MIND THE GAP - Celebrating London Transit

[Dan Wentzel]

Whenever a misinformed, misguided BRU type says something like, "This isn't New York, L.A. is too big for rail," I always point to London. London is a city that is a sprawl, but a dozens subways and countless commuter rail. There is also light rail, ferries, congestion charging and even a comprehensive bus system with bus only lanes in the core of the city.

I cannot wait to see how London continues to improve at it heads towards the 2012 Olympics. London rocks the house. I still have my transit ID card from when I lived there a few years ago.

Here's a link to explore for yourself:

www.tfl.gov.uk/

While you are there, do not miss the stupendous London Transport Museum. For any transit advocate, you will be in heaven. I loved the map room too as I've always loved maps. Here's a recent article on the refurbished museum in the Travel section of last Sunday's L.A. Times:

travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-transport18nov18

Cheers.

[bluelineshawn]

Welcome to the forum.

I agree that London rocks!

[bobdavis]

My wife and I visited England in 1993 and I was amazed by not only the Underground but also the suburban electric Network Southeast system. Nearly all the lines south of the Thames were powered by third rail--possible because most "permanent ways" are fenced off or otherwise inaccessible, and there are very few grade crossings. For American railway history buffs, this system has more third rail track mileage than the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin and the Sacramento Northern put together. When we were there they were still using old "slam-door" cars which had US-style electric and air brake systems, including air compressors that sounded like an American interurban. We took "Southern Electric" trains to Brighton, where we rode Volks Electric Railway, a relic of the 19th Century that still runs along the coast. We also took the overhead-powered service to Cambridge--frequent service, almost like Pacific Electric, but with modern 12kVAC cars that didn't have the old-timey sound. And there are dozens of steam-preservation lines, some accessible by electric railway. Railfans' promised land!