Planning dispute delays air conditioned Tubes

There could be a longer wait for air conditioning on the London Underground as Westminster council don't like the "crude" design of an electricity substation needed to power the Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, Circle and District trains.


The substation is due to be built near Edgware Road Tube station but Westminster Council are likely to refuse permission tonight as they reckon the building will be "injurious to the amenity of the neighbourhood", said the Evening Standard.

Wow how bad can it possibly look? Has anyone seen the plans? It's not as if all the buildings around Edgware Road Tube add value to the skyline or neighbourhood.

"Points of Interest" Tube Map

Haven't seen many spoof or alternative London Underground maps for a while, so it was refreshing to see a work in progress, sent to me by the good folk at LDN Interesting. It takes the Tube map and replaces station names with "main points of interest" for the area. I like how these main points interest should be taken with a massive pinch of salt:


If you look on the whole map, you'll see all of the Heathrow stations simply saying "To other places". Limehouse seems to be just known for Ian McKellen, Camden Town for Goths, Canonbury for Guardian Readers and Kentish Town for Struggling Indie Bands.

Dan Zambonini who came up with the idea is looking for people to help him complete the map, so please leave suggestions in the comments or reply to him on Twitter!

It's interesting to see the suggestions already being made and how people can associate a whole area of London with an actor or a bunch of restaurants.

Nom Nom Nom Voting & Charity Raffle

Some of you will know that I helped to organise Nom Nom Nom again this year, which was basically a blogger's version of MasterChef. It's now time for the public vote and there's some familiar faces to this blog to vote for. L J Rich (you'll remember her from my fab trip on the Orient Express last year) & Jemimah (fab blog post on the day) who made up Team Bork Bork Bork & Cowfish (the evil clue master of the London Transport Museum Flickr Scavenger Hunt) & Eater. I'm sure they would really appreciate your votes!




You've got till this Friday to vote!

Also we've got lots and lots of scrumptious foodie goodies up for grabs in a charity raffle in aid of Action Against Hunger. They include meals out at Le Gavroche, hampers, wine, BBQ sets, fudge and even a lesson at the Cookery School where the event took place. Tickets are only a fiver and as not all of the prizes have been bid on yet, you're in with a good chance of winning. Good luck!

First new Tubes in ten years

The first new London Underground trains in 10 years have entered the system on the Victoria Line. Look out for them as they're gradually being phased in as part of the £750m Victoria line upgrade.


Peter Miller pictured above said "Completely by chance, just had most exciting experience to be had on the Tube - inaugural journey of new advanced train on Victoria line!"

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's transport director, said: "Londoners have heard a lot of talk about investment on the Tube, but now they can see and experience the reality of the upgrades that they have been promised. The new trains are a fantastic, state-of-the-art addition to the Tube network, which - along with signal upgrades - will transform the journeys of those using the Victoria line." There's more on the upgrade & new trains here.

If you manage to find yourself in one, tell us what the journey was like & thanks to Utku for spotting Peter's experience.


He said that he managed to outgeek other Tube geeks on the train when he asked them how the signalling worked & how much software would need updating if a new station were added.

Tube Photo of the Week & Holiday

It's the cheery guys at Warwick Avenue again. SamCarelse spotted this and said "Some sensible advice from London Underground staff during the heat wave".


Thanks to Mags Halliday for the hat tip to this. Plus it's kind of appropriate for me to post today as I'll be going on holiday for the next week, so there'll be a break in posting on the blog.

I'll be relaxing on a yoga holiday in the south of France, near the Pyrenees and am looking forward to no commuting or computers. Have a good week & see you again soon.