please empty your brain below
(all clickable)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 30.09.24 - 1:02 a.m. | #

15) Since the speed restrictions went in on the DLR, I've experienced a lot of bunching of trains (especially in the evening peak) with occasional gaps of 8-10 mins on the Lewisham branch. This results in longer dwell times and even bigger gaps. What I used to love about the DLR is how, most of the time, trains ran like clockwork and connections at Canary Wharf and Poplar were very smooth and quick. Now it's pot luck. In recent years it's been very rare for Stratford bound trains to have to wait at Bow Church for the single track section to clear, but this is now happening quite a lot. I really hope this more unreliable, more messy, more overcrowded service doesn't continue forever. If TfL think that anything else would be risking passenger safety then they would have to admit they've been risking our safety for many, many years.

JP | 30.09.24 - 8:01 a.m. | #

5) Bonkers questions, and love how they slipped in the unrelated question about Hammersmith Bridge at the end. I do note that the 24 hour closures of Hammersmith Bridge to take place in October and November, and to be announced in September, have not yet been announced. I suppose they still have all day today.

Greg | 30.09.24 - 8:17 a.m. | #

5) Sounds like one of the copmplete loons on the London's Transport mailing list I am on.

8) I hope this includes Freedom Passes when it happens

Steve | 30.09.24 - 8:27 a.m. | #

5) Shocked at the rate of inflation in question 5, where the cost goes from billions to trillions in a couple of sentences. I wonder if the author has also asked if TFL have any plans to limit journeys to a maximum of 15 minutes so that 15 minute cities can be enforced.

The answer to number 10 where the busiest hour is after it ends just proves the congestion charge scheme works

Ian | 30.09.24 - 8:30 a.m. | #

8. I think I used this technology for buying a single metro ticket in Paris, thought I still find TfL’s contactless option easier.

14 & 15. I bet TfL wish it had more control over its DLR franchise. Perhaps a major rewrite of contracts is needed next time the contract is up for renewal.

Auntie Susan | 30.09.24 - 8:35 a.m. | #

18) So, is Baker street the right place to go for a perfect break (147)?

MilesT | 30.09.24 - 8:51 a.m. | #

10. Are the cameras used for any purpose other than collecting the congestion charge? If not, anywhere except TfL-land would switch them off outside the chargeable hours.

Ian | 30.09.24 - 9:21 a.m. | #

9 - Oh thank-you. I'd been unsuccessfully trying to figure out the reasons for the go-slow for yonks.

Chz | 30.09.24 - 9:37 a.m. | #

In 18 we learn that: In 2023 the zone 1 tube station with the greatest number of "slips, trips and falls incidents" was Baker Street (147).

In an attachment in 12 we learn that at Baker Street in future:
Plt 1 - PTI Project may implement 3R cut out on arrival, i.e. S8 North End car
Plt 2 - PTI Project may implement 2R cut out, i.e. 2R on S8 South End car

Given PTI stands for Platform Train Interface, could the two be related?

Pedantic of Purley | 30.09.24 - 10:01 a.m. | #

(14) I thought DLR ticket machines didn't accept any notes? You seemed to think so too in your report on 9-Aug-2020

IslandDweller | 30.09.24 - 10:09 a.m. | #

9 - is the leaking water pushing out the caulking.

15 - odd considering that there was an FOI about DLR line speeds a while back.

18 - does Baker Street have more fixed staircases than other Underground stations?

20 - the busiest station has the most sexual offences, it'd be concerning if it was Fairlop.

Still Anon | 30.09.24 - 10:19 a.m. | #

2. That will be Lodge *Avenue* flyover. I remember it being built!

dg writes: fixed thanks.

Paul | 30.09.24 - 10:22 a.m. | #

13. Golders Green has 3-5 platforms depending on how you count them, so you must mean both *directions*.

dg writes: tweaked thanks.

Graham | 30.09.24 - 11:32 a.m. | #

With the ongoing cybersecurity incident, I'm surprised they actually answered any FOI requests this month.

greatkingrat | 30.09.24 - 11:44 a.m. | #

One of my favourite DG monthly series! Please keep these coming

Ewan | 30.09.24 - 12:14 p.m. | #

5 - Still unbeaten by this request imo.

8 - Might be issues with card clash unless Apple changes their Express Travel mode to default to Oyster if available. In Hong Kong they've opted for separate readers. In Paris, they've gone for their equivalent of Oyster on Wallet but decided against contactless.

9 - Someone finally asked! Been wondering why the speed restriction has been going on for so long. Some of us suspected water infiltration causing the tunnel/track to become unstable... so not entirely that far off but this is a little more reassuring.

10 - I wonder if they'd consider re-extending the CC hours. Bus reliability in Central London falls to pieces at around that time.

18 - Pedantic of Purley, seems like they are considering Selective Door Opening at doors with the biggest gaps (or perhaps the narrowest sections of the platform). If I recall correctly the platforms mentioned get very narrow towards the end (and no roof).

matthieu1221 | 30.09.24 - 5:23 p.m. | #

12 I have no recollections of ever hearing "Mind the Gap" messages at Golders Green. Maybe I've just blanked them out!

Mikey C | 30.09.24 - 6:03 p.m. | #

Is "platform train interface" a euphemism for The Gap?

Ian | 30.09.24 - 9:56 p.m. | #

12) Ian,
No, the Platform Train Interface encompasses all aspects of boarding and alighting trains. It is recognised as potentially one of the most dangerous aspects of travelling by train - if not the most dangerous aspect.

You would still refer to the PTI even on level boarding stations with no discernable gap such as is present on the Elizabeth line.

4) the day with the most cancelled trains [on the Elizabeth line] was 25th July 2023.

I believe this was also the hottest day of the year. So on the one day when the Elizabeth line could really excel, it being the only underground line with proper air-conditioning (not just air cooling) it didn't run in the central London tunnel section. It did finally start to run after 5 p.m. after the hottest part of the day was over.

Pedantic of Purley | 30.09.24 - 10:51 p.m. | #

8. The stored value cards for the Bay Area ("Clipper") do Google Wallet and I guess Apple Pay. It automatically selects Clipper when you wave you phone at the reader (but of course they don't do normal cards). I assume though that the protocol can cope and would just choose the Oyster first if you had it.

John Styles | 02.10.24 - 12:39 a.m. | #











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