Tom Anderson wrote:

On Mon, 18 Feb 2008, brixtonite wrote:

(snip)

[...] I used to think 'I'm sure
I'd've pushed my way on' when people told me about waiting for a few
trains go past, but having experienced it (on the Northern line at
Clapham/Stockwell/Kennington,) there's a degree of crowding where you
can push quite impolitely into the people already on board and travel
with your head in someone's armpit, and then a degree of crowding where
it is simply *not possible* to get on.

I used to go out with a girl who lived near Clapham South tube; she went
to work (by car!) pretty early by my standards, and so turfed me out in
the mornings in the height of rush hour to catch a Northern line train to
work. Thus, i've experienced this quite a bit, and it's exactly as you say
- quite unbelievable. Splitting up with her was quite a relief!

tom


It's like Dante's Inferno at the peak of the rush hour.

Obviously the Northern line is a major factor in making Clapham a
popular district to live in, problem being that it's a victim of its
own success. For journeys from Clapham to the City the Northern line
really is the glaringly obvious route by public transport. One
alternative is the South London Line from Clapham High Street to
London Bridge, but that's a half-hourly two car train that also gets
pretty busy. Otherwise it's the bus, and one has to change at Elephant
& Castle as well - perhaps there's a need for a through bus to the
City (like there used to be?), to take some of the strain off the
Northern line.

All of which explains why there's an awful lot of people cycling up to
town from those parts these days. The Northern line is also pretty
busy during the 'shoulder peak' periods, when many of those who can
sensibly opt to travel in a more civilised manner (albeit quite
possibly at a less civilised hour!).