In message . com,
Mizter T writes
Happy New Year to one and all on utl.

And thanks to TfL and the public transport workers of London who
enabled the masses (including me) to travel across the capital to get
to and from the NYE revelry. All the bus drivers and Tube staff I came
across were all in good spirits which was great and added to the
bonhomie of the occasion.

blush Ahh, thank you.

I think the very useful through the night Underground service is pretty
new occurance as well - can anyone provide any further information as
to what the situation was in years gone by? I think it used to run
later, but not all night. The TfL funded late night National Rail
services are definitely a new innovation, starting last year I think.

I've worked through the night, just missing the one, on NYE every year
since we started doing it. It was first done for the millennium, and
it's been done every year since.

Next year I shall have a year off as I'll be on annual leave, and I've
been *told* that I swap my leave at pain of death! So we will be out
enjoying ourselves!

It's all, IMO, a welcome change from the old negative official attitude
that abounded during NYE in London. Good stuff. I'll finish this
incoherent rambling now, as I think I hear the hair of the dog
calling...

Some of us are only just starting our New year celebrations.

Happy New Year!
--
Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building.
You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK
(please use the reply to address for email)

In article , Steve Fitzgerald
] writes

Some of us are only just starting our New year celebrations.

Happy New Year!

I second that, and add my thanks to LU staff on the night.

I and my friends, together with their 13 and 8 year old kids, went to
Victoria Embankment and watched the amazing firework display, though the
long wait eventually tired out the 8-year-old and she was taken home
around 10.30. We'd narrowly avoided the earlier heavy showers, so it was
good that they held off for our entire stay at the riverside.

Later, the walk to Victoria helped get the circulation going again and
after a 20 minute or so wait outside the tube station while access was
controlled to prevent overcrowding, and a squeeze to get to the
platform, we were sitting on a train to Earls Court. As we disembarked
here our Wimbledon service rolled in. Home before 2am, which I thought
was very good in the circumstances.
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com

congokid wrote:

In article , Steve Fitzgerald
] writes
....
Later, the walk to Victoria helped get the circulation going again and
after a 20 minute or so wait outside the tube station while access was
controlled to prevent overcrowding, and a squeeze to get to the
platform, we were sitting on a train to Earls Court. As we disembarked
here our Wimbledon service rolled in. Home before 2am, which I thought
was very good in the circumstances.

As others have indicated tube staff really did themselves, and the
capital proud on New Year's Eve. We saw the fireworks from the
junction of Victoria Embankment and Westminster Bridge, and made our
way straight to St. James' Park via Victoria Street immediately after
they finished. The majority seemed to be heading towards Victoria, and
we hoped that westbound trains would arrive near empty. The queuing
system outside was very well organised, and clearly designated, with
both police and LU staff on hand. On the platform the excellent
announcer was doing a sterling job of informing, cautioning and
entertaining - and even managed to raise a laugh when suggesting that
the person who pulled the handle on a Circle Line train - delaying it
for five minutes - should be "thumped" if they ever did it again! We
moved to the far end of the platform, which rather amazingly was
completely empty, and managed to get seats on the train without rushing
- and were back in Richmond for 1:30.

Anyway - enough rambling - thanks for all those who made the night
possible by driving trains, running stations and manning queues.

Robert