The Route Masters: Running London's Roads (BBC2)

[telstarbox]

Yet more transport TV! New 6-part series, starts Tuesday 18 June, 9pm, BBC2.

Each programme will focus on a different aspect of TfL’s surface transport network, such as its famous bus network, with around 8,500 buses operating on over 700 routes, or how TfL’s traffic and bus control centres work.

London's population has grown by a million in the last ten years. The city's roads are full up - yet 8 out of 10 journeys by londoners are by still by road. This means that 25,000 Transport for London workers now face a daily battle to keep the capital moving. Every morning, 8,500 buses carry six million passengers - double the number carried by the underground. 6,000 control them and the rest of road traffic, whilst 2000 dedicated police keep the roads clear by racing to incidents large and small. This is all overseen by the biggest traffic control centre in the world, which, unbeknownst to most of us, orchestrates our journeys every day.

Filmed over a year, this six-part series from the makers of The Tube is the story of the individuals who keep the system working - from nightbus drivers to roadmenders to the controllers running it all. But it's also the story of our capital now, as the city expands faster than ever.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02yyh1c

 

[gordonthemoron]

London's population has been 8 million for as long as I can remember so how can it have grown by 1 million in the last 10 year? More rubbish journalism?

 

[radamfi]

The population of Greater London has fluctuated quite a lot in recent decades. From the 1950s onwards there was a shift out of major cities, which has been reversed over the last 20 years. The population increased from 6.9 million in the 1991 Census to 7.2 million in the 2001 Census to 8.2 million in the 2011 Census, similar to the population in 1951.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_London

 

[district]

Really looking forward to this. Very good friend of mine who works in CentreComm should be on!

 

[transmanche]

London's population has been 8 million for as long as I can remember so how can it have grown by 1 million in the last 10 year? More rubbish journalism?

I'm afraid your memory is somewhat faulty. The population was 6.6 million in 1981 and 8.2 million in 2011.

The population of Greater London increased by 14% in the ten years to 2011.

 

[telstarbox]

London's population has been 8 million for as long as I can remember so how can it have grown by 1 million in the last 10 year? More rubbish journalism?

8,204,400 for Greater London (2011 census).

 

[Mutant Lemming]

8,204,400 for Greater London (2011 census).

Anyone who lives here knows it's more than that.

 

[AndyHudds]

The population of Greater London has fluctuated quite a lot in recent decades. From the 1950s onwards there was a shift out of major cities, which has been reversed over the last 20 years. The population increased from 6.9 million in the 1991 Census to 7.2 million in the 2001 Census to 8.2 million in the 2011 Census, similar to the population in 1951.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_London

After the war London lost a lot of slum housing as it was cleared and many London natives moved out to the new towns like Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City, hence the decline in the cities population.

The recent increase will be to do with,mainly, foreign immigration to the capital. Whenever I'm in London, I very rarely hear anyone speaking English!!

 

[transmanche]

Whenever I'm in London, I very rarely hear anyone speaking English!!

Which is odd; as according to the 2011 census, 78% of Londoners speak English as a first language, with another 20% having it as a second language (or speaking it well).

 

[moogal]

The recent increase will be to do with,mainly, foreign immigration to the capital. Whenever I'm in London, I very rarely hear anyone speaking English!!

It's actually more likely to be strongly influenced by the growth of the creative/technology industries over the past 10-15 years (e.g. Silicon Roundabout), plus the expansion of financial districts such as Canary Wharf, which have lead younger people from around the country to relocate for better job opportunities.

 

[anthony263]

I wonder if we will see an episode on the Tramlink.

Anyway I am looking forward to watching this series and hopefully we wont have to wait to long after it has finished for BBC2 to broadcast series 2 of the Tube.

 

[Mojo]

I wonder if we will see an episode on the Tramlink.

Tramlink is not part of surface transport, this comes under London Underground & Rail (or formerly just London Rail before LU and London Rail were combined).

 

[Karl]

Yet more transport TV! New 6-part series, starts Tuesday 18 June, 9pm, BBC2.

A quick 'heads-up' for those interested in BBC2's new series starting in just under 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

 

[GodAtum]

A fascinating show showing the less glamorous side of London's transport!

 

[overthewater]

I agree aswell, it was a fascinating episode, looking forward to next weeks.

 

[richw]

I found the episode to be very interesting. The amount of work following the helicopter crash was unbelievable and wouldn't think of it like that.
And the recovery man for the Blackwell tunnel being on duty permanently for 6 months flat out, living almost at the tunnel in a cabin!

 

[causton]

I found the episode to be very interesting. The amount of work following the helicopter crash was unbelievable and wouldn't think of it like that.
And the recovery man for the Blackwell tunnel being on duty permanently for 6 months flat out, living almost at the tunnel in a cabin!

Definitely. I've been shown around that building as part of a job interview with TfL but obviously when there's actual problems going on it's a lot more exciting and I didn't realise how much effort they put in sometimes!

Don't know whether I'd fancy that job in the tunnel though, is there a similar one for trains at a busy station with a spare Thunderbird ready to rescue failed trains

 

[Greenback]

I thought it was a very good programme. I learnt a lot about how the roads of London are managed. Even Mrs G found it interesting!

 

[telstarbox]

Has anyone been watching Airport Live? It was very interesting last night, explaining how air traffic controllers interweave departing and arriving flights on the same runway at Heathrow.

 

[anthony263]

Has anyone been watching Airport Live? It was very interesting last night, explaining how air traffic controllers interweave departing and arriving flights on the same runway at Heathrow.

Yes I have watched it all of this week in fact it seems I am not the only one.

Even if you are not an aircraft enthusiast it is still a very interesting show and I hope the BBC will consider doing another series in the near future perhaps one of the other airports.

 

[Butts]

I thought it was a very good programme. I learnt a lot about how the roads of London are managed. Even Mrs G found it interesting!

Agreed, I didn't realise TFL extended into Roads and Bridges. Those poor sods who have to use that Blackwall Tunnel every day
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes I have watched it all of this week in fact it seems I am not the only one.

Even if you are not an aircraft enthusiast it is still a very interesting show and I hope the BBC will consider doing another series in the near future perhaps one of the other airports.

As long as they ditch Humble and have Dan Snow there "Live"

 

[SF-02]

Which is odd; as according to the 2011 census, 78% of Londoners speak English as a first language, with another 20% having it as a second language (or speaking it well).

The census isn't too reliable. The ONS stated that in some areas with a large % of immigrants that many households didn't return it. In addition, local authorities in many areas believe it widely undercounted people and 20-30% of people are not documented based on other forms of counting - NHS records, schools etc.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's actually more likely to be strongly influenced by the growth of the creative/technology industries over the past 10-15 years (e.g. Silicon Roundabout), plus the expansion of financial districts such as Canary Wharf, which have lead younger people from around the country to relocate for better job opportunities.

The ONS stats don't back that up at all. Internal migration in the UK has seen a net departure from London.

 

[CC 72100]

As long as they ditch Humble and have Dan Snow there "Live"

She wasn't too bad. Not keen on Anita Rani though - think she referred to a first officer incorrectly, not even as a co-pilot, but as a 'sub pilot'! She also had a habit of not listening to people's explanations, only to then ask a question which had just been explained. No problem with Humble IMO.

 

[harz99]

Yet more transport TV! New 6-part series, starts Tuesday 18 June, 9pm, BBC2.

Each programme will focus on a different aspect of TfL’s surface transport network, such as its famous bus network, with around 8,500 buses operating on over 700 routes, or how TfL’s traffic and bus control centres work.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02yyh1c

I found the content very interesting, just wish they hadn't added the irritating background music!!

 

[Karl]

A quick heads up if you're online. Put BBC2 on now for part 2.

Sorry for the late notice

 

[GodAtum]

An interesting programme tonight. I'm surprised the N9 isnt full of homeless people, it seems a good route to get and go to heathrow and have a shower!

 

[telstarbox]

Very interesting, with everyone from the controllers to the cleaners featured. Unobtrusive narration and editing which let the subjects speak for themselves too.

I was going to say it wasn't just the glamourous side but it seems there isn't one on the night bus network!

 

[90sWereBetter]

Another superb episode, though that situation with the N25 about halfway in was hairy, to say the least.

Got to love Londoners, they're such a brilliant bunch of people. I'm glad I can say I am one of them, even if I don't live there anymore.

 

[Be3G]

though that situation with the N25 about halfway in was hairy, to say the least.

…except there is no such bus route as the N25! The narrator repeatedly referred to it despite the fact it technically doesn't exist. The 25 is a 24-hour bus with no nighttime variant; you could see on screen that the bus clearly had no ‘N’ in its number.

I wasn't surprised to see the N29 feature… I've never caught it but it runs to vaguely my part of the world, and I've heard it's not exactly the friendliest of night buses.

 

[bnm]

...and all those staff featured soon to be in the employ of an Australian company. Something of a swansong for First London.