Part 1 (for today!)
For those unfamiliar with the London Underground, right click here to open a window with the map. Stations I mention below contain a colour to assist finding it on the map. Strike through denotes the Black Northern Line
In theory, London Underground is a wonderful system, which, especially when combined with Light Rapid Transit, can take you to most corners of one of the world's greatest cities (except Streatham!). In practice, it doesn't always work like that.
On Monday, my sister and family arrived to spend a few days in London. They were staying in a hotel in Kensington, rather than with me, in order to be more central for attractions. They had planned to travel to GloucesterRoad on the Northern and Piccadilly Lines, but I advised that the change at Leicester Square would be challenging with two young children and luggage. I suggested that they walk round to Euston Square to get the Circle Line, which, although longer, was less hassle. Soon after five, Pauline phoned to say that the Circle Line had been suspended. I subsequently found out that it was due to a security alert at Victoria.
On Wednesday, I arrived at Brixton Tube at 9.25. On reaching platform level there was an announcement that the next train would arrive in five minutes - a long time for the Victoria Line in peak hours. This was repeated at intervals for the next ten minutes, with the number occasionally changing in an ad-hoc non-sequential manner, coupled with an *explanation* regarding a defective train at Pimlico.
Inexorably, the crowds on Platform 2 grew and grew. We were told that the next train would be arriving at Platform 1, so we surged as one through the walkways and fought like savages to secure a place on the train. The driver of the train announced that we were to get off; the train was defective and would be going to the sidings. "For f*ck's sake!" I exclaimed, and my eyes were met by eyes saying, "I'll second that!"
Back to platform 1, and, yay, I got a seat! I was lucky. The train was absolutely packed, cattle-class style. (Bear in mind that Brixton is just the first station on the line). A very hassled station staff said, "I think this is the first train out", prompting others to echo my previous expletive. It finally left Brixton at 9.50, a full twenty five minutes after I had gone underground. As the train progressed northwards, thousands were left standing on the platforms. I arrived at work at five past ten and apologised to John whom I was supposed to be meeting with at ten. He said he had heard it on the radio as he left home at ten past eight. So, nearly two hours to shift a defective train. Sue, who lives in Tooting, and normally changes at Stockwell was annoyed because there had been no announcement on the Northern Line about the Victoria Line being closed. She got off a Charing Cross Northern Line train, only to have to get on a Bank branch and because of over-crowding at Kennington, ended up having to go to Victoria via the City, which added an hour to her journey.
On Wednesday evening, Jimmy and I met up with Pauline and family at Covent Garden. On the way back we changed for the Victoria Line at Green Park and had to wait five minutes. I don't know how long others had been waiting, but the platform was five deep, which is unusual at nine o'clock.
On Thursday I was at Brixton soon after eight. Not a train to be seen, so I joined the growing numbers of people waiting on Platform 2. It was then announced that the next train would go into Platform 1, prompting a human tidal wave to move through the walkway that connects the platforms.
(Later, I will relate how it took six hours, rather than three and a half, to travel from Durham to my home in Brixton!)
