c2c's Commuter News (9/08) says that they are providing storage and inspection facilities for the new fleet of class 378 EMUs (Electric Multiple Units). The trains look similar to c2c's trains (class 357s) but "with seating arranged in a Metro style of service [sic]". I don't think these trains are for the Barking & Gospel Oak line as it (controversially) doesn't have electric traction power along the whole route. This is why it currently uses DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units).
The government seems to be coming round to the railway industry majority view (I believe) of using electric traction. This would seem to be better than the current plan to have trains that can use electric traction but also have diesel engines for lines where there's no electric traction power - a lot of uneccsssary weight would be carried around as a result.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
New c2c ticket machines
c2c's Commuter News (September 08) reports that they are installing new ticket machines along their route by November 2008.
Amongst the features of the new machines they highlight is the ticket collection on departure facility "so you can order and pay for your ticket on line ... and collect it on the day you want to travel from the station you want to start from".
I don't think this is exactly right. Currently you can collect tickets ordered on line from any ticket machine that supports the TOD feature from not long after you order and pay for it. The 4 big blue ticket machines at Barking already support the feature. Online ticket websites for some reason ask you where you want to collect your ticket and warn you if the station you choose is not on the journey the ticket is for, yet it does not matter which compatible machine you use to collect it.
If you have bougfh tickets in advance I would advise collecting them sooner rather than later, from you nearest/most convenient TOD compatible machine. If you leave it till the day of travel and somehing goes wrong it could disrupt your journey. Why risk it?
Amongst the features of the new machines they highlight is the ticket collection on departure facility "so you can order and pay for your ticket on line ... and collect it on the day you want to travel from the station you want to start from".
I don't think this is exactly right. Currently you can collect tickets ordered on line from any ticket machine that supports the TOD feature from not long after you order and pay for it. The 4 big blue ticket machines at Barking already support the feature. Online ticket websites for some reason ask you where you want to collect your ticket and warn you if the station you choose is not on the journey the ticket is for, yet it does not matter which compatible machine you use to collect it.
If you have bougfh tickets in advance I would advise collecting them sooner rather than later, from you nearest/most convenient TOD compatible machine. If you leave it till the day of travel and somehing goes wrong it could disrupt your journey. Why risk it?
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Beego Bikes
Check out this company that buys and sells used bikes - and does "much, much more". www.beegobikes.com
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Weekend rail closures adversely affect Barking
This weekend (6-7 September):
There is no District line service between East Ham and Upminster (this also applies to weekend of 13-14 September)
There is no Hammersmith & City line service between Whitechapel and Barking
There is no c2c service between Barking and Laindon via Upminster.
The fastest way to travel between central London and Barking is by c2c services.
This is in addition to the Barking and Gospel Oak line being closed from 1-28 September.
There is no District line service between East Ham and Upminster (this also applies to weekend of 13-14 September)
There is no Hammersmith & City line service between Whitechapel and Barking
There is no c2c service between Barking and Laindon via Upminster.
The fastest way to travel between central London and Barking is by c2c services.
This is in addition to the Barking and Gospel Oak line being closed from 1-28 September.
Monday, 18 August 2008
LED bulbs
Budget supermarket Lidl has LED bulbs at what looks like a good price, £3.99. Some mains voltage and some 12v
Includes GU10, MR16, GU5.3, E14, E27.
GU10 is a typical spotlight bulb size, but do check which size and voltage you need. LED bulbs use a lot less power and last a lot longer than other types.
Includes GU10, MR16, GU5.3, E14, E27.
GU10 is a typical spotlight bulb size, but do check which size and voltage you need. LED bulbs use a lot less power and last a lot longer than other types.
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Orange bags
What can go into B&D council's orange re-cycling bags? It can be a bit confusing.
1) Here's what it says on the bags (same on old and new, stronger, type):
Cans/Tins (Food, pet food, drinks)
Foil
Plastic bottles (drink, milk, detergent, shampoo) *
Plastic bags
Newspapers
Magazines
Junkmail
Flyers
Brochures
Directories
Cardboard packaging (cereal, detergent and other similar). Flattened.
* bag says remove the lids and flatten the bottles. It doesn't say not to put the lids in the bag loose.
It also says no glass.
2) Here's what it says on the council's website:
http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/8-leisure-envir/refuse/recycling-orange.html
"You can recycle all types of paper, food and drinks cans and plastic bottles in the Orange sacks."
Can we put in the orange bags what also goes in the bring site containers? Not glass obviously, but what about fruit juice (and similar) cartons? The council website hasn't been updated for this new recyclable even for the bring sites and the orange bag information on the website is limited (as can be seen above). As Shanks takes most, if not all of the stuff away, I don't think it mkes any difference.
1) Here's what it says on the bags (same on old and new, stronger, type):
Cans/Tins (Food, pet food, drinks)
Foil
Plastic bottles (drink, milk, detergent, shampoo) *
Plastic bags
Newspapers
Magazines
Junkmail
Flyers
Brochures
Directories
Cardboard packaging (cereal, detergent and other similar). Flattened.
* bag says remove the lids and flatten the bottles. It doesn't say not to put the lids in the bag loose.
It also says no glass.
2) Here's what it says on the council's website:
http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/8-leisure-envir/refuse/recycling-orange.html
"You can recycle all types of paper, food and drinks cans and plastic bottles in the Orange sacks."
Can we put in the orange bags what also goes in the bring site containers? Not glass obviously, but what about fruit juice (and similar) cartons? The council website hasn't been updated for this new recyclable even for the bring sites and the orange bag information on the website is limited (as can be seen above). As Shanks takes most, if not all of the stuff away, I don't think it mkes any difference.
Road to nowhere
http://stibasa.blogspot.com/2008/06/road-to-nowhere.html
The gate is still across, but the RTN now has a footway down one side and a kissing gate barrier on to the path that goes up onto the riverside (former paint factory). The (very overgrown) path down the East Ham side of the A406 emerges on this road and you are faced with a shared unsegregated path sign - though as yet there is no evidence of where his is.
Annoyingly, the Jenkins Lane end of the RTN has a new "no entry except buses" sign to match the one further up, facing the other way. I have put in a complaint to Newham Council about this - see below.
The gate across the RTN is quite high off the ground and it is possible to slide a bicycle underneath and then slip under oneself (if one is not wearing best clothes).
Here's the text of my complaint which I submitted on line at https://forms.newham.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=EJ38CHTG6Mf.
'Details of the complaint
The new road from Jenkins Lane to Barking Town Quay has a "no entry except buses" sign at the Jenkins Lane end, and another facing the other way further towards Barking. This is unfair on cyclists. Jenkins Lane was cut off by the S Woodford to Barking Relief Road many years ago and we have waited and waited for access to be restored, only to find that you have allowed buses only. This would be a useful route to the cinema etc. If cyclists ignore the restriction they will be criticised for breaking the law, so why should Newham Council get away with this blatant anti-cycling measure?
What would you like the council to do?
Remove the restriction on cycles, perhaps by replacing the signs with the blue "buses and cycles only" signs or "no motor vehicles except buses" signs, or get permission and have "no entry except buses and cycles"'
The gate is still across, but the RTN now has a footway down one side and a kissing gate barrier on to the path that goes up onto the riverside (former paint factory). The (very overgrown) path down the East Ham side of the A406 emerges on this road and you are faced with a shared unsegregated path sign - though as yet there is no evidence of where his is.
Annoyingly, the Jenkins Lane end of the RTN has a new "no entry except buses" sign to match the one further up, facing the other way. I have put in a complaint to Newham Council about this - see below.
The gate across the RTN is quite high off the ground and it is possible to slide a bicycle underneath and then slip under oneself (if one is not wearing best clothes).
Here's the text of my complaint which I submitted on line at https://forms.newham.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=EJ38CHTG6Mf.
'Details of the complaint
The new road from Jenkins Lane to Barking Town Quay has a "no entry except buses" sign at the Jenkins Lane end, and another facing the other way further towards Barking. This is unfair on cyclists. Jenkins Lane was cut off by the S Woodford to Barking Relief Road many years ago and we have waited and waited for access to be restored, only to find that you have allowed buses only. This would be a useful route to the cinema etc. If cyclists ignore the restriction they will be criticised for breaking the law, so why should Newham Council get away with this blatant anti-cycling measure?
What would you like the council to do?
Remove the restriction on cycles, perhaps by replacing the signs with the blue "buses and cycles only" signs or "no motor vehicles except buses" signs, or get permission and have "no entry except buses and cycles"'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)