Re: London Advice : Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:57 pm  

World of Redboy wrote:

To be honest, I have no idea. It was just something I read on their website about introducing it, was curious if it had actually happened. I do remember all the uproar when they were first introduced due to when a person scanned their card on the reader, (the system automatically trying to deduct the maximum amount for a journey) so was telling people you haven't got enough money on your card, so you can't come in!

Ah, there is an issue with NFC readers picking up cards in the same wallet as an Oyster card too so that would have delayed it, Those Oyser card wallets are so handy to keep nank cards in people have been doing it for years.

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:14 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

The difference between a seasoned Tube rider and a novice, is the seasoned person look at the big map in the station and goes, (this example i'll use my station at High barnet) in their head they'll say "Straight down to kings x, change to Met Line up to Finchley Road"

You plan before in your head, work out your interchanges and just do it, then you stare at the line map on the wall of the train 'occasionally' until you get your station, and then look for the maroon arrows.

The newbie doesn't, they pick their map up at the station, scan it, look over it, over and over again, jump on at platform 3 because the train is there even though 1&2 leave first, they sit there going over the map again, get going, stare at the line map on the carriage, station by station counting them down. Off they get left and right not knowing which way to go, then just follow the exit sign or speak to station staff asking the way, finally get to the Met line, ask people if they are going in the right direction, accidentally get on a circle line train, get off at Baker St, change on the right train, count down the stations again on the line map.

In short, you can usually spot them a mile off

When I was sorting out the emissions controls for LTB I used to love working with Frankie Darch of London General. He was 30 years "on the buses" and what that bloke didn't know about how to get around the capital could be written on a postage stamp.

I'd be down there for a week at a time and the only time I used my car was in the middle of the night to move the specialist measuring and monitoring equipment from garage to garage. During the day I'd be chaperoned by Frank. Not only did he know which buses and tubes to use, he also knew all the back stairs and seret passageways at stations. I don't think we ever waited more than a minute for any connection to arrive.

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:30 am  

When you get really sad you also know which carriage to get on that stops outside the exit of the station you're getting off at.

An aside, I nearly ended up working for London General, i went for an interview in Mitcham with the intention of working at Stockwell, i got a call through the interview which was embarrassing but i let it ring through to voicemail. You found out the same day if you were successful, so they told me to wait in a room while they deliberated, i called my voicemail and it was a job offer, so i just walked out and i'll never know if i got it of not.

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:57 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

When you get really sad you also know which carriage to get on that stops outside the exit of the station you're getting off at...

I reckon most regular travellers on their daily commute know which carriage to get on at.
It makes sense to use a bit of your waiting time to put yourself at the spot on the platform where that carriage will arrive, thereby saving time that would be spent at the other end shoving through the tide to get to the exit.
It's when people know a lot of "where to wait" that it's maybe getting a bit sad.

And I have a few favourites myself.

Waterloo to Kings Cross.
Take the Bakerloo Line Northbound, get on in the middle of the train, change at Oxford Circus, just straight through the short corridor to the parallel platform which is Victoria Northbound (no stairs or tediously long tunnels to negotiate).
When you get to KX, don't follow the sign for KX Mainline trains but follow the exit sign for Euston Road.
Once through the ticket barriers turn right, short walk and then first right again up the steps into the corner of the old concourse, then nip across the unbarriered corner into the new concourse.

When arriving at KX and wanting the Victoria Line, go down the steps from the old concourse (which is where you arrive) and IGNORE the sign pointing right to the Victoria Line, instead go left, short walk and then left down a few steps and through the ticket barriers.

Both of these save what feels like miles of walking through tunnels.

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:16 am  

It's similar with buses too, sometimes it can be quicker to catch 3 buses than one direct bus.
I know the network like the back of my hand north of the river from as far west as Hayes and far east as Tottenham.

Funny thing i used to do when i worked at Brent X, if people asked me how to get to Archway, the tone and manner in which they asked depended on the answer i gave. There are 3 buses with the quickest being 30mins and the longest 1h 5mins

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:20 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

It's similar with buses too, sometimes it can be quicker to catch 3 buses than one direct bus.
I know the network like the back of my hand north of the river from as far west as Hayes and far east as Tottenham.

Funny thing i used to do when i worked at Brent X, if people asked me how to get to Archway, the tone and manner in which they asked depended on the answer i gave. There are 3 buses with the quickest being 30mins and the longest 1h 5mins

Except for a small handful, bus routes are a big gap in my London knowledge.
If I have the time, I do love jumping on one just to see the route it takes, not just in London come to that.
Is that strange? Oh well.

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:23 am  

I hate the Tube and avoid it unless absolutely necessary. Buses are far better – and you do get to see stuff.

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:33 am  

My old route is probably the premier route for sight seeing, and it now has the Borismaster on it, the 24.

Starts at the Royal Free next to Hampstead Heath, a nice little place full of cafe's goes through Camden, up to the West End via Tottenham Ct, Leicester Sq, Traf Sq, past Westminster, up to Victoria and ends in Pimlico next to the river right opposite Battersea power station.

If you're every going to 'just ride a route' definitely in the top 5

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:03 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

My old route is probably the premier route for sight seeing, and it now has the Borismaster on it, the 24.

Starts at the Royal Free next to Hampstead Heath, a nice little place full of cafe's goes through Camden, up to the West End via Tottenham Ct, Leicester Sq, Traf Sq, past Westminster, up to Victoria and ends in Pimlico next to the river right opposite Battersea power station.

If you're every going to 'just ride a route' definitely in the top 5

I know the one.
I've taken it from Victoria to Hampstead Heath (which is at its nicest in the month May, I think, because the leaves are at their greenest then).
A great place to wander see the view from Parliament Hill after a pint at The Flask (I assume it's still open) and, for the odder ones amongst us , maybe seek out the sources of some of London's hidden rivers.

Re: London Advice : Fri Jul 26, 2013 6:42 pm  

Horatio Yed wrote:

When you get really sad you also know which carriage to get on that stops outside the exit of the station you're getting off at.

There is an app for that too to get everyone on here frothing at the mouth once more.