In which Signal Failure supports Bob Crow's position

Tube from Paddington to Waterloo was on time yesterday, but the train suffered delays owing, sequentially, to a late departure from Waterloo because of a previous train being held at a red signal, and then congestion at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, and Wimbledon.  Got home five minutes late in the end for £12.50.

This morning, the train from Hersham was a minute late by the time it arrived in Waterloo, and the tube to Paddington accrued three minutes from there.  Plus the two-minute Paddington penalty charge to make another 5 minutes and £12.50.  So 10 minutes and £25 in total.

And finally, whoever would have thought I would find myself agreeing with Bob Crow?  But he said:

"With transport taking a massive hit in the spending review, and with jobs cuts and fare increases looming large, it is outrageous that the top brass across TfL are raking in combined bonuses of £2.5m."

And he's right.  This was in reference to the news that TfL has been splashing around serious amounts of money for its senior staff because they didn't manage to cause any massive cock-ups during the Olympics last year, when there was a record number of passengers and a 20% reduction in delays.  I do have to wonder, though, whether there was a record number of passengers anyway, or if it's only because of the Olympics boost.  Because if it's the latter, then they're basically using the Olympics twice as a justification.  And potentially three times because they don't state how delays are calculated.  For example, if they were based on reported delays per passenger, likely a lot of Olympic visitors didn't know or couldn't be bother to complain (not to mention the regular commuters, who have learned it's rarely worth bothering to complain about delays), thus reducing the ratio.  Possibly that information is somewhere out there, and if anyone has more time on their hands than me and would be willing to check it out, I'll happily post an update/correction to the proceeding.

In for a particular windfall was head honcho "Sir" Peter Hendy, who got a £319K bonus on top of his £331K salary.  Nice work if you can get it.

Peter Hendy
(Graphic credit: allcandycontainers.com)

But much as I don't feel TfL staff in general deserve all the perks and pay they already receive (as mentioned one or two times in this blog before, I believe), it's hard to see how liberally dousing the bosses with cash can be reconciled with refusing to give any more to the staff on the ground (r under it, as the case may be).

No news is good news

UPDATE: a couple more news updates for you: want to know the details of the annual fare increases?  No surprises here - well over inflation and therefore what can be justified by any reasonable person.  It includes doubling the cost of the ruinously loss-making Boris Bikes, primarily because they're too good for the environment and people were enjoying them too much.

Meanwhile, here's more news showing that the Olympics saw the best Tube service ever, despite record business, again begging the question: why can't it be like this all the time - or even half as good?

Here's TfL crashing people's house prices, quality of life and the environment, all while claiming that's exactly what they told everyone they'd be doing and everyone agreed.  Because that's the kind of thing people are usually only too happy to agree to.


I'm working from home today, so there'll be no travel updates from my personal life.  Still, I can report on TfL's continuing plans to suck all the joy out of the world, this time by suddenly changing requirements for hanging up Christmas lights in an effort to squeeze more money out of struggling businesses.

Well, the Christmas lights may not be up, but tube drivers are already gearing up for the annual strike to bring Boxing Day misery to London.  Why?  Why else: more money is wanted for working on the day.  Never mind the fact that they all knew when they took the jobs that they would be required to work weekends and bank holidays occasionally.  Contract?  What contract?  Heed my advice: it's not often I support TfL, but you should write to TfL and pledge not to travel on Boxing Day.  Take the teeth out of the strike threat.

The Times is carrying an interesting story about 'Peak Car' theory.  Proponents of the theory essentially argue that car use in cities has passed its peak and that a massive redesign of city centres to focus around pedestrians, cyclists and a cafe culture is necessary over the next 20 years.  I just hope they don't forget to plan on special lanes for the flying pigs that will also be present when it comes to pass that cars will be a thing of the past in London.

Another record-breaking score from TfL

TfL's really going for gold.  A bit late for the Olympics, but perhaps in keeping with the secret ideals of what I will laughingly refer to as their 'service'.

This morning, my train in was delayed by 10 minutes owing to congestion/overcrowding ahead of us.  I found out just before Vauxhall (when it was too late to do anything about it, like change at Wimbledon for the District Line) that the Bakerloo Line was suspended between Elephant & Castle and Piccadilly Circus (so including the bits of it I need) due to a person under a train.  Take a look at the Tube Bingo card now.

All this meant I had to take the next best route I could find (since I also discovered there were delays on the Victoria and Central Lines, for reasons that were completely inaudible): Northern Line to Euston, change there for King's Cross, and change again there for the Circle Line to Edgware Road.

I got to my final destination 39 minutes later than I should have, missing almost the entirety of a meeting with my boss.  This while I'm in my probationary period still.  Thanks TfL.  Thanks for nothing.  That'll be £97.50.  And I'll be blaming you if I don't pass my probation or receive a bonus and tardiness is in any way mentioned.  Oh, and charging you for it too.