London Transport Thread

[Busy Bee]

Incredible.

The Brits make it look so easy.

[nito]

Elizabeth Line + Transport Recovery in London and the UK
According to the latest ridership data (3-months to the end of Dec 2022) published by the Office of Rail & Road (ORR, https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statis...ger-rail-usage), the Elizabeth Line saw ridership increase by 41% on the previous 3-month (to the end of Sep 2022) period. That equals 62.2mn passengers, or 249mn on an annualised basis which means that the line is already above pre-Pandemic forecasts. It also makes it the busiest line in the UK, and busier than almost all train operators in the UK (who have a wider network). 1 in 6 rail trips (excl. the Underground) made in the UK are now on the Elizabeth Line.



What makes the figure even more mind boggling is that – like most other world cities – London is still recovering from the Pandemic (more on that below), there have been strikes, and the Elizabeth Line only saw completion of through running in early November 2022, and the final timetable which enables 24tph and faster trains isn’t due to go live until May. Last Summer the line was expected to break-even sometime in 2023/24 at a time when the line was being used by 2mn/week; with ridership now hitting 4.8mn/week, and continuing to grow, the line may already be profitable and generating a lot more cash to help deliver upgrades across the network.

With the line likely to continue to see growth (perhaps towards 400mn passengers a year), there will be increased calls to lengthen trains (currently 9-carriages but the line was futureproofed for 11-carriages), increase frequencies north of 24tph (the Victoria and other tube lines operate at up to 36ph), and continue to develop Crossrail 2.

Which then got me thinking about the general post-Pandemic recovery of travel in London and the UK. Outside of the Elizabeth Line, rail has had a gradual upward recovery, led by intercity operators, and London & South East, and regional operators following suit. The above and following two charts are published by the ORR up to the end of Dec 2022.






The following charts are published by the Department of Transport (https://www.gov.uk/government/statis...id-19-pandemic) and cover all transport modes and are updated more frequently – the latest dataset goes up to 13 March 2023. I worked the figures on a 28-day rolling average, but generally whilst there has been a recovery, it is easy to spot periods where strike action has materialised.

• In 2022, the Tube began to register passenger figures above pre-Pandemic levels first on the 2 + 3 Jul (which coincided with the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday), and then subsequently again on 18 Sep, 12 Nov, 25 + 29 Dec. In 2023, the Tube has already registered 7 days above pre-Pandemic levels despite various tube strikes which has seen ridership fluctuate wildly, dipping to as low as 69% on 3 Feb 2023.
• London Buses saw a return to pre-Pandemic levels on the same 2 + 3 Jul dates as the Tube, but only returned to positive figures on six days since 25 Dec 2022. London Buses have unlike the Tube however maintained a regular high ridership, dropping below <80% of pre-Pandemic numbers five days over the last 90-day period. Non-London Buses have had a more erratic recovery, but still positive; the market outside of London is fragmented and deregulated which is starting to change as more cities and regions copy the London model for buses.
• National Rail (which includes all UK operators except the Underground) has only hit pre-Pandemic two times, twice (12 + 22 Feb 2023), but despite suffering from a combination of strikes, fare rises, some operators maintaining pre-pandemic reduced timetables or not delivering services (e.g. Avanti West Coast), over the last 50-day period, 40 were above >90%. Note – there is a gap in
• All Motor Vehicle use has been driven mainly by the increased use of Light Commercial Vehicles (vans) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (lorries); regular car use routinely hit >90% since 2022, but has only hit >100% once in the last 90-day period.
• Cycling was regularly hitting above 100%, hitting >250% in summer 2022; hence why I haven’t included on the chart to avoid wide swings. There has been a dip since early December, perhaps due to intermittent weather.

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Cambridge South Station
Cambridge South is a new 4-platform station being constructed which will serve Addenbrookes Hospital and the growing Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It will be served by trains on the West Anglia Main Line (into London Liverpool Street) and the Cambridge Line (into London King’s Cross and Thameslink). The future East West Rail line will also run through the new station enroute to the city centre of Cambridge. Opening date is 2025.
Image 1, 2 +3 sourced from Network Rail Anglia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NetworkRailAng/s...35504841564163 and Image 4 + 5 sourced from Railfuture EAnglia: https://twitter.com/RailfutureEA/sta...18120313307138












Surrey Quays Station
Located on the East London Line, the existing Surrey Quays station entrance is on a constricted site, and with 14,000 new homes being built over a retail park to the north, TfL propose an additional station entrance across the road with improved access to the platforms, including step-free access. Targeted completion is 2026. Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/surrey-quays






Purfleet-on-Thames
Latest designs have been unveiled for the relocated Purfleet station. The latest proposal is to relocate the station slightly to the north, with the new station raised over the tracks to help support a 3,000 home development. The old level crossing will be removed with the road raised to cross the tracks. Opening is set for 2025. Images sourced from Ian Visits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...approval-62988








Liverpool Street Station
Work has started on the refurbishment of the historic Grade II listed roof of Liverpool Street. In addition to looking tired (and dirty), the age of the roof has led to leaks . Images from Network Rail: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runnin...-roof-renewal/






Barnes Station
Located in south-west London, Barnes station is the latest station to receive approval to see monies allocated for step-free access. Image sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ngton-stations




Teddington Station
Located in south-west London, Teddington station is the latest station to receive approval to see monies allocated for step-free access. Image sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ngton-stations




St Albans Station
A new footbridge has been opened to provide relief to the existing footbridge. St Albans station is on the Midland Main Line
Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ing-passengers






Peterborough Station
£48mn has been committed to upgrade Peterborough station on the East Coast Main Line with a new western entrance, enhanced eastern entrance, a new car park, wider footbridge over all tracks. Image sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...-by-government




Beaulieu Park Station
Construction contracts totalling £37.8mn have been awarded for construction of the new Beaulieu Park station north-west of Chelmsford in Essex. The three-platform station (plus passing loops) will provide relief to the existing Chelmsford station which is one of the busiest two platform stations in the UK, and access to a new residential district. In addition to a bus interchange, there will be space for 500 bikes and 700 cars. Further renders have also been released, and the target opening is Winter 2025. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...urphy-sons-ltd










Crawley Station
Located on the Arun Valley Line (a branch off the Bright Main Line) south of Gatwick Airport, Crawley is one of the post-WW2 New Towns. In 2020, a new accessible footbridge with lifts was added, and the ticket hall was recently modernised. Images taken by Nathan The Bat Waver on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathLei_F1/statu...18811582529542








Gatwick Airport Station
Ongoing construction work to expand one of the UK’s busiest stations serving London’s second busiest airport. Core to the work is a second larger concourse, eight new escalators and five new lifts. Images taken by Philip Haigh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philatrail/statu...59746554957834






Colindale Station
Funding has been secured for the redevelopment and expansion of Colindale on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line. Construction works commence this year. Images sourced from Barnet Council on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarnetCouncil/st...96225475821568






Hither Green Station
Plans to make Hither Green in south-east London step-free have been approved. As noted by Ian Visits, the existing junction station is rather disjointed, acting as two separate stations next to each other. The proposals will provide a single route across all six platforms. Images sourced from Ian Visits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...approval-61383

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Ruckholt Road Station
As part of the Lea Bridge and Lea Valley Eastside regeneration project that will deliver 4,000 new homes,, the London Borough of Waltham Forest are proposing a new station at the junction of Ruckholt Road and Orient Way. The proposed station would be to the south of the recently reopened Lea Bridge (2016) station which is on a branch of the Lea Valley Lines between Tottenham Hale and Stratford. Image sourced from London Borough of Waltham Forest: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sit...sion_FINAL.pdf




Corsham Station
Wiltshire Council have submitted a Strategic Outline Business Case to the Department for Transport to reopen a station in the historic market town that was closed in 1965. Located on the Great Western Main Line between Bath and Chippenham, reopening Corsham would fill the existing 13-mile gap. Specific services are being worked on, but it could be either part of the proposed Oxford-Bristol orbital route, an additional stop on stopping London Paddington services. Should approval be granted, construction could commence in 2016 for a 2028 opening. Image sourced from Corsham Civic Society: https://www.corshamcivicsociety.co.u...nter-stage-two




Park Plaza Station
The Borough of Broxbourne are exploring options for a new station between Turkey Street and Theobolds Grove on the Cheshunt branch of the London Overground’s Lea Valley Lines. The station would serve the western neighbourhoods of Waltham Cross and a new mixed-use development called Park Plaza and the Sunset film studios under construction just to the north of the M25 orbital motorway. The new station would be located on the southern end of the site (visible in the bottom red outline). Image sourced from Borough of Broxbourne: https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/downlo...elopment-brief




Brent Cross West Station
This is a new station being built between Hendon and Cricklewood stations on the Midland Main Line. The five platform station will serve an extension to the Brent Cross development and is being built to factor in the station acting as the future northern terminus for the proposed West London Orbital Line. It is anticipated that the station will open sometime in the Autumn with 8 Thameslink trains per hour. Image 1 taken by Jamie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JDrvr/status/1672492448101158912
Image 2 taken by RailAdvent: https://twitter.com/railadvent/statu...64743493533701






Motspur Park Station
Motspur Park in south London on the Mole Valley Line is another station in south London that is being modified to provide step-free access. Should Crossrail 2 go ahead, Motspur Park would be on one of the branch lines. Works are anticipated to be completed in early 2024. Image sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...n-south-london




Tilehurst Station
Tilehurst is located on the western outskirts of Reading and beside the River Thames. Network Rail are progressing with plans to make the station step-free. Completion is set for Autumn 2023. Image Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ep-free-access




Wantage and Grove Station
Between Didcot Parkway and Swindon on the Great Western Main Line there is a 38km gap where there are no stations, mainly because the section is two-tracks and priority was given for intercity trains running from London out to Wales and the south-west. Historically there were six stations that covered this stretch, and now Oxfordshire County Council is pushing forward plans for a new station at Wantage and Grove that would provide the Vale of White Horse with improved rail access. The two platform station would be built on two existing loop track. Proposals were recently given a boost due to proposals to convert a nearby disused airfield into a science and business hub. Images sourced from Oxfordshire County Council: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites...tofopinion.pdf






Bexley Station
Bexley is a commuter station in south-east London on the Dartford Loop Line. The platforms are currently accessed by a subway, but the intention is to add a footbridge with two 16-person lifts to make the station step-free. The current Platform 1 will also be extended. Image from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ff-in-february




Wixams Station
Wixams is a proposed new two-platform station south of Bedford on the Midland Main Line that recently secured approval. The new station will be served by Thameslink services. Construction is likely to commence sometime in 2023 with an opening by Winter 2024. Images sourced from Beford Borough Council: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-r...ation-overview








Waterloo Station
Waterloo is the busiest mainline station in the UK and is covered by a glass roof spanning 3 acres. The current glass roof of 10,000 panels was installed in 1922 and is now at end of life and in need of replacing. The new polycarbonate glazing is half the weight of the old panels which will reduce fatigue on the superstructure. The two-year project will also see sustainable wooden seating installed, increasing the number of seats at the station to 480. Image sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...usiest-station

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Bank Station
The final stage of the Bank station upgrade has now been completed. This phase of works included a new large ticket hall and entrance on Cannon Street which provides more direct access down to the Northern Line and DLR platforms. An office block will be built above the station entrance at a future date. Images taken by IanVisits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...s-opened-60869

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Harston Station
This is another proposal for the reopening of a station on the Cambridge Line (which connects Cambridge to the ECML onwards to King’s Cross). The proposed route for the East West Rail Line would join the Cambridge Line just to the south of Harston. Image sourced from Harston History: https://www.harstonhistory.org.uk/co...ailway-station




Sawston Station
Sawston is a village due south of Cambridge that backs up onto the West Anglia Main Line, yet the closest station is Shelford (to the north) and Whittlesford Parkway (to the south), villages that are smaller than Sawston. Sawston is also home to a number of life science parks. A big to source Ideas Funds 3 monies was unsuccessful, with the council remaining hopeful to secure other sources to explore the project further. Image sourced from Bing Maps: https://www.bing.com/maps




Twyford Gardens Station
Twyford Gardens would be a new Elizabeth Line station to the east of the existing Twyford station (which is 31-miles due west of London Paddington) as part of a 2,500-home development. Images sourced from Twyford Gardens: https://twyfordgardens.co.uk










North Horsham Station
Proposed for the Arun Valley Line between Faygate and Littlehaven stations, a station here would replicate a long disused halt called Roffey Road. West Sussex County Council support this station, but news has been thin lately. Image sourced from Bing Maps: https://www.bing.com/maps




Welborne Gardens Village Station
Welborne is a new 10,000-home garden village proposed to the north of Fareham on the south coast. SLC Rail have been appointed by Fareham Borough Council to deliver a strategic outline business case for a new station which would be located on the West Coastway Line. Image sourced from Fareham Borough Council: https://www.fareham.gov.uk/latest_ne.../pr_20221128_1




Turnford Station
Turnford is a residential district that sits between Broxbourne and Cheshunt on the West Anglia Main Line, yet despite the continuous built-up area, there is a 3-mile gap between Broxbourne and Cheshunt stations. The Borough of Broxbourne have long held aspirations for a station here, which would also serve a large local college. Image sourced from Borough of Broxbourne: https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/downlo...ion-masterplan




c2c’s Class 720 Trains
c2c which operate commuter services out of London Fenchurch Street have unveiled their new Class 720 trains manufactured by Bombardier; an initial order of 12 5-car trains which can pair have been ordered. They are broadly similar to the trains found on the Greater Anglia lines. Images taken by Callum Marius on Twitter: https://twitter.com/callummarius/sta...92638664663040

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South Western Trains Class 701 Trains
SWT’s new class 701 trains made an appearance at London Waterloo to mark the 175th birthday of the station. 66 trains have been ordered, of which 54 have been built, but they have been delayed from entering service due to software issues. They are likely to start passenger service sometime around December 2023. Like all modern UK rolling stock, they have wide gangways to allow for walk-through. They will come in 5-car and 10-car formations, with each having seating for 274 and 556 and standing for 361 and 746 respectively.
Images taken by Modern Railways on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Modern_Railways/...04114220269568






DLR New Rolling Stock
TfL have commenced testing of their new DLR rolling stock. Manufactured by CAF of Spain, they are fully automated like the existing DLR rolling stock, but are now fully walk-through with longitudinal seating and more fold-up seating to create more space for wheelchairs and prams. An initial order of 43 trains was placed, of which 33 replace retiring stock and the remaining 10 will help to increase line frequencies. An option for a further 11 units, bringing the total to 54 trains, was also made last month. Total line capacity will increase by 30%, which will be much needed after recent data showed ridership on the DLR hitting 92% of pre-pandemic levels. Image 1 + 2 taken by CLondoner92 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLondoner92/stat...98865247657984 and Image 3 +4 taken by Callum Marius on Twitter: https://twitter.com/callummarius/sta...pxKrfwsRw&s=19

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Waterside Line Reopening
Located to the south of Southampton, the Waterside Line (formerly known as the Fawley Branch Line) is an old line that branches off the South Western Main Line. It was mostly used by freight services serving a refinery and military port. Network Rail are taking forward proposals to reopen the line with stations at Marchwood and Hythe to support 1,500 new homes and 2,500 jobs. Services could be extensions of the West Coastway Line that currently runs from Southampton Central to Brighton. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runnin...ne/#background








DLR Extension to Thamesmead
TfL have formally put forward their proposal to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via a new Thames tunnel and an intermediate station at Beckton Riverside. The extension would unlock 25,000-30,000 new homes on both sides of the Thames. TfL are targeting construction commencing in 2028 with an opening in the early 2030’s. Image sourced from TfL: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-t...=dlr-extension




Carterton & Witney Railway
To the north-west of Oxford, there used to be a 35km single-track branch railway (off the Cotswold Line) that ran to the towns of Witney and Carterton, the line was opened in phases from 1861-1873, but was closed in 1962 to passenger services. Oxfordshire County Council are proposing restoring services to these towns to help alleviate congestion on the A40 route with four new stations at Eynsham, Witney, Carterton North and Carterton.

A potential service pattern has not been announced, but it could extend the current London Paddington to Oxford service. Should approval be granted, the phased opening would span 2031-2035. Images sourced from Oxfordshire County Council: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/down...yv1-0final.pdf






London Overground
The London Overground is a collection of former dilapidated orbital and radial lines and some new infrastructure that came under TfL ownership back in 2007. The network currently spans 167km and 113 stations, and pre-pandemic had 365-day average ridership of 515,000. Ridership had recovered to 82% as of Dec-2022.

The extent of the network however does present its own problems, as the following map shows, the network is not one line, but six lines, of which three have branches. For people not used to London’s network that creates confusion; the Victoria Line as an example interacts with five of these lines, but they all show up as London Overground on maps. That means that for Londoners and visitors alike, a problem at Emerson Park is completely meaningless to the rest of the Overground network. The Victoria Line interacts with the Overground at five stations, yet these are all of separate lines which can be confusing.

In the railway world, these lines have unofficial names (e.g. the East London Line or the Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBLIN)) but there have been various attempts going back to 2015 to allocate each line its own identity. TfL are now looking to spend £4mn to go forward with their own identity: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...-b1069634.html. Image sourced from TfL: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-ov...etwork-map.pdf



Luton DART
After some delays, the new people-mover system has opened, connecting Luton Airport to Luton Airport Parkway station on the Midland Main Line. Previously – and unlike the other London airports – passengers wishing to arrive by train needed to catch a shuttle bus. Images 1, 2 + 3 sourced from Modern Railwayson Twitter: https://twitter.com/Modern_Railways/...76798323339264, Images 4, 5, 6 +7 sourced from Luton Rising on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LutonRising/stat...31463229964302 and Image 8 sourced from Benny Urban on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BennyUrban/statu...95838384054275

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Midland Main Line Electrification
Work continues to electrify the electrify the Midland Main Line which runs from London St Pancras up to Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Leeds. Image sourced from National Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...line-this-july




East West Rail
Work progresses on upgrading the existing and disused parts of the old Varsity Line that connected Oxford and Cambridge. The preferred route alignment from Bedford to Cambridge has also been announced including:
 A grade separated alignment through Bedford station for interchange with East Midland Trains and Thameslink services on the Midland Main Line
 Installation of an additional two tracks alongside the existing four tracks on the MML heading north and then around Bedford
 A new interchange station at Tempsford (to the south of St Neots) would provide interchange on the East Coast Main Line with Great Northern and Thameslink services
 EWR then heads to the growing new town community of Cambourne, before heading south to join the Cambridge Line
 EWR then serves Cambridge South and Cambridge stations
Photos taken by Phil Marsh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marshrail/status...66482725036044 and https://twitter.com/Marshrail/status...78448778485777 and Document Images sourced from East West Rail: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/routeupdate

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Elizabeth Line
The Elizabeth Line continues to go from strength-to-strength, last month registering a new daily ridership of 685,000 passengers. Yet buried in a TfL report published at the start of the year, there was an interesting comparison of the pre-pandemic forecast against the actual patronage (and that is before the meteoric rise in ridership in the past few months). As you may be able to see, the Elizabeth Line didn’t actually reduce the number of passengers using the Tube, Bus, Overground or National Rail lines, meaning the Elizabeth Line may have acted as a catalyst for additional public transport journeys than before the Pandemic. Another interesting note is the green bar: that is entirely new journeys or former car journeys; the forecast was for a minor bump, yet it accounts for nearly a third of patronage which is very encouraging. Time to just get on with Crossrail 2 now! Image sourced from TfL: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in...-report-15.pdf

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Epsom Downs Branch Line Upgrade
The Epsom Downs Branch Line is a 6km three-station line in south London which splits from the Portsmouth Line at Sutton. It is lightly used, and is most famous for its terminal station (for Epsom Racecourse), although there is a more convenient station for the racecourse. In recent years, there has been significant development of the London Cancer Hub close to Belmont station, and the local authorities are keen to increase the level of service. With a turnback loop, the line can increase to 4tph. It is intended for the upgrade to be completed in May 2026. Further details: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...-by-2026-63682


Bramley Line
The Bramley Line is a former loop line that branched off the cross-country Ely-Peterborough Line at March. From March station, the line ran northwards to the market town of Wisbech (which used to have three railway stations, but now has none), and then eastwards to join the Fen Line up to Kings Lynn.

The local authorities have secured further funding to explore options in reopening the 12.6km line from March to Wisbech with the hope of delivering a 2tph to Cambridge. This is dependent upon a Network Rail review of capacity in the Ely area (which is to the north of Cambridge) to see whether the services could be introduced. An alternative is for a light rail shuttle between Wisbech and March in the interim. Image sourced from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisbech




Kent & East Sussex Heritage Railway Extension (Rother Valley Railway)
Being the birthplace of the railway means that there are a lot of heritage lines across the UK that occupy the routes of disused routes. One such railway is the Kent & East Sussex Railway (“KESR”) which used to run from Headcorn (formerly Headcorn Junction) on the South Eastern Main Line, down to Robertsbridge (formerly Robertsbridge Junction) on the Hastings Line. Today, KESR heritage steam trains run only from Tenderden Town to Bodiam, and the line is therefore disconnected from the National Rail network.

For the past three decades, there has been a movement to reopen the 4km Rother Valley Railway section from Bodiam to Robertsbridge, which would provide a National Rail interchange at Robertsbridge. Finally, as of this May, approval was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport for the line to be reinstated. Image sourced from KESR: https://kesr.org.uk



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Real-time Train and Bus Maps
For anyone curious as to whether there are real-time rail and bus maps of London and across the UK, https://www.map.signalbox.io and https://bustimes.org provide a good source of trains and buses including filters by operator, origin and destination. Image sourced from Signalbox as of midday: https://www.map.signalbox.io and Image sourced from Bustimes as of midday: https://bustimes.org/map#13/51.513/-0.103






London Buses
While this thread is dominated by rail infrastructure developments, the most popular mode of transport in London is the iconic red double decker bus. Pre-pandemic, annual bus ridership hit 2.1bn journeys in 2019, but like most systems took a hit with the pandemic. Last year ridership had recovered to 1.5bn journeys.

There are currently 664 bus routes across London serving over 19,801 bus stop, with average line ridership of 2.2mn. The busiest bus route is the 18 (10.7mn journeys) which runs from Euston to Sudbury, whilst the quietest route is the 399 (0.007mn journeys) which runs for Barnet to Hadley Wood. 69 bus routes registered ridership >5mn journeys.

The fleet (as of a 31-March-2023 audit) is comprised of 8,643 buses, of which 6,198 are double-decker (71.7%) and the Mayor and TfL have set a target of 2030 for the entire fleet to be zero emissions. Images sourced by CLondoner92 on Twitter from TfL’s Corporate Report: https://twitter.com/CLondoner92/stat...sVkBPBkJg&s=19










Next Generation Bus Stop
Countdown clocks have been a common sight at London bus stops for three decades, but the time has come to move on from the orange dot-matrix design. There are three types of display being rolled out:
 E-ink accessible screen that shows live arrivals, timetables, and other information
 Above head-height live arrival board
 Large interactive screen that shows timetables, travel updates and a live arrival map so passengers can see exactly where their bus is (rather than just a simple x minutes away indicator).
Images sourced from London Live on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LondonLive/statu...98786972549140








Future Bus
Bus route 63 which runs from Honor Oak to King’s Cross has received a new double-decker bus which includes a skylight on the top deck to give new views of the London urban realm. The buses also include new destination and real-time information boards. Image 1 taken by Luka Novotny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LukasNovo89/stat...97158146408449 and Image 2 taken by Olly Hatch Esq,. on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OllyHatch/status...93048078049287






Yo-Go City
Half of private car journeys in London are less than 3km and 59% are journeys with a single occupant. Leo Murray in a twitter thread (https://twitter.com/crisortunity/sta...36571213783040) test drives a potential solution for those who can’t (or won’t cycle) but don’t want the hassle of a private car: the Yo-Go City is a road legal buggy that can be used on short trips. They have a 45-mile range, can carry two passengers and luggage/shopping and four of them can fit into the space of a single car. Image sourced from Leo Murray on Twitter: https://twitter.com/crisortunity/sta...36571213783040 and Image sourced form Yo-Go City: https://yo-go.city






Superloop
The frequency of buses and prevalence of bus lanes means that express buses are a rare occurrence on London’s roads, with only three routes in service; the X26: Croydon to Heathrow Airport, the X68: Croydon to Russell Square and the X140: Harrow to Heathrow Airport. However TfL have ascertained that there is a gap in the market for orbital express bus routes that would operate in Outer London.

TfL are starting to undertake consultations on the proposals for two of the routes, but there will be seven orbital routes connecting metropolitan centres around Outer London and three radial routes. Image sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/superloop


X34
This would replicate part of the existing 34 and 221 bus route, but would call at fewer stops running between Walthamstow Central and North Finchley, with buses every 12-mins Monday to Saturday and every 15-minutes late evenings and Sundays. Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/x34-superloop







X183
Running from North Finchley to Harrow, this express route would mirror part of the existing 125 and 183 bus routes. Like the proposed X34, services would be every 12-mins Monday to Saturday and every 15-minutes late evenings and Sundays. Images sourced from TfL: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/x183-superloop

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South Dock Pedestrian Bridge
Approval has been granted for a new pedestrian bridge crossing the South Dock which will connect Canary Wharf and South Quay. The bridge comprises of two spans approximately 35m long with a variable width of 7.8m to 15.4m. The bascule lifting span allows for ships to continue to access the western area of the South Dock. Images sourced from Knight Architects: https://www.knightarchitects.co.uk/b...th-dock-bridge

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Silvertown Bridge
Planning approval has been granted for a new pedestrian and cycling bridge that will span the Roual Victoria Dock in East London, linking the major Silvertown 6,400-home development (which has just started construction) and the ExCeL exhibition centre and the Custom House DLR and Elizabeth Line station. There is an existing footbridge (the Royal Victoria Dock Footbridge) slightly to the west which is unusual for having a suspended deck accessible via lifts and stairs. Whilst the bridge does offer some interesting views of the Docklands, it is not ideal for the higher volumes that would be crossing the dock at this point.

The new bridge will have a 3,000 pedestrian per hour capacity and zig-zags across the dock with undulations to allow small boats to pass underneath. At the mid-point there will be a double bascule to allow larger boats to pass through. The bridge should be open to the public in 2025. Images sourced from Architects Journal: https://twitter.com/constructingldn/...04473255911424










Clerkenwell Green
Dating back to the 12th century, Clerkenwell Green is one of London’s oldest public spaces, yet in recent decades the realm has been dominated by the car and on-street parking. The London Borough of Islington are looking to remove all car parking spaces, reduce the width of the roads, make access to Aylesbury Street one-way and pedestrianise most of the area. Works are likely to be completed by Summer 2023. Planning Image sourced from London Borough of Islington: https://www.islington.gov.uk/plannin...rkenwell-green and Update pictures taken by Jon Stone on Twitter: https://twitter.com/joncstone/status...05206457634818
















Dukes Meadow Bridge
A new pedestrian and cycling bridge has been built with hugs the path of the Thames as it passes under the Barnes Railway Bridges. Images sourced from Ian Visits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...y-bridge-59932

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Cycling in London
Some rather fascinating research unearthed by Danny Williams on Twitter shows cyclists representing the single largest vehicle mode in the City of London (the Square Mile/historic Roman centre). At peak hours, 40% of all traffic are cyclists, and 27% throughout the day. With more roads being restricted to pedestrians, bikes and buses, I can easily see the share of bikes increasing further in the years ahead. Images sourced by Danny Williamson Twitter: https://twitter.com/citycyclists/sta...25095382122500






King Edward Square
The City of London has approved plans to pedestrianise King Edward St and remove a 1970’s gyratory, making Newgate St and St Martin le Grand two-way streets, with increased pavement widths on those roads. The new piazza creates a new informal avenue responding to the sightline to St Pauls Cathedral and opens up the existing gardens surrounding the ruins of the Grade I listed Christchurch Greyfriars church. Images sourced from LDA Design: https://www.lda-design.co.uk/kindlin...gains-approval












Smithfield Pedestrianisation
Plans are gradually progressing to pedestrianise the neighbourhood around the future Museum of London site in Farringdon, and the historic Smithfield Meat Market. The City of London are attempting to create a new heritage mile running from the Thames up via St Paul’s Cathedral to Farringdon. Images sourced from Hawkins Brown: https://www.hawkinsbrown.com/project...d-public-realm








Silvertown Tunnel
Work continues on the new Silvertown road tunnel crossing which will be comprised of two parallel tunnel bores in East London. The tunnel is needed to provide relief to the nearby Blackwall Tunnel and enable more buses to traverse the Thames in this area. The downside is that there isn’t a dedicated cycling and walking lane which is causing push back, as well as possibly increasing congestion on the Greenwich approaches. Image source from From The Murkey Depths: https://www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk...ction-underway




Network Rail & TfL Housing Partnership
Not a transport project, but Network Rail and TfL who have 600+ stations in the city boundaries, making them one of the largest land owners have announced a plan to cooperate on sites to deliver 20,000 new homes over the next decade. New homes is always good, but key to this is helping develop existing station sites with improvements across the capital. There’s also a rather nice aerial of London Bridge station. Image sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...s-of-new-homes




Streets for People
As discovered by Jon Stone on Twitter, the London Borough of Southwark have announced a radical Streets for People strategy that will greatly enhance the walking environment across the entire borough. There is a concerted effort across the city to reduce the available road space to private vehicles, prioritising pedestrians, cyclists and buses. TfL’s own research has showed that if you improve the public realm, you increase the likelihood of walking and cycling. Further information: https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/d...02023-2030.pdf + https://twitter.com/joncstone/status...51289900621824




Bank Junction Remodelling
Once the primary crossroads in the historic centre of London, Bank junction which is the convergence of seven roads, many of which have their origins going back to the original Roman settlement of Londinium has been undergoing a remodelling that started in Autumn 2022 and is set to be completed in Spring 2024. The final design will result in a far smaller road junction with more space dedicated for pedestrians, and access restricted to buses and bicycles. Images taken by Steve Walker on Twitter: https://twitter.com/swalkere17/statu...17785917722624 and Images sourced from Corporation of London: https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.u...aspx?ID=110806

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London Luton Airport
Luton Airport is London’s 4th busiest airport located north-east of the capital. Primarily a low-cost-carrier airport focused on travel to Europe, the airport reached 18mn passengers in 2019 before the arrival of the pandemic which was the maximum permissible under a cap on flights. As of 2022, the airport had recovered to 13mn, and continuing to recover, and the authorities envision a return to above pre-pandemic levels sometime this year.

An application has been made to increase capacity to 32mn with the current terminal extended and a new second terminal to the east. The airfield would also be extended, as would the provision of new airside and landside facilities, and an extension of the recently opened Luton DART passenger transport system. The airport has set a target to be have zero-emission ground operations by 2040. Should permission be granted, construction could commence in 2025 with phase I works being completed by 2027, and phase II starting sometime in 2033. Terminal 2 and Pier 1 would open in 2036, and Terminal 2 Extension and Pier 2 sometime in 2039. Images sourced from Luton Rising: https://lutonrising.org.uk
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London Gatwick Airport
Before the pandemic, Gatwick was the fastest growing major airport in the UK and offered more destinations than any other (233 versus 204 for Heathrow), and like the other London airports, reached a record 46.6mn passengers in 2019.

Gatwick has the dubious honour of being the busiest single-runway airport in the world, but it does have a northern runway that is rarely used (except for smaller aircraft) because it is too close to the main runway. Gatwick propose moving the runway north by 12-metres which would allow it to be brought into use for larger aircraft, around 10-15 aircraft movements per hour which would help Gatwick to accommodate 75mn passengers by 2032. It would also increase operational resilience in the event of any issues with the main runway. Pier 6 would also be extended to provide more gates. Construction could start in 2025 and be complete by the end of the 2020’s.

The airport authorities are currently not pursuing plans for a new runway to the south of the main runway and a third terminal, but it remains safeguarded and could be advanced in a decade’s time should demand grow faster than anticipated. Images sourced from London Gatwick Airport: https://www.gatwickairport.com/busin...ng-term-plans/

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London Stansted Airport
The operators of Stansted Airport recently announced plans for a second terminal expansion, and are looking to submit a planning application that would extend the existing Fosters + Partners terminal (which opened in 1991) north-westwards from 9-bays to 12-bays in depth. The extension would provide more space for departures, an enlarged baggage handling system and a next-generation security hall. Stansted has demonstrated strong post-pandemic growth, hitting 26mn passengers in the past 12-month period, and is likely to surpass the pre-pandemic record of 28.1mn (set in 2019) later this year. More details will be released later this year. Image sourced from Stansted Airport: https://mediacentre.stanstedairport....minal-building



This expansion follows after approval was granted in 2021 after a public inquiry for a new Arrivals Terminal which would be built to the north-east adjacent to the existing terminal.

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Bakerloo Line Extension
Central London Forward have published a report into the extension of the Bakerloo Line into south-east London and modernisation of the rest of the line to unlock housebuilding and improve transit access into Central London along the Old Kent Road corridor and beyond. Central Government is less inclined to fund such an obvious transit project, but it is hoped that a change in government later this year will see the project move forward. Images sourced from Central London Forward: https://centrallondonforward.gov.uk/...ed_Digital.pdf
























London Overground Line Renaming
The Overground came into existence in 2007 when TfL took over control of various orbital and suburban lines across London. Subsequent investment on the old East London Line created a north-to-south orbital line that bypassed Central London, but the appearance on the tube map, new trains, and a refresh and modernisation of stations meant the network boomed relative to pre-Overground ridership levels. In 2015, TfL took over the Lea Valley lines from Greater Anglia, and there is political appetite for more suburban lines to join the Overground network.

The network now spans 167km and 113 stations. That creates a problem, in that the entire network being referred to as the Overground isn’t helpful when there are delays or engineering works on certain sections that might be completely irrelevant for most users of the network.

To get around this, TfL and the Mayor have announced that whilst the Overground as a brand (much like the Underground) will remain, as will the orange roundels to distinguish from other rail services, there will now be six lines:

• Windrush Line – this incorporates the old East London and South London Lines from Highbury & Islington, down to New Cross, Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace and West Croydon
• Mildmay Line – this incorporates the old North London and West London Lines from Stratford to Richmond and Clapham Junction
• Lioness Line – this covers the old Watford DC Line from Euston to Watford Junction
• Suffragette Line – this covers the old Gospel Oak to Barking Line, or more commonly known as the GOBLin from Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside
• Weaver Line – this incorporates the Lea Valley Lines up to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford
• Liberty Line – the old Romford-Upminster Line… Literally from Romford to Upminster

Some of the names have piqued the curiosity of some, but with time they will likely become part of the transit fabric of London. Images sourced from TfL: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-over...nd-line-naming

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London Waterloo Redevelopment
Waterloo station is the terminus of the South West Main Line and one of the busiest stations in London, as well as the largest in terms of platform count and area covered. Originally opened in 1848, it was rebuilt in 1922 based on the Imperial Baroque style, with a further expansion in 1994 with the creation of what was then the Eurostar terminal. Further upgrades include the construction in 2012 of a retail balcony that freed up space on the concourse, and a vast ticket line (130 gates across). 2018 saw the five former Eurostar platforms converted into commuter services.

Waterloo has a sister station: Waterloo East (on the South Eastern Main Line into Charing Cross) which is accessible via a pedestrian bridge from the retail balcony, and which uses letters instead of numbers to avoid confusion with the main Waterloo station. Waterloo is also an interchange for four tube lines; Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and the Waterloo & City.

Whilst Waterloo was predominantly a commuter station, and seen a slower recovery in passengers compared to other mainline London termini, the station is still the third busiest in the country, and despite the various upgrades, struggled to cope with peak passenger flows.

A broad consortium covering all stakeholders are proposing a substantial remodelling of the station including:

• New 8,000m2 southern concourse providing a new east-west corridor using the historic undercroft under the station
• 20 new or enhanced station entrances, all of which will be step-free
• Pedestrianisation of Cab Road allowing for an extension of the concourse northwards
• Pedestrianisation of Mepham Street and Tenison Way creating a
• New intermodal interchange for taxis and buses
• Improved access to the Underground concourse
• 5,000 new cycle parking and hire spaces
• 1,900m2 new green space
• Opening up of the vaults for 61,000m2 further commercial development
• Above station and surrounding development creating up to 10,000 new jobs

Images sourced from London Borough of Lambeth: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/housing/r...station-vision

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Beaulieu Park Station
Located north-east of Chelmsford (the busiest two-platform station on the UK network), Beaulieu Park is a new three platform station on the Great Eastern Main Line that will help to relieve Chelmsford station and unlock thousands of new homes. Anticipated opening is 2026. Images sourced from Network Rail Anglia: https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1785702852649742516 + https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1785693158384566431

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Brent Cross West Station
Opened in December, this is one of London’s newest stations to serve the large Brent Cross development project. There are four platforms that can each accommodate 12-car trains. Images taken by Diamond Geezer on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeeze...77720313277092

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Cambridge South Station
Work continues on the new Cambridge South station which is located on the West Anglia Main Line, Cambridge Line, and in future, the East West Rail route currently u/c and which will run to Oxford. Built to provide relief to Cambridge station, the new station will help unlock development across the area, particularly the rapidly expanding Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The four-platform station is scheduled to open is 2025 and will have 1,000 cycle spaces. Images sourced from Network Rail Anglia: https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1793279851446616155

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Gatwick Airport Station
The world’s first airport railway station, Gatwick Airport, located on the Brighton Main Line is also one of the busiest on the network (21mn pre-pandemic, and 16.5mn last year) and a major interchange for routes across the south coast. Yet with that success, long-term aspirations to double passenger numbers at the airport, and increase the share of people using rail, it was identified that previous upgrades in 2010 and 2014 were insufficient.

Work started in 2020 to double capacity at the station to include a new concourse, wider platforms, 5 new large 45-person high-capacity lifts, 8 new escalators, 4 new stairways and track works to enable more reliable services and quicker journey times between London and Brighton. Passengers arriving by rail will exit via the new concourse, and those departing the South Terminal will leave via the old concourse. Further details: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...ain-line-67216. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...-to-passengers

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Great Malvern Station
A small town located on the Cotswold Line, served by GWR into London Paddington and other WMT into Birmingham, Great Malvern Station is a historic station dating back to 1862 which incorporates a unique French gothic floral theme throughout. The station has just undergone a refurbishment programme to return the station to its original appearance. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...alvern-station









Leatherhead Station
Located at the junction on the Sutton & Mole Valley Lines, Leatherhead is a commuter station in Surrey with services to London Victoria and London Waterloo, and services to the south (to Dorking and Horsham) and west (to Guildford). As part of Network Rail’s ongoing programme to increase accessibility across the UK rail network, a new footbridge with two 8-person lifts and stairs will be constructed. Lighitng and other amenities will also be refreshed as part of the programme, with works completed in early 2025. Images and further detail source from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...lly-accessible





Liverpool Street Station
Whilst there is a larger proposal by Herzog de Meuron to deliver a comprehensive – and very controversial – redevelopment of the 1990’s modernisation of the station, Network Rail are pushing on with two much needed plans to reduce queues at the gateline and accessibility.

Gateline
Currently, between platforms 1-10, the gateline at Liverpool Street is separated by six retail kiosks. Network Rail are looking to remove these kiosks (with three being located as part of a new retail element by platform 10) and create a long gateline, increasing the gate count from the current 36 to 60, including four additional wide-access gates. Images and further details sourced from Ian Visits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...barriers-68106





Accessibility
The platforms and main concourse at Liverpool Street sit below street level in a large cutting. Whilst there is step-free access to the west and north, access to the south and east is via a solitary lift, and this lift is used over 1,600 times every day of the year, which is grossly inadequate. To rectify this, a new lift will be constructed in the concourse by the Bishopsgate entrances. Images and further details sourced from Ian Visits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...-station-66800







London’s Train Termini
Two interesting videos discussing the origin of London’s terminal names and the lost terminals over the past two centuries.

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Petts Wood Station
Petts Wood on the South Eastern Main Line is a four-platform station 20.4km south-east of London Charing Cross. Originally opened in 1928, as of March it has now gone step-free. Images and further details sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ility-upgrades





Pontoon Dock Station
TfL have announced a major upgrade for Pontoon Dock Station on the DLR’s Woolwich Arsenal branch which has seen a surge in construction that is putting a strain on the existing station setup. TfL intend to extend the mezzanine level to allow for four more escalators to be installed. Completion is targeted for mid-2027. Images and further detail sourced from Ian Visits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...-planned-69704











Shortlands Station
Another station set to go step-free will be Shortlands, 16km down from London Victoria, it is at the junction for the Catford Loop Line and Bromley South Line. As part of the programme, a new footbridge and three lifts and other security and accessibility measures will be undertaken to bring the station up to date. Work is set to be completed in Spring 2025. Images and further detail source from Network Rail: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runnin...-improvements/









South Kensington Station
TfL have finally received approval for their plans to rebuild South Kensington station and develop surrounding plots. The station is comprised of two sub-surface platforms (plus two disused platforms) used by the Circle and District lines, and two deep level platforms for the Piccadilly line.

The proposal would see the sub-surface lines remodelled, with the eastbound occupying an enlarged northern platform (currently disused), with the westbound platform taking possession of the entire existing island platform, dramatically increasing the ability for the station to cope with flows at peak times. The current ticket hall will be expanded, including an enlarged single gateline and lifts. Images sourced from WW+P: https://www.westonwilliamson.com/pro...tation-upgrade

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St Pancras Station

[B]Designer sought for St Pancras International growth plans[?B]
Architects’ Journal, 4 March 2024, https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/...ational-london

Originally Posted by Architects Journal

The project aims to boost capacity at the congested St Pancras International where, in coming years, new train operators are planning to run services alongside Eurostar, which itself hopes to increase capacity from 1,800 passengers an hour to 2,700 passengers an hour by 2025.

In its brief, HS1 says it needs to ‘safeguard for the potential of other new international operators entering the market and wishing to run services to and from St Pancras International. HS1 is agnostic about where international growth comes from but is keen to make plans and facilitate growth, wherever it may come from.

Image taken by Francois Photography on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126799...3/52238287299/





Streatham Station
Streatham station on the Sutton & Mole Valley Lines in south London is another station to have recently had lifts installed to provide access from street to platform. Images taken by Streatham Action on Twitter: https://x.com/streathamaction/status...18969297555499

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Clerkenwell Green
Works to pedestrianise Clerkenwell Green, which was up until recently dominated by a road and parked cars has now been completed. Images taken by Bob From Accounts on Twitter: https://x.com/BobFromAccounts/status...80105512563160







Cycling London
London Bike Boom Risks Becoming a Victim of Its Own Success
Bloomberg, 23 Feb 2024, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ts-own-success

Originally Posted by Bloomberg

…London’s recent cycling growth is rapid: An estimated 1.26 million biking trips are now made every day in the capital — a 6.2% increase on 2022 and up 20% since 2019 — and unlike the rest of England, the pandemic-fueled boom has kept on growing. Cycling trips are now the equivalent to a third of all Tube journeys and a quarter of bus passenger riders, making bikes a major player on the city’s transportation stage.

Those numbers may be big, but the potential is even bigger. According to Transport for London, or TfL, more than 8 million motor vehicle trips each day could be biked. Cycling represents less than 5% of daily London trips, while in Copenhagen that figure is 49%. Bike trips per resident are 0.14 in London per day, about half the 0.29 in Paris and a fraction of the 0.9 in Amsterdam, according to the European Cyclists Federation…

Some cool cycle traffic videos; you’d almost be forgiven for thinking that it’s Amsterdam or Copenhagen!
https://x.com/PGSMurray/status/1785587608006881554
https://x.com/CyclingLawLDN/status/1798617315774525791
https://x.com/CyclingLawLDN/status/1797895549590569014

On a personal level, and as someone that cycles everywhere, the volume of cyclists on many roads in London is rather incredible. With the sheer number of pedestrians and more cyclists, there have been more calls to close roads off entirely to vehicles, or at least better allocate road real estate to active travel uses.

One rather dramatic poll showed massive support for wholesale pedestrianisation of Central London, that is an area roughly 7km across and 4.5km north-to-south, equivalent to everything in Manhattan south of Central Park being car-free! The reality is that I suspect we’ll see major through routes remain as people still take buses and deliveries need to be made, but there will be more neighbourhoods that are car-free areas.



Hammersmith Bridge
Hammersmith Bridge has had a rather bad time in recent years. The cast iron bridge had to be closed to all vehicle traffic due to severe deficiencies in the structure. The cost of repair and political infighting has meant a solution has been increasingly pushed back. In the meantime, the road space has been given over to cyclists and pedestrians. Image taken by Charlie Campion on Twitter: https://twitter.com/charliecampion/s...80335243903097





Holborn Liveable Neighbourhoods
Camden Council and TfL have unveiled a variety of proposals to reduce road space for cars, and making the area more accessible and pleasant for cyclists and pedestrians. The consultation ended in March, and a final draft us due later this summer with works commencing later this year. Images sourced from Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood: https://holbornln.commonplace.is



































Lea River Pedestrian Bridges
The past two decades has seen the Lower Lea Valley change dramatically with lots of new development, however that volume is set to be dwarfed by larger projects in the area between Canning Town and Bromley-by-Bow which could see the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes. South of Bromley-by-Bow there is one pedestrian bridge and another road, bridge, but there is a big gap all the way down to the A13 (the section marked “D”), where there is a further pedestrian crossing (south of where “E” is marked), and then another pedestrian crossing from the City Island peninsula to Canning Town. The Lower Lea Crossing (marked “F”) is a car-dominated bridge that is not too pleasant.

Tower Hamlets are proposing five new bridges, with Lochnagar “A”, Poplar Reach “B”, and Mayer Parry “C” viewed as priorities to connect either side of the river and connect to nearby stations. Tower Hamlets also propose two further pedestrian crossings (“F” and “G”) to provide improved access along the north-bank of the Thames and from recent riverside developments up to Canning Town. Image sourced from Tower Hamlets: https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lower-lea-bridges





Superloop
London’s new orbital express bus service network has now gone live.

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Superloop 2
In the leadup to the recent Mayoral election, Sadiq Khan announced that he intends to double the Superloop network to twenty routes around London. Image sourced from Londonist: https://londonist.com/london/transpo...hatching-plans





Lumo
Lumo – the intercity rail operator that runs trains out of London King’s Cross up to Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line – have announced that a proposal has been submitted to the regulator to run six return services from Rochdale to London via Manchester Victoria. Services will call at Rochdalem Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quary before running into London Euston. Lumo estimate that the new service would give 1.6mn people a direct service to London that currently requires a change at other stations. An additional order for class 800 trains will be made to support the service. Further details: https://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-a...ws%20item.aspx. Image taken by Newcastle Flyer on Twitter: https://x.com/NewcastleFlyer/status/1763668959750979700





Grand Central Rail
Grand Central is an intercity operator that runs trains from Sunderland and Bradford to London King’s Cross. They have just announced that they will add an additional two daily services up to West Yorkshire, another service from York, and a new four daily return service to Seaham which is to the south of Sunderland. Further details: https://www.grandcentralrail.com/new...xpansion-plans. Image taken by Grand Central Rail: https://x.com/GC_Rail/status/1331587393510641664

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Class 230 Battery Trains
Using old tube stock, real-world testing has started on fast-charge battery trains that could be used on the 80 branch lines across the UK that aren’t electrified. Back in February the trains set a record of 138km on one charge, reaching 97kph across a hill route with elevation differences of up to 200m. The expected service range could be 200km on a single charge, and when paired with a charge time of only 3mins 30seconds, the potential service range could be far longer. Image taken by Tim Dunn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrTimDunn/status...69187416736211

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Southeastern Rolling Stock Tender
Southeastern operate metro, commuter and intercity services across London and the south-east, serving 164 stations across a network length of 748km. In 2023, ridership hit 125mn, which is still down from the pre-pandemic high of 183mn.

Southeastern operate seven different class of trains, with the oldest dating back to 1991. They have placed a tender for between 350 and 570 carriages, with an option for a further 70 carriages (640 in total) to be deployed on the metro routes. Further detail: https://newsroom.southeasternrailway...ro-train-fleet. Image sourced from Southeastern: https://newsroom.southeasternrailway...ro-train-fleet

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Class 707 ‘City Bream’ Trains
Slightly cursed, these trains were originally built for South West Trains between 2015-2018, but were replaced by class 701’s in 2021. Starting late 2023, they were transferred over to Southeastern to operate on their metro routes across south east London. 30 trains were ordered, with each consisting of 5 walkthrough air conditioned carriages. Images taken by Class466cuxton, sourced from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_707

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Class 345 Trains
With ridership on the Elizabeth Line booming and expected pressures from the HS2 interchange at Old Oak Common, an order has been placed for a further 10 nine-carriage trains. Further detail: https://www.londonreconnections.com/...-for-crossrail. Image taken by Martin Coles on Twitter: https://x.com/MColes_Railways/status...35419831316481





Class 701 ‘Arterio’ Trains
Built by Bombardier for South Western Railway on routes out of London Waterloo to Windsor and Reading, they are built off the same Aventra platform as the Elizabeth Line and Overground trains, but with an internal fitout for medium-distance commuter operation, although with large standing areas around the doors for peak hour volumes. 750 carriages were built, spread across 60 ten-car and 30 five car formations. Like all modern rolling stock, they are walkthrough. First two pictures taken by Ben Broomfield on Twitter: https://x.com/BenBroomfield_/status/1767197537792827686. Third picture taken by [B]Steve Poole[/B[ on Twitter: https://x.com/TheRealStavioni/status...30274959998976. Fourth picture taken by Pip Dunn on Twitter: https://x.com/pipdunn/status/1793691066803343528

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Class 805 ‘Evero’
Testing has begun on Avanti West Coast’s new class 805 bi-mode trains which will replace class 221’s that run to the Welsh Border and along the North Wales Coast (which isn’t electrified). They are intercity trains manufactured by Hitachi which mirror the design of other class 80x series trains in operation across intercity routes across the UK. 13 trains have been ordered with each composed of 5-cars, with the option of trains pairing and splitting to serve two destinations. Images taken by Alex @SupportHongKong @香港デモを応援 on Twitter: https://x.com/alexflh/status/1782902722288902463

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Piccadilly Line Trains
Starting next year, the Piccadilly Line will start to receive the first of 94 new trains which provide 10% extra capacity, walkthrough carriages and air conditioning. Proposed signalling upgrades anticipate headways as short as 100 seconds and increase line capacity by 60%. There is an option for a further 156 trains that could be deployed on other lines. Further details: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...-germany-67513. Images taken by TfL on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TfL/status/1725483940318687284

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Eurotunnel
Eurotunnel which owns and manages the Channel Tunnel has set aside €50mn to provide financial assistance for new market entrants to provide services through the tunnel. Currently 12tph in each direction use the tunnel (a mixture of Eurostar, Le Shuttle vehicle shuttle and freight), but there is capacity for 16tph, and HS1 which runs into London St Pancras uses less than half the line capacity. Eurotunnel are working to attract operators that could provide services from London to Cologne (4hrs), Frankfurt (5hrs) and Geneva (5hrs 30mins) by 2030. An issue that would need to be resolved is the terminal capacity at St Pancras to cope with additional services to the continent. Further details: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-b2464123.html



Eurostar – New Train Order
Eurostar Group – the intercity rail operator that runs services between London, Paris and Brussels – recently announced that year-on-year growth from London to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris has expanded by 38%, 33% and 25% respectively. 8.8mn journeys were made between London and Paris, 2.2mn between London and Brussels and 1.1mn between London and Paris. Levels are back to pre-pandemic levels.

The group which merged with Thalys during the pandemic is keen to put an order in for 50 new trains which will allow for the company to dispose of the 11 class 373’s that operate out of London, as well as the other rolling stock that operates from Paris, to destinations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, which have now been in operation for three decades. The 17 class 374’s which have a higher capacity than the class 373’s and can hit 200mph are under a decade old would be retained. The total Eurostar fleet would rise from 51 units to 67, enabling higher frequencies out of London. Further details: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tran...-b1158136.html. Image taken by Jipe Trains n Buses on Twitter: https://x.com/JipeTrains/status/1625019222601482242





Diesel Trains Head the Way of Steam
Source: The Times, 1 June, 2024, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/2...6d623a443254b8

Originally Posted by The Times

Operators are to start ordering the new trains in the new year, with the first expected to go into service on regional and local routes shortly after 2030.

GWR, the operator for the West Country, announced this weekend that it would lead the way with plans to order 100 battery trains to serve local services in Bristol, Devon and Cornwall, as well as routes including Cardiff to Portsmouth and Exeter to Penzance.

The ability to switch back and forth between overhead cables and batteries dramatically reduces costs.

One senior rail industry source said: “There are sections of open countryside where it’s easy to rig up overhead cables, but it becomes a major civil engineering project in tunnels and bridges.”

Using battery trains also avoids the need to build unsightly power lines above national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Siemens is in talks with GWR and six other operators — Chiltern, East West, Northern, ScotRail, Transport for Wales and TransPennine Express — who between them need to replace 1,650 ageing diesel trains.

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Paddington Station – New Entrance
TfL has opened a new ticket hall at Paddington station which enables step-free access to the Bakerloo line platforms and increased access to the Circle and District lines and the other (cramped) ticket hall. The new entrance bypasses the mainline extension. Images sourced from TfL: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news...the-first-time







Beaulieu Park Station
Image 1 sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...u-park-station + Image 2 + 3 sourced from RJ Drylining Limited: https://x.com/RJDrylining/status/1831293812078993740






Cambridge South Station
Work progresses on the new station in south Cambridge which will be on the lines to London King’s Cross and London Liverpool St. Images sourced from Network Rail Anglia: https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1811054927730401646









Peterborough Station
Peterborough is a major station on the East Coast Main Line, 123km due north of London King’s Cross. As well as being a northern terminus for Thameslink, LNER intercity service run north to the north-east and Edinburgh, and provides interchange for regional passenger and freight lines across the rest of the UK.

Proposals are moving forward as part of a £65mn project to redevelop the station and surrounding area which will deliver a new eastern entrance and a new green corridor which prioritises pedestrians and cyclists, linking the station and historic city centre. More detailed proposals will be delivered in early 2025. Images sourced from Peterborough City Council: https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/coun...tation-quarter





Midland Main Line Electrification
The Midland Main Line is a major trunk route which runs from London St Pancras up to Sheffield and serves Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. The line is currently electrified up to Kettering (115km north of St Pancras), but works have now reached the testing phase for a further 35km stretch just to the south of Leicester. The intention is to reach Nottingham by 2030 and Sheffield by the early 2030’s. Electrifying the line doesn’t just allow for greener services, but electrified trains are lighter and can run >200kph, as well as accelerating faster. It also opens up possibility for diversion of services should there be issues or engineering works on the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line. Images : https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...is-electrified






East West Rail
Work progresses on London’s newest orbital railway which will (eventually) connect Oxford and Cambridge, and provide orbital connections to a variety of lines and towns.

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TfL Trams
TfL have launched a tender for the manufacture of 24 new trams (with scope to increase the order and replace the entire existing fleet) to be introduced in the last 2020’s. Further details: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/pr...fleet-of-trams. Image taken by Jon Stone on Twitter: https://x.com/joncstone/status/1695787845246410952




Ouse Valley Viaduct Restoration
Over 180-years old, the 450m long Ouse Valley Viaduct carries Brighton Main Line services to/from London and Brighton. Built using 11mn bricks, 20 trains an hour cross the viaduct, and it is an important transport link moving 52,000 passengers each day. The historic structure is being restored to ensure that it can continue to be used well into the current century. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...valley-viaduct




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London’s Suburban Rail Network
A good explanation of the London rail network by RMTransit.
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Silvertown Tunnel
Works continue on London’s newest road tunnel that will help to relieve the existing Blackwall Tunnels in East London. Set to open in early 2025. Further reading: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/lat...ess-22-02-2024
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The Guardian: Railway Walks
The Guardian, 30 April 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...il-based-walks

Originally Posted by The Guardian

‘You can walk virtually everywhere in England by using the train’: the man connecting rail-based walks

A new website aims to offer a wide network of walking routes from British train stations, and is calling on hikers to add their favourites. Our writer accompanies the founder on a ramble to Bath Spa station

Originally Posted by The Guardian

National Rail serves 2,593 stations, their locations scattered across the map like cartographic confetti. Many of them sit directly on longstanding hiking trails or within a short distance of paths worth exploring. In a large number of cases, it’s possible to walk between two stations following rights of way, rendering a car or taxi redundant.

Such routes are frequently scenic but often little-known, giving value to the prospect of a dedicated database of station-to-station walks. Might a disembarkation at Ffairfach, Whatstandwell or Crianlarich be the passport to your next hike? Quite possibly – which is where the recently launched Railwalks.co.uk comes in. Its aim is to create a crowd-sourced national network of rail-based walking routes, mostly ranging from two to 20 miles.

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South Bank Pedestrianisation
Lambeth borough are proposing to pedestrianise and greatly enhance the movement of pedestrians and cyclists along roads that connect the South Bank, various cultural institutions and Waterloo Station. Currently the area is a bit of a mishmash that strains under the conflict from private vehicles and large pedestrian volumes. Work is set to start soon and will be completed by Spring 2025. Images sourced from Lambeth Borough: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/housing/r...nk-spine-route





Low Line
The Low Line is a joint active travel focused initiative from the London boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth to make better use of the vast viaduct that carries the South West Main Line out of Waterloo and a 400m hinterland either side of the viaduct and its 299 arches. Images and further details sourced from Lambeth Now: https://lambethnow.co.uk/wp-content/...mpressed-2.pdf


























Rain Gardens
Rain Gardens or sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) is the concept of capturing rainfall before it enters the sewer network and reducing the risk of flooding. Headline facts as per Meristem Design, www.meristemdesign.co.uk
 🌧️They can capture up to 30mm of rainfall per event, significantly reducing runoff.
 🚫Eliminates up to 90% of water pollutants, making our waterways cleaner.
 💸 Are up to 50% more cost-effective than conventional drainage systems.
 🐦 Enhances local biodiversity by 30%.
 🛡️ Lower flood volumes by 80% in urban settings, mitigating flood risks.
 ☀️ Help cool urban areas by up to 2°C, combating the heat island effect.
 🏞️ Lead to 75% of people feeling more satisfied with enhanced green and aesthetic spaces.
 💧 Save 40% of potable water by using it for irrigation instead.
 🏠 Can raise property values by as much as 20%.
 🤝 Boost community project participation by 50%, encouraging environmental stewardship.

Images 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 + 7 taken by Meristem Design, image 5 taken by Lambeth Council on Twitter: 1 - https://x.com/MeristemDesign/status/1712113516927140211, 2 - https://x.com/MeristemDesign/status/1770783545063035368, 3 - https://x.com/MeristemDesign/status/1762480420073959656, 4 - https://x.com/MeristemDesign/status/1764636231940350093, 5 - https://x.com/lambeth_council/status...67376416649304, 6 - https://x.com/MeristemDesign/status/1714237437537399235, 7 - https://x.com/MeristemDesign/status/1783855023622963575

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Bakerloo Line Extension
TfL have picked AECOM (for civil, structural, mechanical and geotechnical) and WW+P (for design aspects) to work on a feasibility study to extend the Bakerloo Line beyond Elephant & Castle down to Lewisham with three new intermediate stations. Still a while to go as funding needs to be finalised. Images sourced from TfL: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-t...line-extension




Elizabeth Line - Design Award
The Elizabeth Line has won the prestigious RIBA Sterling Prize

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Images 1-3 sourced from TfL on Twitter: https://x.com/TfL/status/1846910174520340547 + Images 4-6 sourced from Parametric Architecture on Twitter: https://x.com/parametricarch/status/1847290005376336305














Cambridge South Station

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Images sourced from Network Rail Anglia: https://x.com/NetworkRailAng/status/1849424523189223767








Beaulieu Park

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Stratford Station
A new entrance into Stratford station has opened to provide access coming from the south-west onto the Jubilee Line concourse. It looks a bit spartan as the immediately adjacent Carpenter Estate is being redeveloped. Interestingly this entrance might have a short life as proposals are currently being drawn up for a complete rebuild of the station (potentially on the scale of London Bridge). Images sourced from Taylor Woodrow on Twitter: https://x.com/TaylorWoodrow1/status/1849482003025977807






Elephant & Castle Station
As part of a large development at Elephant & Castle, a new box is being built that will provide step-free access and a more voluminous space to move to/from the Northern Line platforms. TfL have now awarded a contract for 135m of connecting passenger tunnels to the platforms. Provision has been made also for a further three escalators down to the Bakerloo Line once funding has been secured for the extension to Lewisham. Images and notes sourced from IanVisits: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles...entrance-75966






Surrey Canal Station
Surrey Canal is a proposed station on the London Overground (on what will be renamed the Windrush Line) between Surrey Quays and Queens Road Peckham. The station which has been tied up in funding conversations for a while would serve a large new development around the Surrey Canal Triangle. It has now been agreed that funding will be allocated to unlock over 3,00 new homes. Image sourced from CLondoner92 on Twitter: https://x.com/CLondoner92/status/1822995805260689512




Contactless Payment Rollout
A scheme to extend pay-as-you-go contactless payment to 47 stations which was due to be rolled out in September has been pushed back due to technical issues at TfL. Stations would include those operated by c2c, London Northwestern Railway, South Western Railway, Southeastern, and Thameslink operators. Images sourced from National Rail: https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8...-_Phase_1B.pdf




New Piccadilly Line Trains
The media were given access to the New Tube For London which will start rolling out across the Piccadilly Line next year. These deep-level trains incorporate a few firsts, one being air conditioning (only the sub-surface, Overground, Elizabeth and other Network Rail lines have it), articulated carriages, but also the introduction of wheel-less carriages on four of the 9-cars.

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Images 1-3 sourced from Tom Edwards on Twitter: https://x.com/BBCTomEdwards/status/1841832354660196535 + Image 4 sourced from CLondoner92 on Twitter: https://x.com/BBCTomEdwards/status/1841832354660196535










Night Tube Extension

Originally Posted by Time Out

So, weekend warriors and after work drinkers will be happy to hear that the night tube could be extended to Thursdays, after London Mayor Sadiq Khan was told ‘Thursday is the new Friday’ in a City Hall meeting.

Proposals for the night tube to run on Thursdays are ‘under review’ Khan has said. But there is a catch. The Mayor told the London Assembly that while he would like to see the service expanded, TfL just doesn’t have the cash right now.

Article source from Time Out: https://www.timeout.com/london/news/...-nights-101124 + Image sourced from TfL: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tube-imp...ing/night-tube

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South London Strategy
Forgot to publish this, as it dates from Summer 2022, but from time to time Network Rail produce technical appraisals of various parts of the network, from current use/issues and how they can be resolved. Images sourced from Network Rail: https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob...ort%202022.pdf

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Reading Area Strategic Study
Images sourced from Network Rail: https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob...ary%202023.pdf

[UrbanImpact]

The Elizabeth Line is what all of us transit nerds wish that North American systems look like. Of course it would probably cost 4x here.