up London St Pancras, HS1 and the Channel Tunnel to other operators, Eurostar are now undertaking steps to increase frequencies, service new destinations and order 50 new trains. The latest results showed a 5% YoY increase in passengers to 19.5mn and the target is to hit 30mn. All routes showed growth, but the London to Paris and London to Brussels routes added 280,000 and 250,000 additional passengers respectively.

New Trains
Underpinning Eurostar’s growth strategy is to acquire 50 new trains by 2030 to support new destinations. A manufacturer hasn’t been selected, but they will likely be 400m in length and capable of 320kph/200mph operation. On the London corridor, Eurostar currently operates 11 e300 series (1992-1996) and 17 e320 series (2011-2018) trains, plus a further 26 ex-Thalys trains on the Paris-Brussels/Amsterdam route. Effectively the trains would double the fleet.

London-Amsterdam
Eurostar announced last month that from this December they will be introducing a fifth daily service from London to Amsterdam providing 3,000 seats. That is equivalent to 15-20 Airbus a320 neo/ Boeing 737 MAX narrow-body jets. Further details: https://mediacentre.eurostar.com/mc_view?language=&article_Id=ka4Rz00000Gdi6PIAR

Eurostar - London-Frankfurt & Geneva
Announcing their latest YE results, Eurostar announced three new routes:
- London to Frankfurt
- London to Geneva
- Amsterdam/Brussels to Geneva
Further details: https://mediacentre.eurostar.com/mc_view?language=&article_Id=ka4Rz00000Frp0XIAR


Class 730 Trains
London Northwestern Railway which operates commuter services out of London Euston and up the West Coast Main Line has unveiled its new class 730/2 trains which increases capacity on the route by 20%. The trains come as 5-carriages, but will be paired as 10-carriage services. Further detail: https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co...y-fleet-transform-travel-millions-euston. Images taken by AJ on Twitter: https://x.com/DesirableDesiro/status/1932180795013132334






DLR B23 Trains
Testing continues on the DLR’s much delayed latest rolling stock. 43 trains have been built (85m long, 5-carriage formation and fully walk through) with an option for additional units.

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2024 London Underground Stock (aka New Tube for London)
Whilst all modern mainline gauge and sub-surface line rolling stock comes with air conditioning and walk-through carriages, there has been a lag in implementing a similar solution on the smaller deep tube lines (Bakerloo, Central, Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria) due to the tunnel constraints. Fortunately the latest materials and advances in energy efficiency means that from next year, it will be possible to travel on the Piccadilly line in an air-conditioned walk-through train.

The first trains started testing in October 2024 (hence the title of their classification), with anticipation that they would be rolled out for passenger service later this year. That has now been pushed back to sometime in 2026 with all trains deployed within 18-months or so.

94 trains have been ordered for the Piccadilly Line, coming in at 114m in length; that’s slightly longer than the existing 1973 stock at 107m. The big difference however is that whilst the 1973 stock has six carriages, the 2024 stock as nine, and it is that design change along with some carriages not having bogies (wheels) underneath which creates the space to install AC units without taking up interior space. In the below video you’ll see that of the nine carriages, just five have bogies with the other four carriages effectively ‘floating’ and supported by the other carriages.

Potentially 250 trains in total could be ordered, with 40 for the Bakerloo, 100 for the Central, 10 for the Waterloo & City and half a dozen more for the Piccadilly to enable a more intensive peak frequency.

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Mark 5A Trains
Chiltern Railways have announced the acquisition of 13 Mark 5A trains to replace old Mark 3 stock. Chiltern Railways which operates a variety of services along the Chiltern Main Line out of London Marylebone up to Birmingham is the only non-electrified mainline, so rolling stock is hauled either by locomotive (as is the in case of Mark 5A’s and Mark 3’s) or DMU. They will however be powered by recycled vegetable oil. They will commence passenger service in Spring 2026. Images sourced from Chiltern Railways: https://press.chilternrailways.co.uk/new...rn-trains-to-transform-customer-journeys










Elizabeth Line
Train Load Indicators
According to IanVisits, the Elizabeth Line has started to update station departure boards that connect to sensors in the train carriages to provide feedback to passengers as to what carriages are busy. Further details: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/new...shows-which-carriages-are-quietest-80301. Image sourced from IanVisits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/new...hows-which-carriages-are-quietest-80301/



Minority Report Advertising
For anyone who watched the film Minority Report, there was a scene where Tom Cruises’ character is on the run, but attention is drawn to him by advertising targeting him. We might not have got the automated pods, but according to IanVIsits, real-time advertising and digital tunnel wraps are being explored by TfL and Global. Further details: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...eo-wrap-around-advertising-screens-80799. Image sourced from IanVisits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...o-wrap-around-advertising-screens-80799/



Train Driver POV from Paddington To Heathrow Airport
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St Pancras Station Expansion
Connected to the growth plans for Eurostar including more frequent services, and new destinations, Eurostar and London St Pancras Highspeed (the operator of the station) have signed a letter of intent and appointed Hawkins\Brown to undertake a details design and feasibility study on the expansion of Eurostar arrivals and departures. The existing Eurostar departures lounge can manage 2,700 passengers an hour, equivalent to three maxed out e320 trains an hour, but that capacity will need to increase dramatically to handle upwards of 5 x e320 maxed out series departures an hour
- Phase One: Review short term improvements within the current footprint, including optimising the security and border crossing processes to deliver an uplift of 2,700 passengers per hour in the next three to four years.
- Phase Two: Improving the international area and its connection to the main concourse, helping the passenger flow and customer experience. Completion is expected by 2028.
- Phase Three: In the 2030s, a further exploration of long-term opportunities to drive growth and further enhance capacity will take place. This will look at potentially relocating the arrivals flow upstairs.

St Pancras is one of the finest train stations in the world, and grade I listed meaning there isn’t much scope for extensive interventions. There are also several tube lines and the Thameslink tunnels below ground. The current Eurostar departure and arrival areas are located in the undercroft which historically were used to store beer barrels.


Underground Four Line Modernisation
The Four Line Modernisation, or “4LM” is an ongoing signal and train upgrade of the sub-surface lines (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan) that started over 15-years ago with the rollout of the first S7 and S8 rolling stock. In 2019, the first signal mitigation area went live between Hammersmith and Latimer Road, with SMA 8 going live in June. The intention is to eventually deliver another six SMA’s over the next year or two, which would deliver automatic train operation across much of the network and allowing a more intensive timetable, and higher frequencies through Central London. Image sourced from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Lines_Modernisation#Signalling

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Cambridge South
The latest update on Cambridge’s new station on the West Anglia Main Line (into London Liverpool St) and The Cambridge Line (into London King’s Cross). It will also be a stop on the future East West Rail route. Images sourced from Netwok Rail Anglia: https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1948017223769129107






Beaulieu Park
Another update on the Great Eastern Main Line’s latest parkway station. Originally pencilled in for opening at the end of the year, it could now be open this Autumn. Images sourced from Chelmsford City Council: https://x.com/ChelmsCouncil/status/1946225983763181684 and Network Rail Anglia: https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1941054260940316811












Stratford Station Upgrade
IanVisits back in July outlined proposals for a new station entrance at Stratford station as part of a new tower to the south-east corner of the station. The proposal would in effect re-open an old route that linked into Subway C which provides access to platforms 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 10A, 11 and 12 which accesses the Elizabeth Line, Central Line and Greater Anglia services on the Great Eastern Main Line and West Anglia Main Line.

Stratford before the arrival of the Elizabeth Line was already one of the busiest stations in the UK, but the Elizabeth Line turbo-charged National Rail passenger counts to 56.5mn in 2023-24 (compared to 41.91mn in 2019-20). A further 51.38mn journeys are made on the Underground and DLR. Stratford can be unbearable at peak times with large numbers of people transferring between the various lines. Last year a new western exit opened onto the Carpenters Estate, and this new entrance will help to relieve pressure further, but realistically the station needs a complete rebuild. Detailed proposals have yet to be unveiled, but anything less than a London Bridge or Reading style rebuild will be too short-term to cope. Further details: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/str...ntrance-by-reopening-an-old-subway-82220. Images sourced from IanVisits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/str...ntrance-by-reopening-an-old-subway-82220








Elephant & Castle Station Upgrade
As part of a massive redevelopment of the old Elephant & Castle shopping centre, a condition of planning approval was for Delancey to construct the concrete basement to house the station and launch shafts for the escalators. TfL don’t yet have the funds to fit-out the station, but once complete, this would become the combined ticket hall for the Bakerloo and Northern lines. Images taken by Patricia Brown on Twitter: https://x.com/patricialondon/status/1935084228724642004










West Hampstead (Jubilee Line) Station Upgrade
As part of a large redevelopment of the Finchley Road O2 Centre redevelopment, it is proposed that West Hampsted (Jubilee Line) station will receive a new station entrance to allow for step-free access. To make this happen, adjacent single storey retail units will be demolished, which will also allow for a small station square. Confusingly along a 210m stretch of West End Lane there are three West Hampstead stations, all three are out-of-station interchanges, with West Hampstead on the Jubilee Line furthest to the south, West Hampstead on the Mildmay Line, 80m to the north and then a further 130m is West Hampstead Thameslink. Image sourced by West Hampstead Guy on Twitter: https://x.com/WH_guy/status/1931001492762222917




Iver Station Upgrade
Located on the western branch of the Elizabeth Line out to Reading, Iver is a semi-rural station. The station also lacks suitable parking facilities limiting its scope as a parkway station for the wider area. As part of a housing development on land north of the station, it is envisioned that a new northern ticket hall will be built alongside parking. Images sourced from Iver Station North: www.iverstationnorth.co.uk








Herne Bay Station Upgrade
Two new lifts and a footbridge have been installed at Herne Bay to compliment the existing subway (which will be retained). Herne Bay, located on the north coast of Kent is a retirement destination, so lifts here is long overdue. Fast services run onto HS1 into London St Pancras or alternatively on slower routes into London Victoria. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/herne-bay-station-accessibility-scheme-completed






Blackheath Station Restoration
To celebrate 175-years since opening, Blackheath station on the North Kent Line and Bexleyheath Line in south-east London has been renovated to reflect its original appearance. Images taken by Tim Dunn on Twitter: https://x.com/MrTimDunn/status/1950627059723620743










Stoneleigh Station Upgrade
Located on the Mole Valley Line that runs into London Waterloo, Stoneleigh is the latest station on the network to have lifts installed for step-free access. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk...ovements-to-stoneleigh-station-in-surrey




Shortlands Station Upgrade
Work has completed on the station upgrade to provide three new passenger lifts and a new pedestrian bridge. Current access is via a subway which will be retained to ease congestion. Shortlands is located in south-east London with services into London Victoria and London Blackfriars. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/shortlands-station-accessibility-scheme-completed






Island Line Reopening
The Island Line on the Isle of Wight (a small island off the south coast) has now reopened following an eight-month renovation of the pier as the line runs out into the Solent. The line has two curious features, the first is that it uses (shortened) old London Underground rolling stock, and the second is the operation along the pier itself to connect with ferries, that run to a similar (but not quite as extensive) pier station at Portsmouth Harbour for onward trains to London. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk...d-after-full-island-line-services-resume

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West End Pedestrianisation
The City of Westminster and the Crown Estate have unveiled a masterplan by Allies & Morrison to radically transform Regent Street down to the Mall, with significant changes to the realm around Piccadilly Circus. Some of the works will be minor such as removal of on-street parking and increasing the width of pavements. There will be a substantial change in the vehicular movements around Piccadilly Circus, and extensive pedestrianisation all the way down to The Mall and Trafalgar Square.

Note: These proposals are in addition to the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street which are still being worked on.

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Outright pedestrianisation will cover lots of streets: 1) Little Portland St, 2) Princes Street, 3) Argyll Street, 4) New Burlington St, 5) Heddon St, 6) Air St, 7) Swallow St, 8) Vine St, 9) Coventry St, 10) Regent St St James’s, 11) Panton St, 12) St James’s Market, 13) Carlton St, 14) Charles II St, 15) Waterloo Place, 16) Pall Mall East, and 17) Trafalgar Sq (western side by Canada House).

There are ten transformative moves envisioned:
1. All Souls Plaza: A reimagined setting for All Souls Church providing space for visitors and locals alike.
2. Oxford Circus: Working with the Mayor of London to reimagine this iconic space as the gateway to these two world-renowned streets.
3. Regent Street: Transforming Regent Street's public realm into a world-class exemplar to ensure its ongoing prosperity for future generations.
4. The Quadrant: Embracing John Nash’s bold architectural curve to make a unique destination linking Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus.
5. Piccadilly Circus: Reclaiming space from vehicles to enable public life to thrive in this world famous setting.
6. Haymarket: A reconfigured and vibrant streetscape for people, theatres, and culture.
7. Regent Street St James’s: A traffic-free streetscape with scope to become one of London’s most exciting new destinations.
8. Waterloo Place: A major new public space for London, creating much-needed space for community and events.
9. Pall Mall: More space around Trafalgar Square and strengthened connections to and from this major destination.
10. Side Streets: Unlocking the value of side streets to provide inviting places to rest and connect. The extent of delivery will be explored in the next stage
Images sourced from City of Westminster: https://futureofregentstreet.commonplace.is/























The following are some of the roads that will be pedestrianised.












Hopefully we end up with an end result similar to that of the pedestrianised Strand Aldywch (examples: https://x.com/modacitylife/status/1951589854510223722).


Bus Spider Maps – The Evolution
The London Tube map is a rather iconic brand and has inspired many other transit networks. Just over two decades ago, TfL began to show similar bus maps across the network, particularly where there are several different routes. There have been various versions over the years, ranging from a change in orientation, but the current iteration focuses on all bus stops within a certain range rather than just main stops/interchanges, with the periphery snipped. Images sourced by CLondoner92 on Twitter: https://x.com/CLondoner92/status/1897074585020899731








3D Station Maps
Govia Thameslink have unveiled new interactive 3D maps for disabled passengers to navigate some of their most important stations. An initial ten stations have been mapped (Brighton, City Thameslink, Denmark Hill, East Croydon, Elephant & Castle, Finsbury Park, Gatwick Airport, London Blackfriars, Luton Airport Parkway and Peckham Rye) which were viewed as being the top priority for disabled passengers. Images sourced from Govia Thameslink: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-tham...rs-more-independence-at-stations-3353689


















Superloop 12 Consultation
TfL recently completed a consultation for Superloop 12 (SL12) which will run from Gants Hill to Ferry Lane via Romford. This will serve north-eastern London, which outside the Suffragette Line has limited fast orbital connectivity. TfL propose operating the route seven-days a week, every 12-minutes from 0500 till 0030. This consultation follows another consultation that completed on SL11 (North Greenwich to Abbey Wood). Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/sl12-superloop





Consultation recently completed on SL11 (North Greenwich to Abbey Wood, and TfL have outlined that consultation will commence on three further Superloop routes this Autumn:
- SL13 – Hendon to Ealing Broadway
- SL14 – Chingford Hatch to Stratford
- SL15 – Clapham Junction to Eltham


Silvertown Tunnel
London’s latest tunnel opened for traffic this April. The twin-bore 1.4km tunnels have a large diameter bore that allows for double decker buses which the existing Blackwall Tunnels struggle with. The tunnels provide easier access to Canary Wharf and East London from the south. TfL have also provided a bike bus to transit the tunnel. Further detail: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-...-improved-as-new-silvertown-tunnel-opens

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[muppet]

London is now seeing these 'squares' more and more, after through-traffic has been effectively banned in many districts. It's a follow up to the Quiet Streets scheme:

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Quiet streets -business doubles after you rid it off cars:

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It's also interesting to note these schemes have been rolled out in the poor areas first -rich areas are infested with nimbys

[muppet]

cycling through London on a tube strike. Normally 1.3m journeys are made by bike each day, but balloon multiple times during strikes -a good stress test to rapidly growing demand and capacity.

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[nito]

Beaulieu Park Station
Located on the Great Eastern Main Line, Beaulieu Park is a new 3-platform station that serves trains from Colchester and Ipswich into London Liverpool Street. As well as being an anchor to a 14,000 home development, the station will act as a relief for Chelmsford station (4.8km) down line which is the busiest two-platform station on the UK rail network (excl. tube stations). The proposed peak timetable is 4tph with journey times to Liverpool Street in 39-mins. Images 1 + 2 sourced from Greater Anglia News on Twitter: https://x.com/GreaterAngliaPR/status/1982371536154787960 + Images 3-6 sourced from ORR on Twitter: https://x.com/railandroad/status/1978769027531964593

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Battersea Power Station
A second step-free entrance has now opened at the Northern Line’s Battersea Power Station. Located at the western end of the station, this entrance connects to the ticket hall mezzanine. Works are ongoing to rehabilitate a disused tunnel that will provide another station entrance onto the south side of Battersea Park Road. IanVisits has some more pictures and information on the new entrance and ongoing works to rehabilitate the disused tunnel: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/bat...nce-officially-opened-this-morning-84532. Images sourced from TfL: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/new...-connectivity-to-the-wider-neighbourhood

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Cambridge South Station
With a targeted early 2026 opening, Network Rail have confirmed the southbound peak timetable of 12tph:
2tph – Great Northern – London King’s Cross (fast)
2tph – Great Northern – London King’s Cross (semi-fast)
2tph – Thameslink
4tph – Greater Anglia – London Liverpool St (stopping + semi-fast)
2tph – Greater Anglia/CrossCountry – Stansted Airport

Once East West Rail is built, the station will be built with further trains heading towards Oxford and Milton Keynes. Images sourced from Network Rail on Twitter: https://x.com/networkrail/status/1965100408147202113








Richmond Station
Richmond Station is a major 7-platform National Rail (Waterloo to Reading Line), London Underground (District Line) and Overground (Mildmay Line) interchange located in south-west London. Originally opened in 1846, the station was comprised of two adjacent stations that were rebuilt in 1937 in the Art Deco style. Over time, many of the original features were obscured by upgrades, but over the past two-years, work was undertaken the restore the station to its original appearance with handmade bronze fascia panels, oak panel shop fittings and Art Deco chandeliers. Images sourced from South Western Railway: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/othe...5/september/richmond-station-restoration














Ardley Station
As part of a proposal to build an 18,000 new town on the old RAF Upper Heyford base (north of Oxford), it is proposed to build a new station on the Chiltern Main Line into London Marylebone. There already exists to the west a station at Heyford on the Cherwell Valley Line into London Paddington. Historically station existed in this area when the Cherwell Valley Line was built, but it closed in 1963. An automated electric bus could run to/from the station and the new town. Images sourced from Heyford Park New Town: www.heyfordparknewtown.com




Cowley Branch Line
The government have announced £120mn in funding to reopen the Cowley Branch which last saw passenger services back in 1963. The branch line (visible in red in the below map heading south-eastwards from Oxford) now only serves as a freight line to BMW’s MINI plant, but was once part of the Wycombe Railway that ran from Oxford to Princes Risborough on the Chiltern Main Line.

Line speeds would be upgraded to 50mph and two new stations built at Cowley and Littlemore. Once opened, the it is envisioned to be used by 1mn passengers each year and unlock new development around the Oxford Science Park and development areas to the south-east of Oxford. Services would be run by Chiltern Railway to London Marylebone.

Much of the old line (the grey line in the centre of the map below) beyond Cowley to Princes Risborough on the CML still exists (without tracks) meaning it would be possible to create a Chiltern Loop Line, which would also create a shorter and faster route off the CML to Oxford. If that route was fully rebuilt, it would also created a diversion of the Cherwell Valley Line. Images sourced from Oxford Clarion: https://oxfordclarion.uk/cowley-branch-line-reopening-gets-the-go-ahead. Historic Railway Atlas Map sourced from New Adlestrop Railway Atlas: https://www.systemed.net/atlas







Littlemore Station


Cowley Station



Chiltern Railways Extension to Old Oak Common
As part of an article looking into the long discarded historic proposal to extend Elizabeth Line trains onto the West Coast Main Line, IanVisits (https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...tion-extension-from-old-oak-common-84683) discovered that in the 2025 Spending Review, funding was provided to advance proposals to preserve land which would enable the future construction of a bay platform(s) at Old Oak Common. If built this would allow Chiltern Railway services from Oxford and other destinations to interchange with HS2, the Elizabeth Line and Great Western Main Line services.

Chiltern Railway services would branch off the Chiltern Main Line at Northolt Junction at South Ruislip and take advantage of the existing single track (two in places) down to Old Oak Common West Junction and then the GWML. From time to time, some Chiltern Railway services use this route into London Paddington if London Marylebone (the Chiltern Main Line terminus) is closed, but it is infrequent. There also used to be an Old Oak Lane Halt just before the line merged with the GWML, but that was short-lived and closed just after WWII.

Technically not much infrastructure works would be required other than perhaps doubling up the single track sections, new signalling and of course the new bay platform(s) at Old Oak Common station. These platforms would likely be immediately to the north of the GWML platforms that are currently being built.

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DLR B23 Trains
The DLR’s latest rolling stock has commenced passenger service. 54 new trains from CAF were ordered, of which 32 will replace the oldest (B92) trains on the network and the other 22 will be deployed to increase line frequencies. Once all deliveries are completed next year, the higher capacity trains and additional stock will increase the DLR’s network capacity in excess of 50% which is much needed considering the large number of developments along the DLR routes.

As with all modern rolling stock in the UK, the trains are fully walk-through, come with air conditioning and USB charging points. Whilst the trains are longer than their predecessors, there is only a single digit increase in the amount of seats as pretty much the entire seating arrangement is longitudinal, with more space given over for wheelchairs. Curiously the door arrangement across the five carriages is not uniform, opting for a 2+3+2+3+2 setup. Images 1-6 taken by Sean on Twitter: https://x.com/sean_387/status/1974109244585832743 + Images 7-9 taken by Techandtrains101 on Twitter: https://x.com/techandtrains/status/1972900092517798304

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Virgin Trains to Europe
The Office of Rail and Road has announced that Virgin Trains have been awarded access to the Temple Mills depot in East London. Historically only Eurostar had access to this depot, but it is first step towards competition against Eurostar for additional services and genuine competition on ticket prices.

Virgin will acquire 12 x seven-car (200m) Avelia Stream sets from Alstom. Capable of running at up to 300kph, Virgin and Alstom are exploring whether the trains will be capable of running across for four voltages meaning services to Germany and Switzerland.

To start off with, Virgin will offer 20 trains a day, of which 13 will run to Paris, 4 to Brussels and 3 to Amsterdam from 2030.

Eurostar’s current timetable for comparison is 29 trains a day, of which 15 run to Paris, 9 to Brussels and 4 to Amsterdam (via Brussels). On Fridays, an additional 5 trains run to the 29 scheduled. With Eurostar also ordering Avelia’s (see below), this frequency is likely to increase further.

By 2030 there could be more than 30 trains per day running between London and Paris, or around a train every 30mins.
Image sourced from Railway Gazette: https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger...nel-train-services-in-2030/69412.article




Eurostar Avelia’s
Eurostar have placed an order with Alstom for 30 new Avelia Horizon double-decker high-speed trains, with an option to increase that order to 50 new units. Capable of operating at 320kph, the units will move in excess of 1,000 passengers. The first units will be delivered starting in 2031. Image sourced from Alstom: https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-ne...30-avelia-horizon-very-high-speed-trains




Class 345 Trains
Construction has commenced on ten new class 345 trains to provide additional line capacity when the new HS2 interchange station at Old Oak Common opens in a few years’ time.

Curiously though, more trains might need to be ordered sooner rather than later as according to IanVisits, the Elizabeth Line recorded one million daily passengers for the first time in September and is now used by 800,000 passengers each day on average.

Images sourced from TfL: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/10-...-popular-railway-has-boosted-the-economy






Heathrow T5 Automated People Mover
Heathrow Terminal 5 and its satellite buildings (T5B and T5C) are connected by an airside APM system. Opened back in 2008, the original system was operated by 2 vehicles from what was then Bombardier. That fleet eventually expanded to 10 units. Heathrow has now started receiving deliveries of Alstom’s Innovia 200 model. Initially six units, a further 14 units are due in the coming months. Once fully operational this will boost capacity by 66%. Images sourced from Alstom UK & Ireland on Twitter: https://x.com/AlstomUK/status/1975898227313434687






Heathrow Airport Expansion
Heathrow Airport have unveiled their proposal to realign the M25 (London’s Orbital motorway) by diverting the road 130m to the west and construct a tunnel for the M25 and side roads from the M4 and Heathrow Airport. Image sourced from Geoengineer: https://www.geoengineer.org/news/heathro...l-plan-to-support-third-runway-expansion

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Superloop – SL13
TfL have consulted on another Superloop bus route that will run from Hendon to Ealing. The route will use much of the North Circular. Running seven days a week there will be a service every 12-mins (15-mins off-peak). Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/sl13-superloop






Superloop – SL14
Another proposed express bus route being discussed by TfL is for a route that runs from Chingford Hatch to Stratford in north London. As with other Superloop services, normal service will be every 12-minutes. Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/sl14-superloop






Superloop – SL15
TfL are consulting on a new Superloop express service from Clapham Junction to Eltham running every 12-minutes. Clapham Junction is a major interchange, but the line will also interchange with multiple south London Underground, Overground and National Rail routes. Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/sl15-superloop








Mk5 Trains
Chiltern Railways have now launched their new Mk5 trains. 13 trains have been ordered which will replace 5 existing Mk3 units that will allow for increased line frequency on the Chiltern Main Line. Images taken by The Man in Seat 61 on Twitter: https://x.com/seatsixtyone/status/1978047638890295297

[muppet]

There are now 113 LTN (Low Transport Neighbourhoods) now in the city, where cars are effectively banned during the day, plus 500 school streets:

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[hkskyline]

Last weekend, a number of vintage buses ran on route T15 through Central London. Rides were free on Sunday although you can donate to a good cause.

















More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/london-t15.htm