'The Tube' (TV program)

[jon0844]

Watched tonight and my wife said 'is this a series?'.

When I said I think there are six, she just said 'but there can't be anything else to show'.

She does have a point - I suspect that even though each week is themed, there will be quite a lot of duplication that will have a lot of people switching out. Still, from the BBC's point of view, it will probably do well when exported around the world.

 

[SS4]

Do you reckon we could get this thread merged with the one in the LUL subforum?

 

[WestCoast]

It was very good, it reminded me of the original series that was done for ITV London.
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Watched tonight and my wife said 'is this a series?'.

When I said I think there are six, she just said 'but there can't be anything else to show'.

She does have a point - I suspect that even though each week is themed, there will be quite a lot of duplication that will have a lot of people switching out. Still, from the BBC's point of view, it will probably do well when exported around the world.

Yes, that is a point. I know the shows are all very interesting, but I think it would be just as interesting to cover a system like the Subway in Glasgow, Tyne & Wear Metro or even the Metrolink just for something a bit different. Although, since those systems don't see anywhere near as high as the Tube's daily ridership it might not be quite as easy to spin a series out of!

 

[jon0844]

The following line is very interesting though: All with our permission, of course.
You can guess the implication

Well, it's very clear the programme won't be saying anything bad about management or the problems they have. It seems they've all been told to stick to the same corporate line - it's an old system that needs loads of work to fix.

To be honest, I don't think the viewers would want to see that. What the programme did show me (as if I didn't already know) is how things would run a lot better without passengers.

Very interesting programme. Was surprised not to see any fluffers though. Do they still have those ?

Yes, the producer of the show who was on BBC Breakfast said this was his favourite thing about making the show - so they will definitely make an appearance in the series.

It's good to see that they're able to find work away from the adult industry too...

 

[Dennis]

It's good to see that they're able to find work away from the adult industry too...

Care to explain what a fluffer is?

 

[transmanche]

Care to explain what a fluffer is?

Someone who sweeps/scrapes up the fluff (i.e. mainly human hair) which collects in tube tunnels. If left, it could possibly catch fire.

As for the other kind of fluffer, I'll leave that to your imagination!

 

[Dennis]

Someone who sweeps/scrapes up the fluff (i.e. mainly human hair) which collects in tube tunnels. If left, it could possibly catch fire.

As for the other kind of fluffer, I'll leave that to your imagination!

Thanks for that - don't they have tunnel dusting trains to do that?

 

[Muzer]

Heh - I now have a picture in my head of a tube train covered in a giant feather duster moving through the tunnels - not quite what you had in mind I know

 

[transmanche]

Thanks for that - don't they have tunnel dusting trains to do that?

I don't know if machines would be able to do as thorough a job as doing it by hand. There's a couple of then and now pics here...

 

[A60K]

There used to be a five-car Tunnel Cleaning Train, like a giant vacuum cleaner, but I don't think it's operational now.

 

[Cletus]

The BBC programme that featured Angel station (in the 80’s?) showed the ladies who were fluffers.

Next weeks’ programme is titled Revenue “Following ticket inspectors as they pursue fare evaders across the tube network.”

 

[trentside]

The BBC programme that featured Angel station (in the 80’s?) showed the ladies who were fluffers.

That was The Heart of the Angel. Well worth a watch if you can find a copy.

I enjoyed last nights programme, did seem to be covering much of the same ground as the ITV show of the same name.

Always nice to see a programme about public transport that isn't sensationalist rubbish.

 

[Wyvern]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRWKb2Q1RQ

I should Real Player a copy quick before it gets taken down.

 

[jon0844]

40 minutes? If that was made today for BBC Four, it would be 40 seconds with lots of flashy cuts and pop-up stats or a ticker (and the obligatory #40seconds hashtag!).

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, the producer of the show who was on BBC Breakfast said this was his favourite thing about making the show - so they will definitely make an appearance in the series.

That's good to know
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The BBC programme that featured Angel station (in the 80’s?) showed the ladies who were fluffers.

Next weeks’ programme is titled Revenue “Following ticket inspectors as they pursue fare evaders across the tube network.”

Yes, that's where I originally heard of them.

Saw it again on BBC 4 recently and it was interesting to compare the station then with its modern day self on the disused underground stations website.

 

[bicbasher]

I've been served by the ticket clerk at Leicester Square and seen the station supervisor on my morning commutes.

It's interesting to see how they see the pax from the ticket office side of the window.

 

[whhistle]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this but:

Program = Computer Program.
Programme = TV Programme.


Good show anyway, I really enjoyed it. Shame iPlayer ruined some of it for me :P

 

[dvboy]

I really enjoyed the programme, one of the best fly-on-the-walls I've seen in a long time.

I really did laugh out loud when the LU employee directed a couple across to the opposite platform, and the train door closed between them splitting them up.

 

[CC 72100]

I really enjoyed the programme, one of the best fly-on-the-walls I've seen in a long time.

I really did laugh out loud when the LU employee directed a couple across to the opposite platform, and the train door closed between them splitting them up.

Have to admit, found that funny! As well as the sign "There are no services today (not even Chiltern!)"

Did anyone recognise that control room manager from the previous series on sky3/ ITV london? I did - he used to be the District (+ Circle + H&C?) manager and was in the episode where the guy tried to commit suicide at Victoria and the line manager rode back to Hammersmith with the driver

God that's sad that I know that!

 

[Wyvern]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this but:
Program = Computer Program.
Programme = TV Programme.
Good show anyway, I really enjoyed it. Shame iPlayer ruined some of it for me :P

My belief is that: Program = American, and Programme = Queen's English

 

[SS4]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRWKb2Q1RQ

I should Real Player a copy quick before it gets taken down.

Indeed you should. You could copy the flash video from the cache that youtube uses although I only know how to do so on linux where it's superfluous
OT: I wonder what the legal status of doing so is, you're simply copying a file from one part of your hard drive to another, not actually downloading anything

Have to admit, found that funny! As well as the sign "There are no services today (not even Chiltern!)"

Did anyone recognise that control room manager from the previous series on sky3/ ITV london? I did - he used to be the District (+ Circle + H&C?) manager and was in the episode where the guy tried to commit suicide at Victoria and the line manager rode back to Hammersmith with the driver

God that's sad that I know that!

You wouldn't happen to known which episode it was would you? I want to check for myself now.

I was very surprised at how many tourists seem to have had trouble. Of course it's going to be a minority and a lot of them will be foreign but IMO the tube map is a marvel of simplicity and function to the point where I can get lost above ground but am fine on the tube.
I had to agree with the replacement bus driver who said that Londoners don't know how lucky they are when it comes to public transport

 

[trentside]

I had to agree with the replacement bus driver who said that Londoners don't know how lucky they are when it comes to public transport

He also named and shamed Lincolnshire for appalling public transport. Good on him!

 

[CC 72100]

You wouldn't happen to known which episode it was would you? I want to check for myself now.

I was very surprised at how many tourists seem to have had trouble. Of course it's going to be a minority and a lot of them will be foreign but IMO the tube map is a marvel of simplicity and function to the point where I can get lost above ground but am fine on the tube.
I had to agree with the replacement bus driver who said that Londoners don't know how lucky they are when it comes to public transport

I don't know the exact episode, but something tells me its called 'One Under' or something similar (each episodes were named).

The tourists getting confused also surprised me a bit - I've always though of the London Underground map as being the height of simplicity, and yet a couple of people on there got totally confuzzled and wanted more information. I'm sure quite a few more like it in its uncluttered form!

And true, Where I live in rural gloucestershire, we have a bus an hour to gloucester, which means that on my journey home, it can take me the same time to get from Exeter - Cheltenham as Cheltenham-Glos-home!

 

[jon0844]

What was with the guy confused about the Northern line because it went north and south?!

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[trentside]

What was with the guy confused about the Northern line because it went north and south?!

Yes, that one was strange. I've heard that the Victoria line can also cause confusion as people believe that all trains will go to Victoria, even when they're heading away from it.

Surely the confusing thing about the Northern is the two central branches?

 

[Mike395]

Indeed, hence there was talk a year or two back of splitting them completely and renaming one of them (one going Edgware - Kennington via Charing X and the other High Barnet - Morden via Bank)

 

[SS4]

Indeed, hence there was talk a year or two back of splitting them completely and renaming one of them (one going Edgware - Kennington via Charing X and the other High Barnet - Morden via Bank)

There still is iirc but they want to get the works done first
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/18091.aspx

How much is true is anyone's guess though

 

[jon0844]

I thought it would be the split branches too, but no!

 

[transmanche]

What was with the guy confused about the Northern line because it went north and south?!

I suspect it's where you see signs saying Northern line Southbound it can confuse some people. If you're not used to the tube (especially if you come from a place where lines are numbered, not named and/or your English isn't perfect), it can seem a bit of a contradiction.

 

[jon0844]

I think he sounded American.

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