Tag: London

Blackfriars Solar PV Bridge – From Waterloo & City Line Walk

Blackfriars Solar PV Bridge

While I don’t think this is a particularly good photo of Blackfriars Railway Bridge, it does show something very interesting going on. The bridge is going to be covered in solar PV panels, which will generate around 900,000 kWh of electricity per year. To put that in perspective a typical large home solar system produces about 3,500kWh per year. Once completed the Blackfriars solar PV system will generate about 50% of the station’s entire power needs.

This combined with the fact that you can already enter Blackfriars station from either side of the Thames – makes it the most interesting railway station in London – in my opinion.

Taken on my Waterloo & City Line walk – part of my Randomly London v. The Tube Challenge.

TUBE TUBE 9 – Escorted – London Underground Short Film Series

The most recent film in the TUBE TUBE series and another great one not shot in English. Things do not seem to be going Eva’s way. A warning to any more sensitive viewers, there are some strong subtitles and implications of adult situations. If you like this one give the rest of the TUBE TUBE series a watch.

Oyster Gives Up Pearls – Mapping Tube Journeys

An interesting short video about how UCL Engineering School is using the data from the Oyster Card system to map out how Londoners use the network. The obvious benefit is that TFL could better invest in problem locations to relieve congestion. The main takeaway is that London is a network of polycentres – meaning there is no one central hub – but a collection of them.

To be honest I’m not sure why the data hasn’t been looked at before. About 3 months ago, I got letter from TFL asking me to record my complete journey history using a pen and paper form. It seemed insanely inefficient and I didn’t bother to complete it. At the time I thought why don’t they just use the information from Oyster Card system, glad to see they now are.

You can learn more about the project from Oyster Give Up It’s Pearls page from the UCL Engineering School.

100 Years Underground (1963) – London Underground Documentary

This is a great 40 minute film about the Tube at 100. Made in 1963 it provides a brief history of the Underground network up to that point. It’s interesting to see that while many things have changed in the last 50 years, many haven’t. For example, the Tube in 1963 looks about as crowded as it is today. Moreover, they were still trying to explain to people to stand right and not crowd the doors. If people haven’t learned these lessons in the past 50, I don’t think there’s a lot of hope in the next.

Some highlights include footage of the yet to be opened Victoria line (next up in my Tube Challenge) being built and the building of what become known as Millbank Tower (originally named Vickers Tower), the Shard of it’s day. There is even mention of driverless trains, something that’s still being talked about 50 years on.

If you have 40 minutes I highly recommend giving it a watch, a great slice of history.

Randomly London v. The Tube – My Personal London Underground Challenge

Bank Station

That’s right, I’m taking on the Tube! Specifically, my goal over the next 12 months is to visit every London Underground station and to walk all the Tube lines above ground. Given that there are 11 underground lines, my aim is to complete about one a month.

This also leaves me with a bit of extra time in case I need it. I’ve walked several of the Tube lines before, but since turning 30 last month, I’ve decided to walk them all systemically. Walking the Tube is a great way to see London and to discover how each community fits together. Coincidentally, the timing of this challenge will overlap with the 150th anniversary of the Tube on 10 January, 2013.

The idea was conceived of as a personal challenge, but I thought it would be a wasted opportunity not to raise money for charity. So, I’ve set a goal of raising £16,013 for Bowel Cancer UK. The number represents £1 for each person who died from bowel cancers in the UK in 2010.

I chose this charity because of a family history with the disease; my Scottish paternal grandmother died of colorectal cancer in her 40s, long before I ever had a chance to meet her. Walking and exercise in general are good ways to prevent bowel and other types of cancers. You can learn more about bowel cancer – including who is at risk, symptoms, where to get screenings, and more – from the Bowel Cancer UK website here.

My plan for the challenge is as follows:
Continue reading Randomly London v. The Tube – My Personal London Underground Challenge

Transport for London – Friday Timelapse Video 4

My final timelapse of the day is titled Transport for London. This one is actually a bit older than the rest of the videos from today. It was shot by Alex Forey. It is A collection of timelapses shot in and around Central London, to showcase the bustling transport systems in London.

I think it has some of the best shots of any of the videos featured today – however I don’t think the whole things holds together as well as it could. Still I’m interested to see future videos from Alex.

You can read more about: filmandstuff.co.uk/tfl