London’s weekly railway news #9

A weekly round-up of London’s rail transport news…

London Underground

Geoff Marshall shares his favourite bits of Tube trivia from the Bakerloo Line. Londonist

Commuters are invited to explore a secret garden hidden behind Hampstead Tube Station. Ham & High

The RMT confirmed that train crew members on the Victoria Line are to be balloted for strike action Press Release

Twelve London Underground car parks have been fitted with charging points for electric cars. Fleet News

Public consultation on Piccadilly Line stopping at Turnham Green. ChiswickW4

Vicarage Road approved for Croxley Rail Link’s West Watford station name. Watford Observer

Replicas of vintage tube station tiles go on sale. IanVisits

Crossrail

Commuters who use Abbey Wood station have been urged to reconsider their journeys as work begins on the new Crossrail station. Bexley Times

London First has submitted its response to Transport for London’s consultation on Crossrail 2. Press Release

Rare evidence that humans lived on the River Thames 9,000 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists working on the Crossrail project. BBC News

London’s high-speed rail project is helping to drive an office-building boom on the City of London’s western edge as investors rejuvenate aging sites like Smithfield Market near future transport hubs. Bloomberg News

A look at the tunnels and TMBs working in Plumstead The Rail Engineer

Mainline/Overground

Camden Council has called for a review of the HS2 budget after a report found that an inadequate amount of money has been set aside to compensate residents and businesses forced to relocate. Ham & High

Over 100 towns and cities on Britain’s existing railway lines could benefit from quicker, more frequent journeys and better connections when HS2 phase two is complete, according to a report published by Network Rail. Press Release

A new high-speed “rail bagel” encircling London will become a priority for the capital as its population soars to 10m over the next 20 years, Boris Johnson’s transport adviser has said. Financial Times (may need registration).

London Midland Trains is now training 61 new drivers. Bedfordshire on Sunday

Recycled water is being used to clean trains running on the Fenchurch Street network through east London. East London Advertiser

Fifty days to go before new King’s Cross Square opens. Camden New Journal

DLR

Blast from the Past: A Precariously Positioned DLR Train London Reconnections

Miscellaneous

Three companies have been shortlisted for the next contract to run London’s Oyster smartcards and related fare collection systems. RailNews

There is a unique form of narcolepsy that can strike every occupant of a London Underground carriage in an instant. The Herald

TfL has called for architects to develop plans to convert its 55 Broadway head office into residential flats. Press Release

The King’s Cross area of London has been transformed into a ghastly business centre where drugs and dirty sex can no longer be purchased openly. Satire

Transport For London staff have been banned from using electronic cigarettes at work because they are too realistic. Evening Standard

A couple of videos showing the overhaul of the Virgin Pendolino trains. Alstom

Photo

The image above is from: Jubilee Line tunnels under Big Ben