AIR CON!!!

Just read on a short notice in a Swedish newspaper about the Tube and new aircon trains being introduced on the Met line in two years time. Picture of Boris looking exceptionally happy on a train, caption – London is the coolest city in the world and now we will have the coolest trains in the world.

Now I know the “Transforming the Tube” programme is well underway. I have had to find a lot of alternative routes to complete my journey. And it f*cks me off everytime I think about it.

THE MET LINE FIRST LINE WITH AIR CON!? ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME?!

Have anyone working for TFL ever been on the Met line? The trains on the Met line are the biggest, airiest trains on the whole Tube network. THEY HAVE WINDOWS THAT OPEN! Not to mention that most of the line is run outdoors! WHAT were they thinking? I know the trains are old but the line sure as hell is not as hot as the Central or Piccadilly line.

When the initial anger had settled I started trawling through tfl.gov.uk (it’s in my favourites) trying to find some info on this thinking that there might some press release or something. Nope. Nada. But I eventually find the “Transforming the Tube” brochure – a fascinating read!

“The rebuild of the flagship station at Wembley Park has meant that we have been able to consistently meet the demands of the new stadium since it reopened in the summer last year” – Not sure if the Madonna concert goers would agree it met demand as I hear it took about 2 hours to even get on the platform…

“Bank – a series of schemes over the next 13 years will increase capacity as this complex station” – Thank God people are being sacked in the city as it doesn’t seem to be getting any better on the platforms anytime soon!

And it goes on an on… “King’s Cross Station now has 100% more ticket hall capacity.” Great! I would prefer it if I could get on the platform, even better if I could get on a train!!

The sheer stupidity of the programme I think really gets to the heart of the problem with TFL. Nothing is thought through or planned properly and no one, no one takes responsibility for anything. There is absolutely no accountability from the top down to the idiots standing in the ticket halls. As with most state run companies with no competition the top guys pay check is secure without actually having to do a good job. Have you ever met a nice, friendly, accommodating member of staff on the tube? No? Me neither. Good thing we will all be able to cool down from the frustration on the new air con trains in 2012….