"TheOneKEA" wrote in message
oups.com
snip

There are open days at Neasden?

I think I've seen copies of Down the Tube before; this one might be
worth buying.

It's a good read, concentrating mainly on the people behind the
Underground, rather than the technology. It certainly brings out a lot
of examples of how today's dysfunctional Underground has its origins in
the unplanned, chaotic origins, often driven by the personal rivalries
of the likes of Watkin and Forbes. It's also a reminder of just how
quickly the Victorians and Edwardians could build new lines, all using
only private finance, despite the lack of today's technologies (of
course, they wouldn't have built them at all if they had to comply with
today's health and safety standards).

On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 18:10:01 +0100, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
wrote:

Press clipping forwarded FYI, by Alan (in Brussels) :

Wolmar is Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues,
SNIP rest of review by Ian Marchant

He's the foremost expert on public transport is he? I think I'll have
to disagree with that.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

Michael Bell wrote to uk.transport.london on Sun, 9 Jan 2005:

I wish I had seen the Brussels tram-subway while it still was that. A wholly
different approach to underground transport, and probably much cheaper.

Isn't it, any more? How sad. It was on my first trip to Brussels, but
as it was a business trip, I had almost no free time in which to explore
it. I've only been to Brussels twice, and the last time we were in the
car - and that was a great many years ago, now I come to think of it!
We had planned to go again this summer, but it didn't happen.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 2 January 2005

Alan (in Brussels) wrote to uk.transport.london on Sun, 9 Jan 2005:

It's not too late - line 3 (partly down the tunnel formerly occupied by the
river Senne beneath the central boulevards) is still tram-only (now with
platforms on both sides of each track at the busiest stations, as part of
the upgrade for wheel-chair access) and will remain so even when the next
batch of trams are delivered. See the STIB's web site for the current
network plan etc. (www.stib.be ). IIRC you could take a Eurostar day-trip
and visit Transpole ( www.transpole.fr ) en route too...


If that's the Lille metro, it's well worth changing trains at Lille
Europe just to have a few minutes to look at the amazing murals on the
wall of the metro station there!
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 2 January 2005

"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 18:10:01 +0100, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
wrote:

Press clipping forwarded FYI, by Alan (in Brussels) :

Wolmar is Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues,
SNIP rest of review by Ian Marchant

He's the foremost expert on public transport is he? I think I'll have
to disagree with that.

Only in his own mind.

Jack Taylor wrote:
"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 18:10:01 +0100, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
wrote:

Press clipping forwarded FYI, by Alan (in Brussels) :

Wolmar is Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues,
SNIP rest of review by Ian Marchant

He's the foremost expert on public transport is he? I think I'll
have to disagree with that.

Only in his own mind.

Has he veer suggested that he is, or is it other people who consult him and
describe him thus?

If he is not "Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues" then
would you care to suggest who is?

"Brimstone" wrote in message
...

If he is not "Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues" then
would you care to suggest who is?

Educated people, who do not read RAIL or watch the ITV news, will know of a
number of far better qualified and more professional individuals who do not
shoot their mouths off without being in possession of the full facts (as
Wolmar did after Ufton Nervet, not to mention previous incidents).

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
...

"Brimstone" wrote in message
...

If he is not "Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues" then
would you care to suggest who is?

Educated people, who do not read RAIL or watch the ITV news, will know of
a
number of far better qualified and more professional individuals who do
not
shoot their mouths off without being in possession of the full facts (as
Wolmar did after Ufton Nervet, not to mention previous incidents).


Yet again you offer a negative interpretation rather than make some useful
suggestions.

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 09:18:51 +0000 (UTC), "Brimstone"
wrote:

Jack Taylor wrote:
"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 18:10:01 +0100, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
wrote:

Press clipping forwarded FYI, by Alan (in Brussels) :

Wolmar is Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues,
SNIP rest of review by Ian Marchant

He's the foremost expert on public transport is he? I think I'll
have to disagree with that.

Only in his own mind.

Has he veer suggested that he is, or is it other people who consult him and
describe him thus?

I can't say whether he has ever said it or not. However he does not stop
those in the media who "consult" him from making such outrageous claims.
I just think he is someone who has carved a niche for himself based on
little knowledge and making the odd controversial comment.

If he is not "Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues" then
would you care to suggest who is?

I don't think there is one single expert. However on rail issues I can
think of Richard Hope, the former editor of Railway Gazette, who
sometimes appears on the telly in times of "crisis" as one of the most
eloquent and knowledgeable experts on the railways. He always keeps
things in proportion and is a voice of sanity in the face of quite
ludicrous ill informed comment by "the media". I usually stop shouting
at the television when he pops up to say something sensible. I cannot
watch television news reports on train crashes or derailments or other
"crises" that cause "fury amongst passengers" because I end up getting
so cross!

Roger Ford of Modern Railways and Derek Rayner (ex BR safety chap) are
two others who I consider know their stuff and will say it how they see
it while remaining considered and reasonable. I've met Roger briefly
but not the other named gentlemen.

I cannot think of an equivalent spokesperson on the bus industry but
then buses rarely make the news anyway - shame though.

RIchard Hope would also be able to comment on light rail and tram issues
as Railway Gazette covers those modes.

--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

Paul Corfield wrote:
On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 09:18:51 +0000 (UTC), "Brimstone"
wrote:

Jack Taylor wrote:
"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
news On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 18:10:01 +0100, "Alan \(in Brussels\)"
wrote:

Press clipping forwarded FYI, by Alan (in Brussels) :

Wolmar is Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues,
SNIP rest of review by Ian Marchant

He's the foremost expert on public transport is he? I think I'll
have to disagree with that.

Only in his own mind.

Has he veer suggested that he is, or is it other people who consult
him and describe him thus?

I can't say whether he has ever said it or not. However he does not
stop those in the media who "consult" him from making such outrageous
claims.
I just think he is someone who has carved a niche for himself based on
little knowledge and making the odd controversial comment.

If he is not "Britain's foremost expert on public transport issues"
then would you care to suggest who is?

I don't think there is one single expert. However on rail issues I can
think of Richard Hope, the former editor of Railway Gazette, who
sometimes appears on the telly in times of "crisis" as one of the most
eloquent and knowledgeable experts on the railways. He always keeps
things in proportion and is a voice of sanity in the face of quite
ludicrous ill informed comment by "the media". I usually stop
shouting at the television when he pops up to say something sensible.
I cannot watch television news reports on train crashes or
derailments or other "crises" that cause "fury amongst passengers"
because I end up getting
so cross!

Roger Ford of Modern Railways and Derek Rayner (ex BR safety chap) are
two others who I consider know their stuff and will say it how they
see
it while remaining considered and reasonable. I've met Roger briefly
but not the other named gentlemen.

I cannot think of an equivalent spokesperson on the bus industry but
then buses rarely make the news anyway - shame though.

RIchard Hope would also be able to comment on light rail and tram
issues as Railway Gazette covers those modes.

A sensible response, thank you.