Tube bans Massive Attack's Album

No, the London Underground haven't started to ban people's choice of music on the Tube. But the band's artwork has fallen foul of the censors because the artwork for the album below looks too much like graffiti.


Robert del Naja, the band's artist explains "They won't allow anything on the tube that looks like 'street art'. They want us to remove all drips and fuzz from it so it doesn't look like it's been spray-painted, which is f**king ridiculous. It's the most absurd censorship I've ever seen."

He's obviously not seen previous censorship on the Tube, which included making a Nip/Tuck ad less sexy, making buns that covered Kelly Brooks boobs bigger, temporarily censoring a nude work of art, not allowing a poster of a fat Jesus and there's more since I've been blogging.

As Londonist said "TfL appear to be taking the lowest common denominator approach over their advertising guidelines and applying the somewhat dubious assumption that such posters will inflame latent graffitical tendencies among us, when the only graffiti most Tube travellers would be tempted to undertake would be to correct the service information board with accurate updates."

Do you think TfL have a point? Are there other ads that you've seen on the Tube which you think should be banned as they might encourage anti social or illegal behaviour?

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Tuesday, February 09, 2010 Permalink

Tube Photo of the Week

For the people who think the London Underground shouldn't be a place for putting on make up. Over spotted this on the Central Line last week and said: "I looked to the warnings on the carriage window and, at first, everything seems normal. But then, looking it again ... Well, I took a snap of it. There was another on on the door as well."


Probably would have been less spoof like and blended in better if the sticker maker hadn't used "dodgy stuff". The real poster on the subway in Japan may have been an influence.


These semi passive aggressive notices in public places, have to turn the "You wouldn't do this at home" message on its head, which is sometimes quite hard. Our office manager sent out an email about keeping the kitchen tidy last week & said "leave the kitchen as you like to find it. On second thoughts, if you're a slob at home, scrub that and just keep it tidy".

Perhaps more Tube notices should be written in this tone.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Monday, February 08, 2010 Permalink

TfL delays Tube newspaper contract

The race appears not be on for a new free morning paper for the London Underground. Metro's contract with TfL runs out in March 2010 and prospective bidders were supposed to have heard by December last year, whether they were successful or not. Associated Newspapers, who own Metro are thought to have bid for the contract. However as we've seen the closure of a number of evening free sheets, it appears that other usual suspects aren't interested.


News International (who published the Londonpaper) and the owner of the Evening Standard are understood not to be bidding - according to Brand Republic.

An announcement as to who will get the contract (which was worth £1 million) will be made in due course. Who knows, maybe the publishers of the mysterious London Weekly (a free sheet due to launch this evening and every Saturday) will make a bid?


It certainly looks like there won't be worry about another new morning title being left on the Tube and that Metro will be the only one. Wonder if Metro will able to get the contract for less if there aren't any other bidders? I believe it was the only profitable London free-sheet, so they could make even more out of it.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Friday, February 05, 2010 Permalink

Tube maintenance workers strike

The first in a series of 24 hour strikes by London Underground workers started today (Friday 5th February 2010) at 6.45am. Fortunately, this will only cause disruption if there are problems to signals as they won't get fixed during the stoppage. At time of writing the Piccadilly Line is suspended between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge and the Metropolitan Line between Hillingdon & Uxbridge. This is leading to delays on the rest of the Uxbridge branch.


Keep an eye on TfL's website and local news to find out if more problems develop throughout the day.

The 750 workers will stop working from the same time every Sunday from February 14, until the dispute over rosters and handing work to external contractors is resolved.

TfL are condemning the strike and are "astonished" by union RMT's behaviour over this. "It is simply astonishing that the RMT issued a press release confirming their plans to strike while we are still negotiating with them at ACAS.

"This questions the RMT's claims that they wish to talk and shows they are intent on disrupting London rather than resolving this issue."

Phil Hufton, the London Underground's Chief Maintenance Officer continued: "We have consulted fully with staff and unions on the proposed changes and we are prepared to continue discussions with the RMT. They should stop threatening industrial action at every opportunity, when all that will do is lose their members more pay.

"Despite this unjustified threat, it is our intention to operate a good service across the network during any industrial action."

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Friday, February 05, 2010 Permalink

Teaser Ads on the Tube

My friend @whatleydude asked me whether I'd seen any ads with a big X on the London Underground. At the time I hadn't but typcially, the very next day (yesterday), I saw the one below at Old Street.


If anyone knows what it's for or wants to hazard a guess please do. Maybe it'll be followed up by a giant Y and then a giant Z. have you seen any other variations? Is it just limited to Shoreditch or the Northern Line?

The similar looking 'item on a black background' cryptic ad campaign by The Times on the Tube drove many people mad a couple of years ago.


There's always a mild let down whenever you find out what these teaser campaigns are actually for. Doubtless the same will be the case here.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Wednesday, February 03, 2010 Permalink

Kew Gardens vs Warwick Avenue

Looks like Kew Gardens London Underground station is taking on Warwick Avenue. Maybe this has been happening while I've been away, but this morning I noticed Historical Facts and Born on this Day added to the normal Service Information board.


I particularly like the addition of Del Boy in brackets, just in case people had no idea who David Jason was. Shame about the typo on Farrah Fawcett's name (it's a common mispelling) & the lack of apostrophe on Charlie's Angels (Lynne Truss would be proud). I love these signs of being human on the Tube & so shouldn't complain, as typos / grammatical errors are all too human.

But aside from that, I look forward to seeing if this continues and whether the staff at my station will become as infamous as Mr Warwick Avenue or Tim Pinn (even though my email slipped through the net he was interiewed by the BBC).

I still wonder if there is an unofficial competition amongst Tube staff to see who can create the best temporary notices? Let us know if your station is adding daily notices. The pool for London Underground Temporary Notices on Flickr is getting quite big now.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Tuesday, February 02, 2010 Permalink

Time Travel on the Central Line

At Bond Street Tube @LJRICH saw a rather unusual form of time measurement on the Eastbound platform. Luckily she had a camcorder and when her eyes popped back into her head, was able to record:


She said: "Deep underneath London, at Bond Street Station, there's a wonky clock on the Central Line.

Either that, or there's a rip in the space-time continuum. No wonder the trains are so unpredictable."

Another example at how time on the London Underground is in a dimension all of its own.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Tuesday, February 02, 2010 Permalink

Northern Line could become even more miserable

The Northern Line (aka the Misery Line) could shut every weekday evening from 8.30pm for a year due to engineering works. TfL and Tube Lines are currently wrangling over plans to introduce improvements on one of the most congested lines on the London Underground. Commuters could face similar closures that travellers on the Victoria Line had from February 2008 (although that line only closed from 10pm).


"Sources close to the talks say Tube Lines wants to do the work from 11.30pm between Sunday and Thursday for 16 months, starting next month. According to TfL, this would mean closing the line north of Stockwell from 8.30pm onwards to get trains back to depots." report The Guardian

Tube Lines said the schedule for the Northern Line upgrade was still being discussed with TfL. "We have worked very closely with London Underground to find a way of getting access to the track while producing minimum disruption to the service. It is an ongoing discussion between us," it said.

Dave Hill from the Guardian's London blog said "It's another chance for Boris to bash Gordon over the PPP. And, frankly, who can blame him?"

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Monday, February 01, 2010 Permalink

Trains in LA

So pleased to have a break from the London Underground and public transport for the last week while I'm in California. However, thought you might like to see the closest I got to the subway in LA. It's the entrance to the Hollywood Highland Metro station on Hollywood Boulevard.


Never rode the subway there, so I've no idea how it compares with the subway in New York or elsewhere in the US. If anyone's used the LA Metro, let me know.

At the weekend, I really enjoyed taking a tram up to the Getty Center. The sun was pouring through the windows, the sky was blue, it was warm, the air was clear. If only Tube travel could be like this!


As you can see from the picture below there were fantastic views of Los
Angeles. Luckily there was a break in the weather (last week California had big winter storms and it rained from the day we arrived).


Back in London on Saturday, but in the meantime, here's a link to my Flickr set of photos from California, Los Angeles & Santa Monica - will be updating it over the coming week - as I have a backlog of photos to upload from the weekend

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Permalink

London Transport Museum Film Collection online

London Transport Musuem have just added a film collection to their online archives. The initial films cover films going back to 1910 up to the 1970's. The musuem says it includes "the classic British Transport Films 'All that mighty heart', along with a lesser-known gem 'Our Canteens'."


Flicking through the eight titles, I was drawn to a film from 1932 showing the 'new' Piccadilly Line extension and seeing how stations that I often travel through now, such as Acton Town and Hammersmith looked back then. You also get to see crowds of thirties commuters (most of the men in hats) boarding the London Underground at Piccadilly Circus & using the ticket halls at Hyde Park Corner.

It's a great collection to browse and dive into, not just for transport buffs, but also to see how film & animation styles have changed over that period.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Sunday, January 24, 2010 Permalink

Weekly strikes on Jubilee Line over Tube pay

You might face some severe disruption on the Jubilee Line from 7.30pm 27th January 2010 and then each Sunday evening from 7.30pm on 31st January 2010. Maintenance workers who are members of the RMT & employed by Alstom are walking out in a dispute over pay.


It's claimed that staff based in Stratford are paid less than "their brothers and sisters elsewhere on the Underground". The pay gap is said to have grown to thousands of pounds.

However, on Wednesday a new proposal was put to the table for the RMT to consider.

Bob Crow the RMT leader said "Despite lengthy talks aimed at reaching an agreement that ensures that Stratford Market depot fleet staff get the same wages as their brothers and sisters elsewhere on the Underground, Alstom have dug their heels in and left us no option but to take decisive action to break the deadlock.."

A TfL spokesperson told the Press Association: "This is a matter for Tube Lines, its contractors and the RMT and we urge them to resolve the matter quickly without any disruption to Londoners."

It's hoped that a decision will be made by Monday.

Update - Jan 27th 2010 - These have been suspended as a new pay offer is now being considered.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Friday, January 22, 2010 Permalink

Tube staff vote for strike action

There was an over 90% majority vote for strike action in a dispute between the Metronet signal staff and London Underground management over the imposition of new rosters for maintenance workers plus handing over work to external contractors & breaches of agreements. The RMT have described this rather more emotively on their press release and accuse London Underground of "unilaterally ripping up agreements, bulldozing through shift patterns that treat staff like slabs of meat that can be pulled off the shelf when it suits managers and of threatening job security through increased use of outside contractors"


The union leader Bob Crow said, of the LU: "It's their bully-boy management style which has forced us into this dispute."

He continued "LUL seem to be hell bent on confrontation by tearing up the Signals Framework Agreement and by unilaterally introducing new working practices which mean they can make people work what hours they like, when they like."

London Underground are denyiing the union's allegations and their chief maintenance officer, Phil Hufton, said striking over rosters was "ludicrous".

He said: "We are planning to introduce a roster covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure planned engineering staff are always available. That agreement already exists, but the RMT is trying to tear it up.

"They should stop threatening industrial action at every opportunity."

As yet it's not been announced when the strike action would take place if the dispute is not resolved.

Update - the first of the Tube strikes started Friday 5th February 2010

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Permalink

Tube Photo of the Week

Great emotional penalty fare notice spotted by Rowan Beentje while travelling through Green Park London Underground station:


I quite like the way the language is really specific here, as it brings out that nice "jobsworth" official Tube tone "If you fail to hide your true emotions fully or make any attempt to engage with passengers".

I've put in bold where I imagine the emphasis would be if this was ever to become an announcement.

My blog posts will be a bit sporadic over the next two weeks, as I'll be in California for work. I'll be thinking of you & hope your commute & travels aren't too problematic. Whatever you do, make sure you follow the signs about your emotions to avoid the penalty fare.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Friday, January 15, 2010 Permalink

London Underground & Snow

Woke up to snow again this morning. However, as you can see from the view from my study window, the Tube seems to be coping with the unexpected downfall. For the London Underground, for once, it's the right kind of snow. Good luck getting into work if you're on a mainline line or using London Overground, as there seem to be a number of delays and cancelled services.


Let us know how you get on and how your station or route is holding up with the snow.

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Wednesday, January 13, 2010 Permalink

London Underground Ticket Office Closures

London Underground plans to close or cut most of its ticket offices, and to reduce station staffing by over 1,000 staff. A number of people have sent me a link to petition that's been set up by Janine Booth to try to stop the closures.


It says: "To provide customer service and safety, London Underground stations need more staff not fewer. Popular opposition stopped planned ticket office closures in 2008; now we need the same popular opposition to stop them again."

From a safety point of view, I don't think it's a great idea to have unmanned or unpersonned stations. A number of old British Rail stations have suffered an increase in assaults etc due to de-staffing.

"Leaked proposals indicate that up to 144 ticket offices will be closed and up to 1,200 jobs will be axed, said the Socialist Party website.

"Already scores of jobs around the combine are left vacant, with no intention by management to fill them. Many outlying stations are regularly left unstaffed, which is a health and safety risk for the travelling public - who are already faced with the costliest transport system in Europe."

This is probably one a few times when I find I'm in support of the RMT! If you'd like to sign the petition it's here.

It's also pretty frustrating to find unstaffed stations when you want to ask a question or the Oyster & ticket machines are broken, giving you the prospect of a tiresome explanation at the other end of your journey. I wonder how many people will also use the lack of station staff as a way of dodging fares?

What are your thoughts?

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Tuesday, January 12, 2010 Permalink

Inaugural No Trousers on the Underground 2010

Over thirty brave souls braced the icy temperatures in London yesterday to take part in the first No Trousers on the London Underground event. Although over two hundred people had signed up to be in the London part of the global task, the weather meant that most stayed wrapped up. However, if you were on the Piccadilly Line, between 3pm and 5pm, youd have seen the trouserless travelling between Leicester Square, King's Cross and Earl's Court before going back to Leicester Square.


Rammi took part and is featured in trouserless at King's Cross Tube in today's Metro! Updating on Twitter she said "I was in the 5th carriage for most of the ride, with foreign young people and elderly women giving me evil looks. I think photographers outnumbered the participants"

My wishes of warmth didn't work as it it was "freezing" at the meeting point in Trafalgar Square, where she tweeted "W00t for coldness and mismatched underwear in public view!" However once on the trains it was really hot and packed at King's Cross.


Ryan Millar blogged about the Trouserless on the Tube experience too:

"After the first stop we all awaited the signal from Team Leader Seamus to drop trou. Initially, when the six of us in my carriage all de-trousered, the reaction was mild surprise.

Or the old "Look! Don't look!" gambit.

I just leaned up near the door, at the end of the car. Reading. Finally the guy next to me (after a few stops) asked me why I took my trousers off.

"It's hot in here," I explained.
"But what about them?" he asked, gesturing to the other bare legs in the carriage.
"Yeah, they took theirs off too," I agreed.
For some reason this seemed to satisfy his curiosity.

Sounds like London - I bet everyone else was dying to ask.

There's a great set of photos by idulsukin here.


Rammi also pointed me to the video of a trouser removal at Covent Garden. Hopefully next year it won't be freezing & more people will turn up. Well done to the those who braved it & putting London on the No Trousers Metro map!

London Underground; Tube Posted by Annie Mole Monday, January 11, 2010 Permalink