TfL today, what is going on?

[danielcanning]

Today (Saturday 9th April) it seems as if the entirety of the transport network in London has just given up. Long delays on most lines, and not just the tube. The buses have been in complete disarray today as well. What is going on?

 

[Magdalia]

BBC News is reporting disruption in the West End, see link below:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61050643

Climate activists are staging a sit-down protest in the heart of London's West End shopping district, to call for no new investment in fossil fuels.
The Metropolitan Police said Oxford Street and Regent Street were blocked.
The group said the action was intended to be "highly disruptive" and "designed to disrupt, engage and recruit new rebels".
London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan said the protest was "counter-productive" adding that demonstrators needed to win over public opinion at the same time as putting pressure on the government.

This will result in significant disruption to bus services, with Oxford Street and Regent Street impassable. There may also be impact on underground lines because of overcrowding.

 

[Taunton]

DLR closed to Bank, plus Stratford to Poplar. Did believe there was a contractural item in the DLR contract that only one "branch" at a time could be closed for a weekend. Inconvenient because Northern Line already closed at Bank, so no alternate route there from Canary Wharf by Underground and London Bridge. Plus, again, one of the two escalators at Tower Gateway out for works (and the remaining one, unusually, runing Down only). Would have hoped for a bit more works co-ordination.

 

[rebmcr]

DLR closed to Bank, plus Stratford to Poplar. Did believe there was a contractural item in the DLR contract that only one "branch" at a time could be closed for a weekend. Inconvenient because Northern Line already closed at Bank, so no alternate route there from Canary Wharf by Underground and London Bridge. Plus, again, one of the two escalators at Tower Gateway out for works (and the remaining one, unusually, runing Down only). Would have hoped for a bit more works co-ordination.

I don't think Shadwell-Bank counts as a wholly closed branch, as long as Westferry-Tower Gateway remains operating.

 

[bramling]

DLR closed to Bank, plus Stratford to Poplar. Did believe there was a contractural item in the DLR contract that only one "branch" at a time could be closed for a weekend. Inconvenient because Northern Line already closed at Bank, so no alternate route there from Canary Wharf by Underground and London Bridge. Plus, again, one of the two escalators at Tower Gateway out for works (and the remaining one, unusually, runing Down only). Would have hoped for a bit more works co-ordination.

It may well be that only one branch can be closed for reasons associated with the concessionaire (i.e. their regular cyclical maintenance closures). Without checking, I'd say there's a fair chance any work at Bank is associated with LU's Bank station works.

 

[philosopher]

Today (Saturday 9th April) it seems as if the entirety of the transport network in London has just given up. Long delays on most lines, and not just the tube. The buses have been in complete disarray today as well. What is going on?

Southwark, Mansion House and Angel stations are currently closed due to unavailability of station staff.

 

[dan5324]

Jesus wept. Yeah I shan’t be giving up my car anytime soon. Humongous delays on Friday on the Victoria line and northern line. Gaps of 9 minutes on the Victoria line at around 2330. And a 23 minute wait on the southbound northern line bank branch….

 

[Magdalia]

Further disruption yesterday (Sunday) on Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61057845

Extinction Rebellion climate change activists have staged protests in the centre of London for a second day, blocking Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges.

The activists have vowed to block areas of London "for as long as possible" every day for at least a week.

The Met tweeted on Sunday evening: "Both demonstrations within the Vauxhall Area have now concluded and the roads have reopened.
"As a result of today's policing operation we have made 38 arrests."

 

[Taunton]

It's Easter holidays at universities and that's what sets this off.

Hopefully not only will they have their 15 minutes of infamy in court, but the university authorities will throw them out for illegal behaviour.

 

[AlbertBeale]

It's Easter holidays at universities and that's what sets this off.

Hopefully not only will they have their 15 minutes of infamy in court, but the university authorities will throw them out for illegal behaviour.

If they're science students, they'll more likely get congratulated for demonstrating their understanding of the seriousness of the current environmental emergency.

 

[dan5324]

If they're science students, they'll more likely get congratulated for demonstrating their understanding of the seriousness of the current environmental emergency.

No. They won’t. They really won’t.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Further disruption yesterday (Sunday) on Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge.

Extinction Rebellion protests block Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges

Police said dozens of arrests were made and officers had moved protesters from the bridges.

www.bbc.co.uk

It's Easter holidays at universities and that's what sets this off.

Hopefully not only will they have their 15 minutes of infamy in court, but the university authorities will throw them out for illegal behaviour.

If they're science students, they'll more likely get congratulated for demonstrating their understanding of the seriousness of the current environmental emergency.

No. They won’t. They really won’t.

They would if they were my students!

 

[greyman42]

They would if they were my students!

So you would praise them for their actions?

 

[AlbertBeale]

So you would praise them for their actions?

Of course. As I did years ago when anyone I was teaching physics to decided to follow through their understanding with actions based on it (and on their moral/ethical conscience).

 

[greyman42]

Of course. As I did years ago when anyone I was teaching physics to decided to follow through their understanding with actions based on it (and on their moral/ethical conscience).

I think you will find that you are out of touch with the majority of the public.

 

[rebmcr]

So you would praise them for their actions?

Yeah, I would too.

 

[AM9]

I think you will find that you are out of touch with the majority of the public.

I think you will find that you are out of touch with the actual future of energy supply, usage and consequences in the UK.

 

[gmaguire]

Extinction Rebellion is textbook narcissism. They don’t actually care about the environment.