bellinghman (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bellinghman) wrote2010-03-01 02:08 pm
bellinghman) wrote2010-03-01 02:08 pm
Hell is Underground. And vice versa
Actually, that may be a little unfair. But we travelled down to London for PicoCon last Saturday (happenstantially discovering ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jemck on the Tube a stop before South Kensington), to find that a remarkable number of lines were closed, either entirely or partially.
A look at the TfL website indicates that they're now carrying out a 10 year program of improvements, trying to update signalling to increase capacity, and refurbishing trains and stations. This is way overdue, of course, but it does mean that there are extensive weekend closures for the work required. Much of the initial stuff will be attempting to make improvements before the 2012 Olympics, so I'm expecting 2 years of weekend disruption until that work package is complete.
jemck on the Tube a stop before South Kensington), to find that a remarkable number of lines were closed, either entirely or partially.A look at the TfL website indicates that they're now carrying out a 10 year program of improvements, trying to update signalling to increase capacity, and refurbishing trains and stations. This is way overdue, of course, but it does mean that there are extensive weekend closures for the work required. Much of the initial stuff will be attempting to make improvements before the 2012 Olympics, so I'm expecting 2 years of weekend disruption until that work package is complete.
no subject
But the basic problem is indeed thirty to fifty (Labour don't get away without blame too) years' terrible neglect, and the bill coming due. The Tube in general is held together by gaffer tape and dedicated staff. The state of the kit they use is fucking unbelievably decrepit. This stuff holds together an economically vital transport network that has to do its thing nineteen hours a day without killing thousands of people. Be nice to your Tube staff!