" wrote:
On 10/01/2013 15:17, Recliner wrote:
"Robin" wrote:
snip Oddly, the only politician he criticised was the Labour
transport minister who he said had shut the Ongar line (the politician
in question is rather more famous for her previous career, Glenda
Jackson). In fact, of course, it was closed in 1994, during the Major
administration. Is Bob becoming a closet Tory?

Possibly depends on the meaning of "shut"? I thought services stopped
running in 1994 but that it was not until 1998, when Glenda Jackson was
the junior Minister with responsibility for transport in London, that
the line was sold.

Ah, that explains it. But it had been formally closed before then, hadn't
it?


I wonder if urban sprawl would ever see the EOR operate any sort of
regular service or if TfL would ever consider taking over that section once again.

Only likely if Green Belt policies are relaxed, leading to a lot more
development in the Ongar area. But, even if that did happen, the Central
line is a pretty slow way to get to central London from that part of Essex.

I'm still pondering over why Bob Crow attacked Labour rather than the
Tories for closing the line. And when asked whether he agreed with one of
Boris's bullish descriptions of London, he couldn't have been moe positive.
No attacks on the concept of driverless trains, or supposed safety issues,
or refusal to meet unions, etc. I doubt that many members of the cabinet
would have been as enthusiastic about Boris and his plans.