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….
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Big Brother is watching you!
Do you sometimes get the feeling TFL is herding you? I sometimes feel like I'm in some sort of science fiction novel when walking around in the long winding tunnels of the underground with hundreds of people walking in complete silence purposefully with constant announcements on the PA with what we can and cannot do - walk here, don't go there, avoid this and not allowed to do that. I feel like something out of the Hand Maid's Tale!
Another thing that amazes me is how peaceful stations can be sometimes. Have you ever noticed how quiet it can be on the platforms? Almost surreal complete silence although there are hundreds of people crammed into a really small place...
Another thing that amazes me is how peaceful stations can be sometimes. Have you ever noticed how quiet it can be on the platforms? Almost surreal complete silence although there are hundreds of people crammed into a really small place...
Tube Manners
It angers me every time I do it, yet I cannot seem to stop myself. Everyday I have to remind myself before I set foot on the train - DON'T DO IT! I know it will ruin my day, that I will loose the will to live, yet I cannot seem to stop myself. And it never fails, as soon as I look up from minding the gap I know the damage will be done. I see people.
There are two reasons why looking at people on the tube upsets me so much each and every time. Firstly, it's the ugly ones. It is widely known that the British population is not the most attractive in the world, which is why I feel comfortable as a non Brit to admit that the sheer ugliness on the train to work depresses me. It sometime makes me sick, but mostly it makes me want to turn back home and never leave the house again, it depresses me. The one time I saw a remotely handsome male on the train to work I got so excited I started following him when he got off..
The second is manners. I seem to be one of very very few people who do not treat public transport as my own personal transportation and as such I try to show respect and consideration when squeezed in between someone's armpit and ingrown beard bumps. I am of the perception that one should behave in an appropriate manner when confined in a small space with hundreds of strangers:
1) Move DOWN! I do not understand people who so completely lack any awareness of space and their own position in it they cannot even understand that the more we utilize the space given the more people can get on. I suggest we instead of shouting a general “can you move down please” start shouting “ey you move! Yes you in the brown jacket and curly hair, move down!” Make it personal!
2) Holding onto rails and poles with BOTH arms. The tube doesn’t not thrust you around enough for the need of holding on like you’re sailing around the Good Hope Cape. You are however invading my space and most likely spreading a double whammy of that funny smell coming from your armpits when you don’t use deodorant.
3) Not letting go of rails and poles when the train is in the station. People are trying to get off muppet, let go!
4) If you are a tourist - talking. Take note – we do not speak to strangers on the tube, we read and shut up I suggest you do the same.
5) Insisting on pushing onto the train when there obviously is no more space. This is not Paris.
6) Using iPod headphones. They should be banned. I understand that Apple after producing the most popular mp3 player in the world had no money left to produce quality headphone to go with it, and thus causing people all over the world to listen to other people’s crap music at inconvenient times. Turn it down – I don’t want to listen to Oasis especially not at ten to seven in the morning!
There are two reasons why looking at people on the tube upsets me so much each and every time. Firstly, it's the ugly ones. It is widely known that the British population is not the most attractive in the world, which is why I feel comfortable as a non Brit to admit that the sheer ugliness on the train to work depresses me. It sometime makes me sick, but mostly it makes me want to turn back home and never leave the house again, it depresses me. The one time I saw a remotely handsome male on the train to work I got so excited I started following him when he got off..
The second is manners. I seem to be one of very very few people who do not treat public transport as my own personal transportation and as such I try to show respect and consideration when squeezed in between someone's armpit and ingrown beard bumps. I am of the perception that one should behave in an appropriate manner when confined in a small space with hundreds of strangers:
1) Move DOWN! I do not understand people who so completely lack any awareness of space and their own position in it they cannot even understand that the more we utilize the space given the more people can get on. I suggest we instead of shouting a general “can you move down please” start shouting “ey you move! Yes you in the brown jacket and curly hair, move down!” Make it personal!
2) Holding onto rails and poles with BOTH arms. The tube doesn’t not thrust you around enough for the need of holding on like you’re sailing around the Good Hope Cape. You are however invading my space and most likely spreading a double whammy of that funny smell coming from your armpits when you don’t use deodorant.
3) Not letting go of rails and poles when the train is in the station. People are trying to get off muppet, let go!
4) If you are a tourist - talking. Take note – we do not speak to strangers on the tube, we read and shut up I suggest you do the same.
5) Insisting on pushing onto the train when there obviously is no more space. This is not Paris.
6) Using iPod headphones. They should be banned. I understand that Apple after producing the most popular mp3 player in the world had no money left to produce quality headphone to go with it, and thus causing people all over the world to listen to other people’s crap music at inconvenient times. Turn it down – I don’t want to listen to Oasis especially not at ten to seven in the morning!
Watch out!
I'm generally aware of my fellow passengers, which is probably why get so annoyed at everyone around me. There is one type of traveller I simply cannot understand, mainly because it looks like such an exhausting ordeal I wonder why they would want to put themselves through it.
You know the type, you can spot them a mile away, they come armed with Ribena, Walkers crisps and crying babies. They are usually pushing a pram with 14 bags on the handles, 7 packages of diapers under the seat and a kid trying to escape they chains, straps and pad locks holding it down in the pram, and as soon as they do escape like Houdini the pram falls over from the weight of all those bags. Bags Bags Bags that get caught everywhere, is in every ones ways and some how seems to contain NOTHING!
I could go on and on about the child rearing techniques these people seem to be in favour of, but that is better suited for a different blog, but I do wonder what they are thinking when trying to travel in rush hours with enough baggage and snacks to take them around the world and babies so full of sugar they are almost shaking.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO IT TO YOURSELF?
...and why do you want to do it to me?
You know the type, you can spot them a mile away, they come armed with Ribena, Walkers crisps and crying babies. They are usually pushing a pram with 14 bags on the handles, 7 packages of diapers under the seat and a kid trying to escape they chains, straps and pad locks holding it down in the pram, and as soon as they do escape like Houdini the pram falls over from the weight of all those bags. Bags Bags Bags that get caught everywhere, is in every ones ways and some how seems to contain NOTHING!
I could go on and on about the child rearing techniques these people seem to be in favour of, but that is better suited for a different blog, but I do wonder what they are thinking when trying to travel in rush hours with enough baggage and snacks to take them around the world and babies so full of sugar they are almost shaking.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO IT TO YOURSELF?
...and why do you want to do it to me?
Good Morning London!
So, you've had your shower, got your clothes on, grabbed your umbrella and heading out the door for another exciting day in the hustle and bustle of London Town. You head towards your local tube station with that same slight nervous, anxious feeling and your lovely morning grumpiness not quite sure what to expect. You don’t quite know where you might end up or how long it will take you to get there all you know if that is will cost you a fortune, make you warm up and get uncomfortably close to your fellow Londoners. You are about to experience one of London’s greatest little adventures - Transport for London! Another day another TFL adventure!
The lovely thing about using TFL’s services is that you never can be sure what is going to happen, you might think you’re going home but before you know it, TFL has decided you make you evening into another little adventure. And they always seem to pick those precious moments you’re really reeeaaaally in a hurry or when you’re dying to get home because you’re desperate for a pee and so tired you could cry.
I have therefore decided to dedicate this blog to this fantastic public transport service. Enjoy and feel free to contribute with your own experiences in the comments!
The lovely thing about using TFL’s services is that you never can be sure what is going to happen, you might think you’re going home but before you know it, TFL has decided you make you evening into another little adventure. And they always seem to pick those precious moments you’re really reeeaaaally in a hurry or when you’re dying to get home because you’re desperate for a pee and so tired you could cry.
I have therefore decided to dedicate this blog to this fantastic public transport service. Enjoy and feel free to contribute with your own experiences in the comments!
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