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.