A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…
London Underground
If You Caught the Tube Last Friday, You’re a Record-Breaker Gizmodo
A Muslim Tube passenger has reportedly been forced off a train after a commuter accused him of using an iPad suspiciously. Independent
Bakerloo line extension: TfL favours Lewisham via Old Kent Road SE1
Caledonian Road Station closure delayed until March Islington Gazette
When will the last tube station ticket office close? Diamond Geezer
Crossrail
Not far from Paddington can be found a small, but surprisingly important part of the Crossrail project. IanVisits
Greenwich and Shooters Hill college students visit Abbey Wood Crossrail station construction site NewsShopper
Rail 787: Heathrow Express and Crossrail – the need for a fat controller Christian Wolmar
Crossrail will be on time and budget thanks to Olympics training, says Ashtead chief Evening Standard
Boris Johnson has announced the creation of a new company which will oversee all future development and, subject to funding, construction of the proposed Crossrail 2 rail link. MayorWatch
Mainline/Overground
Overground extension to Barking Riverside backed by businesses B&D Post
Engineers seek long-term solutions to rail congestion RTM
The Heathrow Express can no longer claim it runs “every 15 minutes” after a customer complained that the frequency drops to once every 30 minutes late in the day. Telegraph
Woman was dragged along platform at London station after being trapped by train doors Evening Standard
c2c timetable for Shoeburyness to London Fenchurch Street trains set to change on Monday Clacton Gazette
DLR
RMT announced that there will be a series of strikes on the DLR next year, as part of an ongoing dispute over working practices. CityAM
Miscellaneous
There’s an artist on the London Underground sneakily drawing commuters’ portraits Metro
Oyster has all but replaced physical tickets and cash in London, but what’s the technology behind Transport for London’s iconic card? Alphr
Artist sends creepy life-sized Victorian dolls into the London Underground BoingBoing
And finally, train conductor takes his job to new level as he conducts university choir on board his tube Mirror
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The image above is from October 2012: A look around the Jubilee Line train depot at Stratford