Ask the Tubeman

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by spsmiler

Hi Tubeman,

Although I dont know the exact dates at least two of the stations on the NLL viaduct (in addition to Dalston Junction) will be reopenings of old stations.

Dalston Junction closed when the route to Broad Street closed, but there were several other stations between there and Broad Street, which closed as a result of wartime bombing. I think it was in 1940.

Simon

Only Haggerston is on the same site of a former station. Hoxton will be on a totally new site (roughly where the Dunloe Street freight depot was), which is north of the former Shoreditch station which straddles the East end of Old Street. Those were the only two intermediate NLR stations; Haggerston and Shoreditch. Haggerston closed in 1940 due to bomb damage, followed by Shoreditch in 1941 for the same reason. I refer to them as 'new' stations as all structures have been pretty much obliterated at Haggerston, and Dalston Junction will re-open with a different name (not much point calling it 'Junction' when it isn't one anymore!). In fact, its interesting how long the 'Junction' part of the name endured considering it ceased being one for passengers when the Poplar service was withdrawn in 1944 (also due to bomb damage to several stations). Even the maps in the 38 Buses (when the were still RMs ) showed a stop at Dalston Junction, even though the station had been closed 10 years. It was once a maginificent ornate NLR station with 6 platforms offering destinations like Watford, Hatfield, Welwyn, Poplar, Plaistow, Richmond, Kew Bridge... it was a sad shade of its former self in its final years.

Its always heartening to see and old station re-open though

By the way, has anyone else noticed how nasty all the place names sound in this corner of Hackney? Hoxton, Haggerston, Dalston, Shoreditch

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by pricemazda

TFL is up to its eyeballs in debt. After this round of transport improvements we won't see any for decades.

The only saving grace is that any mayoral candidate will have to promise more transport projects and at least London has its own voice now. We will be saving milions from Bob Kiley though.

I doubt TFL would need to find the money, this sort of money normally gets blagged from the Treasuary

[jetsetwilly]

Hi Tubeman,

I got Thameslink into Farringdon at the weekend and I was interested to see that there was cross-platform interchange without me having to go through any ticket barriers - I could have theoretically got on a Tube train without buying a Tube ticket. There was a shared ticket hall for both with one set ATS barriers by the exit. Is this common, or is it just the case here? I thought it was usual for you to have to pass through at least one barrier between the two systems.

Thanks in advance!

[samsonyuen]

Thanks Tubeman! I thought Northern line was the busiest. Why does it not have seven or eight carriages? And the Piccadilly seems busy all the time too (no doubt going to Heathrow).

Do you think Roethertithe will close (or Wapping)? Any other stations under review to close?

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by jetsetwilly

Hi Tubeman,

I got Thameslink into Farringdon at the weekend and I was interested to see that there was cross-platform interchange without me having to go through any ticket barriers - I could have theoretically got on a Tube train without buying a Tube ticket. There was a shared ticket hall for both with one set ATS barriers by the exit. Is this common, or is it just the case here? I thought it was usual for you to have to pass through at least one barrier between the two systems.

Thanks in advance!

Its pretty common really, many stations allow passage between LUL and Mainline without passing through ticket gates (Upminster, Barking, West Ham, Stratford, Wimbledon, Richmond). Many more are served by both trains (Bakerloo Line beyond Queens Park, Met Line beyond Harrow-on-the-Hill, District Line to Richmond) so it is perfectly possible to swap between the networks unchecked.

The peculiarity about Farringdon is that unusually its (And Barbican, Moorgate too) owned by LUL but served by NR... Its usually the other way round. Hence the LUL roundels on the Thameslink platforms (the only other examples are on the Met Line beyond Harrow).

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by samsonyuen

Thanks Tubeman! I thought Northern line was the busiest. Why does it not have seven or eight carriages? And the Piccadilly seems busy all the time too (no doubt going to Heathrow).

Do you think Roethertithe will close (or Wapping)? Any other stations under review to close?

The Northern is the busiest line; trains lengths are determined purely by platform lengths... Many lines could do with an extra car or ten per train, but the platforms can't accommodate them sadly.

There are 2 car lengths; what I'd call 'old' (shorter) and 'new' (longer)

The Piccadilly 1973 Stocks were the first to have the slightly longer car lengths, to illustrate the difference if you're ever at Wimbledon look at a C(1969) and D(1978) Stock side by side and you'll see, even though they are both 6 cars longs, 6 cars of C is the same length of 5 cars of D.

The District used to run 6, 7 and 8 car trains when it was CO/CP and R Stock (shorter cars), but the 8 car trains missed out some stations with shorter platforms and rear or leading doors did not open at others. When the D Stock was introduced it was decided to standardise train length to 6 longer cars that would fit all platforms on the 'Main' (i.e. excluding the short platforms between Earl's Court and Edgware Road), these are roughly the same length as the 7 car trains we used to run.

Likewise, when I worked on the Northern Line we ran 7 Car trains of 1959, 1962 and 1972 stocks. When the 1995 Stock came in these were all standardised to 6 slightly longer cars, so whilst the trains are a car shorter, they are actually the same length give or take.

Re: Wapping and Rotherhithe, I think their days may be numbered... but nothing is definite at the moment .

[pricemazda]

would it really be that expensive to expand the platform just a little bit?

And are both Wapping and Rotherhithe doomed or is it one or the other?

Has Ken been good for the tube? And why are station staff always so rude?

Why even after refurbishment are stations still badly lit?

[pricemazda]

Originally Posted by Tubeman

Its pretty common really, many stations allow passage between LUL and Mainline without passing through ticket gates (Upminster, Barking, West Ham, Stratford, Wimbledon, Richmond). Many more are served by both trains (Bakerloo Line beyond Queens Park, Met Line beyond Harrow-on-the-Hill, District Line to Richmond) so it is perfectly possible to swap between the networks unchecked.

The peculiarity about Farringdon is that unusually its (And Barbican, Moorgate too) owned by LUL but served by NR... Its usually the other way round. Hence the LUL roundels on the Thameslink platforms (the only other examples are on the Met Line beyond Harrow).

Queen's Park and Gunnersbury are two others i can think of.

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by pricemazda

Queen's Park and Gunnersbury are two others i can think of.

As I said: "Bakerloo Line beyond Queens Park, Met Line beyond Harrow-on-the-Hill, District Line to Richmond"

[pricemazda]

I didn't read that bit, now i stand corrected, answer my questions bitch!

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by pricemazda

would it really be that expensive to expand the platform just a little bit?

And are both Wapping and Rotherhithe doomed or is it one or the other?

Has Ken been good for the tube? And why are station staff always so rude?

Why even after refurbishment are stations still badly lit?

1) Yes, probably... we're talking about every tunnel section station as opposed to just one or two, then the whole line would have to be resignalled to take account for longer and heavier trains. Its been done before; the Central Line platforms were all lengthened when it was absorbed by LT and the original City & South London Line (Northern Line Bank Branch) was closed from 1922-24 for tunnel wideing and platform lengthening (the tunnels were originally even narrower than today's standard Tube Bore).

Personally, I think better signalling to allow more frequent trains is a cheaper and more Customer-friendly answer. Customers couldn't care less about how many people their train carries, they care about how long they have to wait. Rest assured if an extra 2 cars were added to all trains, they'd still be crushed in the Rush Hour.

2) Both Wapping and Rotherhithe have short (4 car) platforms and their locations are very restricted so platform lengthening really isn't a possibility. Wapping is the deepest Sub-Surface Station being right on the north bank of the Thames at the mouth of the Thames Tunnel (i.e. it is lower than the river bed). Rotherhithe is very close to the new Canada Water station, I certainly think it is a likely candidate for closure. Wapping is more like to survive because of its location, but it would likely end up with a restricted train service (e.g. perhaps one of the new ELL services will remain 4 cars whilst the others will be longer and non-stop).

3) I respect Ken, and I like our leader (Tim O'Toole). I believe they both have the Tube's best interests at heart

Some station staff are rude, some are fantastic. They get constant shit day in day out, through no fault of their own, and its easy to lose the will to live getting grief from Customers all day because of Signal failures that aren't your fault. Like in any industry, some people give better customer service than others.

4) Have you any examples in mind?

[pricemazda]

Leicester Square has terrible lighting as does Warren Street.

I know people can be rude, as you know living in London can be hard at times when no one speaks your language and no one wants to help, so sometimes when after a long day you get grief from LU staff you let rip. (They don't often like the smell!!!).

I just don't understand where all the money goes, it basically costs £5 a day for a 1/2 travel card and we have the most expensive underground system in the world and for a crappy service, today the overhead timing system failed on the central line, and it has noise levels that are against EU law, and is always delayed and over-crowded. Where does all the money go?

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by pricemazda

Leicester Square has terrible lighting as does Warren Street.

I know people can be rude, as you know living in London can be hard at times when no one speaks your language and no one wants to help, so sometimes when after a long day you get grief from LU staff you let rip. (They don't often like the smell!!!).

I just don't understand where all the money goes, it basically costs £5 a day for a 1/2 travel card and we have the most expensive underground system in the world and for a crappy service, today the overhead timing system failed on the central line, and it has noise levels that are against EU law, and is always delayed and over-crowded. Where does all the money go?

On my wages

[pricemazda]

On a sidenote i think i used to live very close to you. I used to live on Golden Lane just off Old Street. I think from a picture you posted of London's skyline that you weren't that far away.

Is that how you live in WC1, LU wages!!!!

But another aside, i downloaded Remember Me by Beverley Knight, its very good and souful

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by pricemazda

On a sidenote i think i used to live very close to you. I used to live on Golden Lane just off Old Street. I think from a picture you posted of London's skyline that you weren't that far away.

Is that how you live in WC1, LU wages!!!!

But another aside, i downloaded Remember Me by Beverley Knight, its very good and souful

I know is sounds bare wussy, but the first time I heard 'Remember Me' I shed a tear

I live on the Margery Street Estate off the King's Cross Road, trust me, its a shithole

[pricemazda]

its not wussy, it shows theres more to you than the coldness of day release who is clearly repressed.

[Justme]

Hey Tubeman,

Been watching the "Tube" to see if I can spot you, but no luck yet. You wrote you were on episodes 4 & 5 from the 2nd series, but I can't see any reference in the show to what episode numbers they are.

Any hints on what I should look for?

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by Justme

Hey Tubeman,

Been watching the "Tube" to see if I can spot you, but no luck yet. You wrote you were on episodes 4 & 5 from the 2nd series, but I can't see any reference in the show to what episode numbers they are.

Any hints on what I should look for?

If the episode you watch is presented by Jools Holland or Terry Christian then it's probably not the one you're after...

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by Justme

Hey Tubeman,

Been watching the "Tube" to see if I can spot you, but no luck yet. You wrote you were on episodes 4 & 5 from the 2nd series, but I can't see any reference in the show to what episode numbers they are.

Any hints on what I should look for?

1st series, not 2nd

Episode 4 I'm attending a stalled train at Earl's Court which we move up to High Street Kensington. The Train Technician with me is a sweaty little dwarf with a hare lip, we fix the train after he hits it several times and it gets going.

Episode 5 is even funnier; I'm dealing with a beast of a woman named Miranda Sadgrove who had a 'SPAD' (went through a red signal). She imparts many hilarious one-liners during the inquiry; its comedy gold!

I'm called Joe Brown and have a skinhead, if that helps!

[Justme]

Originally Posted by Tubeman

1st series, not 2nd

Episode 4 I'm attending a stalled train at Earl's Court which we move up to High Street Kensington. The Train Technician with me is a sweaty little dwarf with a hare lip, we fix the train after he hits it several times and it gets going.

Episode 5 is even funnier; I'm dealing with a beast of a woman named Miranda Sadgrove who had a 'SPAD' (went through a red signal). She imparts many hilarious one-liners during the inquiry; its comedy gold!

I'm called Joe Brown and have a skinhead, if that helps!

Great timing.

After reading this, I switched over to Sky Travel and episode 4 of the Tube just started. I was totally suprised when I spotted you there!

Well done. I must admit, it was rather funny when you said to the camera something like "In times like these we must bring in the professionals", and then the crazy technician starts smashing away at the panel

Not bad, looking forward to the next episode. I really must say that I admire your job. Especially if you get to travel the network and be outdoors a lot. Must get rather stressful at times though.