Spin

Hundreds of thousands of people have bought tickets to some music concerts. Unfortunately the concerts have had to be cancelled - it is impossible for them to be rescheduled.

I read in the media this morning that ticket holders may either apply for refunds OR they may keep the tickets as souvenirs [and not get refunds].

I wish I could say that I find this approach to not refunding all ticket money unbelievable. Unfortunately it isn't.

Shit really does happen

Geoff Marshall is a really good guy, who used to work for the BBC, who once held the world record for traveling around the entire tube network in the fastest time and is currently on a mission traveling round the USA.

Today the sky has fallen in and many of his material goods (the stuff he needs to do his job) have been stolen.

Grrrrr.

Context probably provides the answer...

A couple of weeks ago I posed an isolated question.

Here is the full picture:

The signs are indeed at Bicester North station in Oxfordshire.

Bicester is home to Bicester Village, a retail park stuffed full of designer shops. It seems very popular with Japanese visitors traveling out on Chiltern Railways' trains from London.

A fleet of mini-buses transport passengers between the station and the shops (for a fee) - It is safe to assume that it is those buses that the Japanese sign is alluding to.

People spotting

I work in the heart of media land in central London. My colleagues always seem to tell me of the famous people they see. I never see them. People always seem to me to look different, to me, in real life.

Anyhow, I saw Brendan Cole in my local Waitrose last Sunday and, as I type, Ann Widdecombe has just got on a Chiltern Railways train at Marylebone.

Ooh err!

Bags

Today my journeys to and from London were on South West Trains as opposed to my usual Chiltern Railways.

When you get on a Chiltern peak hour service, most people put their bag(s) on the overhead luggage racks. On South West Trains this evening, mine was one of just two bags on the luggage racks.

I do wonder for the reasons for the difference in passenger behaviour.

I suspect it is down to the different train designs - We shall have to see.

Bad news for football fans hoping to travel to Wembley on Wednesday 10th June 2009

In their infinite wisdom, Chiltern Railways have decided that no trains will stop at Wembley Stadium tomorrow after 12 Noon.

With the expected total shutdown of the London Underground, this will make it even more difficult for people to get to the England -v- Andorra match on Wednesday evening.

I merely observe, but on this occasion do not opine.

+Posted from my mobile+

48 Hour Tube Strike starting 7.00pm Tuesday 9th June 2009

This is a blog ostensibly about the London Underground.

Bob Crowe and his merry men have seen fit, once again, to attempt to hold London to ransom following a failure to successfully negotiate a pay rise with the management of London Underground. Oh well, that's nailed my flag to the mast.

In the interest of trying to retain some semblance of impartiality, it would appear that the Chairman of Transport for London (and Mayor of London), Boris Johnson, has done far too little far too late to try to resolve the industrial dispute.

Anyhow, bottom line is that services will severely degrade from 19.00 this evening (Tuesday 9th June 2009), with little likelihood of a sensible service resuming until the morning of Friday 12th June 2009.

Up to date information should be available on the tfl website.

The Sir Nigel Gresley - 06 June 2009

Somewhat against my better judgement, I have been chasing a steam train today.

This is the Sir Nigel Gresley leaving Beaconsfield at 21.36 this evening, having picked up water on its way back from Chester to London Paddington. Maybe more to follow...

Here's a question for you

Ok... on my travels.

I took a picture of this sign today.

Where was I and what does it say? (I do know where it is and can guess what it says from the context.) I am just interested to know if anyone else has spotted the sign as I have never noticed it before.

Clue: My passport is at home, as is the car.

Pip pip!

Some weeks later: The answer (sort of) is here.

Not something you see very often

Chiltern Railways are generally able to offer a pretty reliable service.

That has all gone to pot this evening. There has been a signal failure somewhere in North West London affecting all trains out of Marylebone.

This screen grab is of the departure board at Princes Risborough a few minutes ago. It is completely un-typical of the usual reliability seen by passengers in the Chilterns.

It looks as though I got home just in time tonight.

An absence of trains

I spent all three days of last (bank holiday) weekend at work.

The weather was great.

I could think of a thousand things that I could have done that would have been more enjoyable than being stuck in a Soho office, while everyone else was off enjoying themselves.

Anyhow, the consequences are that I haven't been to work since Wednesday.

The Sun Gods have been good. My garden is looking all the better for a little attention. I am now enjoying the weekend in deepest Hampshire, living life in the fast lane with family while enjoying the company of a new spotted member of the family.

The rat race resumes tomorrow.

Beldlow Village Hall

During the weekday peak services, Chiltern Railways' train services are served by an occasional Buslink service between Chinnor and Princes Risborough.

Bledlow is a small and picturesque village along the route.

The only thing is that the automated departure announcements at Princes Risborough station clearly announce one of the bus stops as "Beldlow Village Hall".

More than a little careless?

Live blogging on the Underground doesn't work

First of all, you have to follow up disruption news - for a sporadic blogger this is a pain.

Secondly, most of the stuff that matters to people happens, by definition, underground. This means that Live Blogging isn't live at all as only a tiny proportion of the stations with platforms below street level have effective mobile coverage.

Thirdly, the tfl website is far better at it than me.

Lastly, it is really boring to read!

BTW The Jubilee Line wasn't too bad just now. Two minutes and eight minutes till the next Westbound trains from Canary Wharf does indeed count as 'minor' delays at this time of day.

Jubilee Update 18 May 2009

Following the earlier suspension of service between North Greenwich & Stratford, the Jubilee Line is up and running again. Allegedly with 'minor' delays - I wouldn't bet my house on 'Minor'.

Retarded

Every Monday I have to be in Canary Wharf for an eleven o'clock meeting.

This morning my Jubilee Line ground to a halt at Bermondsey at 10.45.

Have just arrived into daylight at Canary Wharf. See time stamp.

Grrr.

Makes me look like a fool.....

The weekend begins

If I were to obtain some kind of report on my current sleep patterns, it would probably say something along the lines of "Must try harder".

This morning my alarm went off at it's usual time. It really shouldn't have done that because today is Saturday, but my alarm clock didn't know that.

When my alarm goes of, I usually leap up out of bed like a gazelle, rush around the house for 35 minutes like a lunatic, and then leave to catch a train to Marylebone shortly after 6 o'clock.

Today, the alarm went off as usual. Fortunately (despite being too stupid to switch off the alarm last night), my razor sharp mind immediately swung into action... Hand out... Hit switch... "Oh, it's Saturday"... Roll over... zzzzzzzz

Three hours later I wake up to a windy rainy day in rural Buckinghamshire, feeling as though I have jet lag.

I have to hope that my mind works differently in seven days, as next Saturday I do have to catch a stupid o'clock train to work.

Now that I am awake, I had better leap into action and start the household 'To Do' list. Oh, and now that I can blog from my phone, I haven't even switched on my computer, so no unnecessary distractions there.

Tea cool enough to drink. Slurp. Slurp. Think like a gazelle. Whoosh.

Hmmm... What should I have done?

Walking down Sherwood Street just now (16.45), to catch a Bakerloo Line train from Piccadilly Circus.

Saw a bike locked to a lamp post with one of those 'U' / 'D' shaped locks.

Pasty faced thin man walks up, lifts lock up over saddle, gets on bike and rides away leaving lock in situ.

Have I just see a bike being nicked?

Other than making 'firm' eye contact, I did nothing. No time to take picture with phone before there was but a red sweatshirt cycling away in the distance.

What should I have done?

Too much noise?

I was on the Southbound Northern Line platform at Leicester Square, this morning, for about 2 minutes.

During that time there were seven announcements over the PA system. All a bit much really.

PR Fluff

Transport for London put out a Press Release yesterday titled "Customers benefit from new Piccadilly line timetable". What a load of Public Relations rubbish.

"The Piccadilly line is unique because it serves the heart of the West End's tourist and entertainment districts as well as Heathrow Airport."

• Yes..... and??? The Central Line is unique because it serves Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road. The Circle Line is unique because it goes round in a circle (for now). The Victoria Line is unique because.........
  

"Changes were made to the timetable in 2008"

• So why put a press release out in the middle of 2009?
  

"In recent years, rising passenger numbers have meant that trains have to stop at stations for longer while extra customers get on and off trains, leading to an increasing level of late running and delay."

• Doesn't this happen on every line?

Talk about useless piffle. I could go on, but I won't.

Busy Weekend

Well, I sort of went back to work for a rest today...

• Friday. A day off. First of all some domestic chores. Then drove to Bicester to catch a Chiltern Railways train to Birmingham. Back to BCS then up the A43 to Northampton for the Saracens -v- Northampton rugby match. Saracens lost 16 - 13, that's the way it goes. Then a late drive home and straight to bed.
• Saturday. Domestics. BBQ at friends then to the cinema.
• Sunday. To Vicarage Road for the Watford v Derby County match The home side won 3 - 1. Free lunch in a box with friends, then home to do an hour or so of gardening.
• Monday. Early start down to spend the day with my family in Hampshire. Back after 10.... Ready for the usual 5.45 alarm this morning.

+Posted from my mobile. Please excuse any typos+