A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…
London Underground
An increase in the number of people falling into the gap between the train and the platform has been blamed on the introduction of new Tube trains. Independent
Elevators that can move both vertically and horizontally to take passengers to their intended destination could be built into the London Underground system. The IET
Transport for London teams up with Twitter to launch ‘instant’ tube alerts service The Drum
The mystery of the missing tube maps Diamond Geezer
A tube worker could face a battle to walk again after he was crushed between a machine and the platform while carrying out improvement work. The Sun
Crossrail / Elizabeth Line
Crossrail has appointed Martin Brown, formerly head of health, safety and the environment at Transport for London, as its new health and safety director. RTM
New trainer needed for Crossrail tunnel academy Construction Enquirer
So how much did it cost to rebrand Crossrail “the Elizabeth Line”? CityMetric
Crossrail noise causes sleepless nights for Maidenhead residents over bank holiday Maidenhead Advertiser
Mainline/Overground
HS2: the zombie train that refuses to die The Guardian <– by the perpetual grump, Simon Jenkins
New transport link at Lea Bridge already opening up redevelopment opportunities Estates Gazette
The line from Shepperton to Teddington and Strawberry Hill will close for two weeks in July as Network Rail looks to address the recurring issue of flooding along the route Get Surrey
Work to finish a direct rail link between central Oxford and London Marylebone could be given the go-ahead within weeks. Oxford Mail
The bitter dispute between Southern Rail and the unions intensified with the rail operator accused of lying about cancelled services. ITV
GWR has finalised an agreement with Bombardier and Porterbrook to procure 37 new Class 387 Electrostar EMUs for its Thames Valley route. Global Rail News
Miscellaneous
Miracle ‘tube cat’ rescued three days after running onto London Underground tracks Telegraph
The number of Transport for London staff earning more than £100,000 a year is more than 400 for the second year running. Standard
Plans to build the £120m Camden Lock Village development in north London have suffered a four-month set-back after Network Rail temporarily halted works. ConstructionNews
The curious tale of Hammersmith’s abandoned railway viaduct IanVisits
Tube worker cycling around the world in a year to raise money for charity LocalLondon
London mayor, who had pledged residents ‘won’t pay a penny more’ for travel, says fares freeze applies only to single journeys The Guardian
Lets play spot the trademark infringement… Likely to happen MusicWeek and Has happened Blackpool Gazette
And finally, This DLR staff training video from 1988 is worth watching for the funky music alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwruoagYq0U
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The image above is from July 2012: Happy 25th Birthday to the Docklands Light Railway