Ask the Tubeman

[Justme]

Thanks for your answers Tubeman.

Here's a couple more.

1) As London's commuter belt expands, places just outside of zone6 are becoming more and more used by commuters. The problem is that being external from the 6zones the costs keep the passengers down. Will London ever extend to a zone 7 to include area's such as Hemel Hempstead, Slough etc?

2) Why doesn't National Rail seperate the suburban services in London's Urban Area as a different network, such as the S-bahn and RER. It is a proven formular in other country's, and seems so much more logical than multiple National companies that deal with both intercity and local suburban trains?

Sorry, these questions are probably anyone's guesses. But I have been wondering about them. London has such a magnificient transport network, but there are some area's where it could improve.

[CharlieP]

What's happening with the Croxley Link?

[Jonesy55]

What do train drivers have to do except speed up and slow down? it looks easy

[eddyk]

Originally Posted by Tubeman

Yes it is easy and yes you do get paid a lot. £40k is pretty standard on the Main Line.

On the Tube we pay £36k but with better conditions (free travel in London, 75% discount on a Mainline season ticket of your choice, 8 weeks Annual Leave).

On the Tube we no longer directly recruit Drivers, only platform staff (i.e. all Drivers appointed now were platform staff first), so you'd have to apply for 'CSA' (Customer Service Assistant) and suffer £21k (with 10 weeks A/L!) whilst you wait for Driver to come up.

Main Line companies only seem to be interested in poaching ready-made Drivers off each other, but I think the only hope of entry is via Guard on routes which still have them.

What about...not on the tube?

[Jonesy55]

Originally Posted by eddyk

What about...not on the tube?

The clue is in the quote

Originally Posted by Tubeman

£40k is pretty standard on the Main Line.

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by CharlieP

What's happening with the Croxley Link?

Its still on the cards, its mentioned on the TFL website for what its worth.

No firm dates or anything though

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by Jonesy55

What do train drivers have to do except speed up and slow down? it looks easy

Open & Close the doors... err... umm... err...

They're paid for what they know as much as what they do; they need to know the trains inside out for defect handling as well as a multitude of emergency and safety procedures in case something goes wrong.

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by Justme

Thanks for your answers Tubeman.

Here's a couple more.

1) As London's commuter belt expands, places just outside of zone6 are becoming more and more used by commuters. The problem is that being external from the 6zones the costs keep the passengers down. Will London ever extend to a zone 7 to include area's such as Hemel Hempstead, Slough etc?

2) Why doesn't National Rail seperate the suburban services in London's Urban Area as a different network, such as the S-bahn and RER. It is a proven formular in other country's, and seems so much more logical than multiple National companies that deal with both intercity and local suburban trains?

Sorry, these questions are probably anyone's guesses. But I have been wondering about them. London has such a magnificient transport network, but there are some area's where it could improve.

1) The zonal system really only applies to LUL, the Mainline companies work out their own fares by and large but happen to accept (and get a slice of) Travelcards. If you walk into a ticket office at a NR station and ask for a ticket to another NR station in London I don't think its a case of simply working out the fare from the LUL zoning system, they have their own system. It would be great if it was totally transparent and integrated though.

2) All I can say is logic and the way our National railways are operated are like oil and water

[JDRS]

Originally Posted by Tubeman

I think that eventually Chesham, Amersham etc will lose their London Underground service and Chiltern will take over. Its just a bizarre vestige from the former Metropolitan Railway and the fact that the route is owned by London Underground but has main Line services running on it.

A likely outcome would be that Watford will become the furthest outpost of the Metropolitan Line and the 'fast' tracks between Harrow and Moor Park would become Network Rail property.

Hmm that would be quite good as I live in Chesham and the chiltern line trains are so much nicer than the underground ones. I'll often wait for a chiltern line train because of the difference in how comfortable it is and the great heaters.

[hoogbouw010]

Which tube stations have free public toilets?
Stations I know:
- Canary Wharf
- North Greenwich
- Piccadilly Circus

Why is the National Rail line (Richmond<>North Woolworth) included in the (pocket) tube map?

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by hoogbouw010

Which tube stations have free public toilets?
Stations I know:
- Canary Wharf
- North Greenwich
- Piccadilly Circus

Why is the National Rail line (Richmond<>North Woolworth) included in the (pocket) tube map?

What's with the toilets thing?

Certainly not as many as should have toilets... Others I can think of would be Green Park, Richmond, Wimbledon, Ealing Bdy, Earl's Court... quite a few I suppose. Many have toilets just outside or in associated mainline termini.

Richmond > N Woolwich has come & gone from the map in recent years. I think its included because it interchanges with a lot of Tube lines and is totally within London, plus its no real "competition" with any Tube line.

[micro]

Mr Tubeman, do you have an idea when (some of) the stations will get better ventilation? I heard much public criticism in London about the air quality in the tube stations.

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by micro

Mr Tubeman, do you have an idea when (some of) the stations will get better ventilation? I heard much public criticism in London about the air quality in the tube stations.

The air's heavy with particulate pollution (dust, basically) but regarding harmful gaseous pollutants the airs cleaner than at street level.

The main gripe is the heat in the Summer, but there was no such thing as air con 142 years ago, and there's no room for it on the deep level "Tubes". I see no reason why the "Sub Surface" lines can't be equipped with air con though; they used to be steam operated so there are plenty of gaps in the tunnels through which heat could escape.

[Effer]

Why is the London Underground called the London Underground.

[Quente]

Hi Tubeman -

2 questions:

1) When I was in London once, it rained steadily (not particularly heavy) for the better part of the day. As a result, several Tube stations (I thought they were on the Circle Line) were closed because of flooding. The explanation given for the flooding is that some stations are below the water table and must be pumped out 24 hours a day. A steady rain for a prolonged period of time can overwhelm the pumps and cause flooding.

Did I understand this situation correctly? In a climate like Britain's where it seems to rain more often than not, the London Underground is susceptible to flooding? How often are stations closed because of flooding? Which lines are most susceptible? Are there any plans for a long-term solution?

2) The "Twiddle my knob" comment below your name - is that a tagline for a new Underground ad campaign?!?

Thanks - Kent

[Justme]

@Quente , Britain's climate does suggest quite a few days of rain, but in most cases it is light rain and drizzle - it just happens on more day's than many other places, but not generally in large quantities. London actually has less rain (as in volume) than many "sunnier" cities.

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by effer

Why is the London Underground called the London Underground.

Are you taking the piss?

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by Quente

Hi Tubeman -

2 questions:

1) When I was in London once, it rained steadily (not particularly heavy) for the better part of the day. As a result, several Tube stations (I thought they were on the Circle Line) were closed because of flooding. The explanation given for the flooding is that some stations are below the water table and must be pumped out 24 hours a day. A steady rain for a prolonged period of time can overwhelm the pumps and cause flooding.

Did I understand this situation correctly? In a climate like Britain's where it seems to rain more often than not, the London Underground is susceptible to flooding? How often are stations closed because of flooding? Which lines are most susceptible? Are there any plans for a long-term solution?

2) The "Twiddle my knob" comment below your name - is that a tagline for a new Underground ad campaign?!?

Thanks - Kent

London is drier than Jerusalem, Paris, New York and most world cities. It really is quite a dry place. Some of the Tube is below sea level let alone the water table, and so there is an extensive network of pumps and drains to keep it dry. The District Line, for instance, is built along the former bed of the River Thames between Westminster and Blackfrairs and is separated from the river by a (thick) wall and that's it. Heavy or prolonged rain can inundate some sections of the network, as they would any railway anywhere I'd have thought.

[hoogbouw010]

Great thread, thanks Mr. Tubeman.

Do tube drivers always wear an uniform?
If just plain clothes (like in Paris), would you like uniformed tube drivers?

[samsonyuen]

Great idea Tubeman!!!

Bank also has toilets, and I think Oxford Circus too(?).

1) Will the Chelney line every happen, or any other underground line anytime soon? Maybe a Strand/Fleet Street line?
2) Why do underground stations that are closed on Sundays, weekends still have to be lit and slowed down for (ie Cannon Street Station on weekends)?
3) Why is there so much less underground presence south of the Thames. I've read that it's because of the soil, because of the mainline rail, because of the development of the northern side being more. What is it?
4) Would they ever split the Northern Line into two seperate lines like Bakerloo/Jubilee?
5) Would any closed stations ever reopen, like Mill Hill, Aldwych etc.?
6) What's the least used line?
7) How long will it be till the entire network is Handicap-accessible? Are there any stations where it's just impossible?
7) How do I get to Vauxhall station?