Northern line extension update

Transport for London yesterday released pictures of the fit out at Battersea Power Station. Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms will be part of the northern line extension that is due to open in autumn 2021 and will take the number of London Underground stations up to 272. But what is the northern line extension?

The northern line is one of the more complicated lines, with different branches and trains terminating at various locations. There are currently 50 stations on the line, but an extension is currently being constructed from Kennington, where some trains terminate, to Battersea Power Station. This extension will link up with the redevelopment of the former coal-fired power station in Wandsworth. An icon of London was decommissioned in the 1970s and 80s and is now, controversial, being redeveloped into housing. Although, there were many plans for the iconic building and towers including a theme park, an eco dome, and Chelsea FC considered building a stadium at the site, with a stand being built in the building of the former power station.

Nine Elms station is being constructed on Wandsworth Road close to the junction with Pascal Street. The new station is being constructed close to the former site of Nine Elms railway station, which closed to passengers in the 1840s, after just a decade of being in service. The new northern line station will serve the emerging Nine Elms area, the New Covent Garden Market and the new US embassy. Only trains from and via. the Charing Cross branch will utilise the new branch out to Battersea Power Station. 16 trains an hour are expected to travel to Nine Elms and onto the new terminus. Therefore, to travel via. the Bank branch, passengers will need to change at Kennington. 

24 trains an hour currently terminate at Kennington from the Charing Cross branch. As 16 trains will continue on the new track, 8 trains will still terminate at Kennington. This means tube enthusiasts will still be able to use the infamous 'Kennington Loop'. When a train 'terminates' at Kennington, it goes round a loop of track from the southbound platforms and re-enters service on the north bound platforms. This is because there is no depot at Kennington. However, you are not actually allowed to stay on the train at Kennington and ride this loop. 

There are already plans for an additional extension from Battersea Power Station to Clapham Junction. These works are subject to Crossrail 2 getting the green light. There is also plans in south London to extend the Bakerloo line from Elephant & Castle to New Cross Gate, with two intermediate stations on Old Kent Road. I end this post with a question to you as I need to point out that throughout this article I may have made a grammar blunder. A station is being called Battersea Power Station, so I should probably refer to the station is Battersea Power Station station? 

Visiting all 45 DLR stations

This weekend I embarked upon the challenge to visit all 45 stations on the Docklands Light Railway. Opening in 1987, the DLR was originally built to serve the redevelopment in the Docklands area, predominantly centered around the Isle of Dogs. Since then, the DLR has grown across East London to reach Stratford, Lewisham, Beckton and Woolwich Arsenal. Now with 45 stations I decided it was time to visit every station in one challenge.

Although this challenge was inspired by a recent Geoff Marshall video, I have always been fascinated by the DLR and wanted to complete this challenge for a while. Geoff completed his challenge 2 hours, 3 minutes and 8 seconds, could I better his time?

Where to start the East London adventure? 

I actually live 5 minutes away from a DLR station, however, I could not factor in a route that could incorporate starting or finishing here without seriously double backing on myself. To avoid double backing on my myself too much, it was obvious I needed to start at a terminating station; Bank, Tower Gateway, Stratford, Stratford International, Lewisham, Beckton or Woolwich Arsenal. As I will discuss, to complete this challenge as quickly as possible, other forms of public transport between branches needs to be considered.

My options between branches were; south eastern railway between Woolwich Arsenal and Lewisham, the 474 bus between King George V and Bectkon or Tower Gateway to Bank via. DLR or District Line from Tower Gateway. As the 474 bus required going back on myself and factored in traffic levels, I decided to try using south eastern. The plan was to start at Tower Gateway to tick off the two city stations; Tower Gateway and Bank, then head all the way to Woolwich Arsenal.

Circle and District line chaos

In hindsight, it was a mistake to attempt this challenge on a weekend when the Circle and District lines are closed. Starting at Tower Gateway, I traveled east to Shadwell before changing back on myself towards Bank. If the District line was working I would have started at Shadwell, traveled to Tower Gateway to get the District line at Tower Hill one stop to Monument, then get the DLR at Bank. It took 18 minutes to complete the first section of my journey, I suspect the alternative of using the tube would have been quicker.

Once on the train at Bank, I could stay on the train until the terminus at Woolwich Arsenal. This section took just under half an hour. This section was important as I ticked off the two stations of Blackwall and East India which are between Poplar and Canning Town. I knew I had to travel through Poplar and Canning Town twice, so it was good I did not need to back on myself to travel to Blackwall and East India.

Southeastern - precision timing required

To complete this challenge in a respectable time, it was important to time arriving on the DLR at Woolwich Arsenal with the Southeastern train from the national rail platforms. Southeastern trains are every half an hour towards Lewisham. My DLR train arrived 12 minutes before the Southeastern train. I could have got a DLR train that arrived at Woolwich Arsenal 8 minutes or 2 minutes before the Southeastern train. Another lesson learnt here, I do not believe I had enough time to make the train by arriving with just 2 minutes, but 8 minutes would have been ample time. 

Arriving on time, I boarded the 14:00 Southeastern train and arrived at Lewisham in just 13 minutes, 3 minutes earlier than timetabled. I missed a DLR train at Lewisham by seconds, however, as I arrived early I did not plan to use the missed train. I had planned to board the 14:23 train at Lewisham, but due to arriving early I boarded the 14:18. At this stage I was a train up on my schedule.

The heart of the DLR

Why do I love the DLR so much? Is it because of the driver less trains and you can pretend you are driving the train? Or how important it is as a transport link in East London? And being above ground for the majority of the network? It is all of these reasons. Boarding the train at Lewisham it was the first time I was fortunate to sit at the front of the train, perfect for the spectacular views on the Isle of Dogs, winding in and out of sky scrappers and high rise flats. 

By the time I got to Island Gardens, I was travelling on the heart of the DLR. When the DLR opened in 1987, there were just 15 stations, the majority on the section of the journey I just started. If I was trying to beat the record time of visiting all DLR stations, 1hr 53 mins 53 secs, I would not have completed this challenge during off-peak timetables. Because I embarked upon this challenge on a Saturday afternoon, I had to change trains at Canary Wharf, this could be avoidable as during peak times the DLR operates a train from Lewisham all the way to Stratford. It cost me 3 minutes by having to change trains. 

The most awkward station in the challenge

With any railway challenge there is always one slightly awkward station. On the tube it is Kensington (Olympia), the Overground it is Battersea Park, and on the DLR it is West India Quay. Most trains on the DLR stop at West India Quay, except trains from Bank to Lewisham. Therefore when planning my route I had to factor this potentially tricky station in. West India Quay is a station I have used many times. It is close to the new Crossrail Place, the Elizabeth line station and retail/leisure complex with an amazing roof garden. I also enjoy the restaurants and bars by the North Dock. No time for a drink, it was onto Stratford via my second visit to Poplar.

All down hill from here

I arrived at Poplar for the second time after 91 minutes. By this stage I have already established I did not need the 12 minute wait at Woolwich Arsenal, should have complete the challenge during peak times to avoid changing at Canary Wharf, and I should have waited a few weekends to avoid the Circle and District line closures, in order to achieve a respectable time, I did not need any other setbacks. Especially the emergency breaks coming on just after Bow Church. 

My schedule saw me arrive at Stratford just 3 minutes before a train to Stratford International. Although I was one train up as I arrived into Lewisham ahead of schedule, it did not help as trains from Stratford to Stratford International are every 10 minutes, and I actually had to wait 6 minutes for a train. I then arrived at Stratford International and had to wait 2 minutes for the train towards Woolwich Arsenal. This begged the question, could I have walked from the DLR platforms at Stratford, through the station and under the railway and tube tracks, and then around Westfield to Straford International in a quicker time than waiting for the 2 trains? I suspect yes. Although, boarding the train at Stratford International I knew I just need two more trains to complete the challenge.

The end was in sight

I visited Canning Town for the second time after ticking off the stations from Stratford International via. West Ham. This section of the DLR opened in time for the Olympic Games in 2011. My final train towards Beckton was a case of waiting for if my attempt was a respectable time. By the time I left Royal Victoria I knew I had not beaten Geoff's time, and I had another 7 stations to go. Travelling through Beckton Park, Cyprus and Gallions Reach I was watching the clock, hoping to beat the 2 and a half hour mark. I arrived at Beckton after visiting all 45 stations in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 33 seconds. A respectable time, but a time I know I can beat.

Lessons learnt

After spending an afternoon on the DLR, I actually forgot to take a photo at Beckton. The schedule I created should have seen me complete the challenge in 2 hours and 17 minutes, so I knew all along I was not going to beat Geoff's time or feature in the top 25 according to explorerticket.co.uk, however, I learnt a lot of lessons. Well mainly four:

1. Why did I decide to complete this without the tube between Tower Gateway/Tower Hill and Bank?
2. 8 minutes would have been enough at North Greenwich
3. Take advantage of the peak service between Lewisham and Stratford
4. Wasted too much time at Straford and Stratford International 

It is also worth pointing out that there are different routes that could be used to complete this challenge, would hoping between King George V to Beckton on the 474 bus been quicker? Perhaps there is less control with timetables compared to getting Southeastern, but it may save time? I will complete this challenge again, but for now, it was off to West India Quay to enjoy the bars by the North Dock. 

Tubespotting Dan's 8 tips for cheaper rail fares

The cost of rail travel in the UK is some of the most expensive in Europe. With some on the day return tickets costing over £200 to some season tickets per mile costing three times more than in France, travelling by train can be very expensive, however, I have some top tips that could save you some money.

1) Book in advance

Most train tickets go on sale 12 weeks in advance. If you are visiting London for a show, or Manchester for a concert or flying from Stanstead, an event/journey you know months ahead you need to travel by rail booking 12 weeks in advance is key. For example, purchasing a single from London to Glasgow today would cost £150.10, but I can book a train on Monday 20 April (in 12 weeks time) for £39.00 To make sure you do not forget when your tickets go on sale, you can set up a ticket alert on the Trainline.com

2) Always book in advance

The cheap super advanced tickets that go on sale 12 weeks in advance can be taken up really quickly. If you do not have the luxury of knowing you need to take a train 12 weeks in advance, do not feel like you have missed out on cheap tickets. Up until 18:00 the day before (some operators it is 23:59), you can still get advanced tickets. Sticking with London to Glasgow which today would cost £150.10, I am writing this at 17:30 and I can purchase a ticket for tomorrow for £67.50

3) Do not use the trainline.com

My third tip will not save you as much as the previous two, however, every penny saved is worth it. Although in my first tip I recommend setting up a ticket alert on the Trainline.com, do not book the super advance tickets through their website. You will pay a small booking fee when purchasing tickets on the Trainline.com and if you use a credit card you will need to pay an additional fee. I always suggest booking directly through the operator as most do not charge a booking fee, however, if they also charge a booking fee I suggest using LNER; no booking fee, no credit card fee and you can purchase most national rail ticket on their website. Some operators also operate a reward scheme for tickets on their services, for example gaining Nectar Points with Avanti West Coast or LNER.

4) Railcard

If you are eligible to get a railcard I highly recommend purchasing one. With a railcard you can get up to 1/3 off some rail services. There are many types of railcards available (bold = no peak hour restrictions):

• 16-25 Railcard
• 26-30 Railcard 
• Senior Railcard (60+) (Off-peak restrictions in London and the South East)
• Disabled Railcard
• Two Together Railcard
• Family and Friends Railcard
• Network Railcard (Applies to London and the South East, min £13 spend on off-peak)
• HM Forces Railcard
• Local/region Railcard (e.g. Heart of Wales Railcard or Devon & Cornwall Railcard) 

There are different terms and conditions with the different railcards, but they are a great way of saving your journey. Going back to the London to Glasgow example, using a railcard and booking in advance, that £150.10 journey would cost just £26.00 

The two together railcard does not apply to just couples. If you travel by train a lot with a friend or family member, for example travelling by train with your friend for football, purchasing a two together railcard would cut down some of your costs. Another top top is if you are under 25, purchase a three year 16-25 Railcard just a few days before you turn 24 and you can still get 1/3 off all rail fares until you are 27. 

5) Gold card

If you are based in London and the South East and you have an annual season ticket, you can use your 'Gold Card' and apply for off off-peak travel discount for yourself and up to three adults. If you travel a lot by rail off-peak but none of the above railcards apply to you, it maybe cheaper to purchase an annual season ticket between two close stations to get your gold card. For example an annual season ticket between Lapworth and Hatton is £172.00

6) Split ticketing

One of the best tricks to get cheaper rail fare is split ticketing, this is the act of splitting your train journey into segments, however, still sitting on the same train. The classic example is London to Penzance which on the day costs £161.00, however this train stops at Plymouth, a London to Plymouth ticket costs £93.30 and then Plymouth to Penzance costs £4.75 A journey I have taken advantage of is London to Manchester - £185.00 (London to Stoke £84.50 and Stoke to Manchester £9.50). It is also possible to beat the off-peak system. If your train leaves during peak-hours, your entire journey will be classed as off peak. If, however, you are on a long journey, book the on-peak ticket until your train reaches a station when off-peak kicks in, and then pay off-peak for the rest of your journey. 

7) Pink oyster readers

Transport for London often say Oyster and Contactless are the same fare, and you may think it is hard to get cheaper tube fares, however, you could be wrong. Whilst there are some faults in the system where Oyster and Contactless are not always the same fare, that is for another day, if you avoid zone 1 you could make a saving. If you are travelling across London from a zone 2 station to another zone 2 station, TfL may think you traveled through zone 1 and you may have to pay a higher fare. Pink oyster card readers help TfL know you avoided zone 1 and will charge you a cheaper fare. You may have never noticed a pink reader, and that could be because they are only at 16 stations. One example where this may save you money is if you live in the student flats at Tottenham Hale but study at Queen Mary, at Mile End. Take the Victoria line to Highbury & Islington, hop onto the London Overground, switch to the District line at Whitechapel and touch the pink reader, you avoid zone 1 and will be a cheaper fare. 

8) Claim for delays

Unfortunately sometimes when travelling by train you will face delays and cancellations. Thankfully, this could be an opportunity to recoup some or all of the fare for your journey. By law, rail operators must give you some money back for delays over half an hour. Most operators will give 50% of your fare back if you are delayed by half an hour, or 100% if you are delayed by more than hour. Some operators, such as Abellio Great Anglia, will give 25% back for a 15 minute delay. Some operators give you the choice to donate all or some of your compensation to charities such as the Samaritans. 

Railway station usage 2018-19

Today, Tuesday 14 January 2020, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) announced their estimates for passenger usage for every railway station in Great Britain. The announcement of this data is always exciting with some interesting patterns and stories. All of the data in this blog is from the period of April 2018 to March 2019. The data released does not include London Underground figures.

London's top 10 busiest rail stations 2018/19

1. Waterloo (94m)
2. Victoria (75m)
3. London Liverpool Street (69m)
4. London Bridge (61m)
5. Euston (46m)
6. Stratford (41m)
7. Paddington (38m)
8. St Pancras (36m)
9. King's Cross (35m)
10. Highbury & Islington (30m)

There has been no change in the most used station in London, and the whole of the country, with Waterloo. The top 10 most used stations in the capital have not changed since last year's figures. London Bridge has seen a significant increase in passengers of 13 million from last year, this is largely due to the completion of must needed upgrades. 

Across the country, only four other railway stations saw usage figures in excess of 30 million:

• Birmingham New Street (48m)
• Glasgow Central (33m)
• Leeds (31m)
• Manchester Piccadilly (30m)

With 33 million passengers, the busiest station in Scotland was Glasgow Central. The busiest station in Wales was Cardiff Central with over 10 million passengers. When it comes to these statistics, some of the most exciting are the lesser used stations.

London's least busiest rail stations 2018/19

1. South Greenford (28,100)
2. Drayton Green (29,200)
3. Angel Road (32,900)
4. Sudbury & Harrow Road (42,300)
5. Morden South (67,500)
6. Sudbury Hill Harrow (79,600)
7. Castle Bar Park (79,900)
8. South Merton (115,000)
9. Birkbeck (137,000)
10. Crews Hill (139,000)

South Greenford retains its status as the least used rail station in London. Angel Road closed in May 2019, so still appears in this edition of the ORR figures, but as the third least used station in London. As this data is for the period of March 2018 to April 2019, it does not include London's newest station, Meridian Water, nor Warrington West and Robroyston. 

If 28,100 passengers a year seems small, within the context of London it is, the least used station(s) in the country had just 46 passengers - Denton and Stanlow & Thornton. This means Redcar British Steel is no longer the country's least used station, but instead saw an increase in passengers of over 800% to become the 25th least used station in the country. 

Visiting a least or lowly used station is an experience I recommend every transport enthusiast does this year. Two visits that spring to mind for me is visiting Angel Road and Elton & Orston. With 164 passengers, Elton & Orston is the least used station in Nottinghamshire and the 6th least used in the country. A highlight of 2019 for me was visiting Angel Road on its final day in service. I was one of over 30 people to board the final service from one of London's most intriguing stations. 

Transport in London in the 2010s

As we approach the beginning of a new decade, with lots of exciting changes for the London Underground and public transport in London, I take a look back on how the network has changed over the past 10 years. New stations on the DLR and London Overground, the introduction of contactless payments and saying good bye to old tube stock, there have been plenty of upgrades and changes in London. The 2010s, however, maybe remembered for something that should have been completed but has faced numerous delays, Crossrail, or as announced in 2016 the railway that will be named the Elizabeth Line upon opening. 

The last station to be added to the London Underground was Wood Lane in 2008. In fact, only one other station has opened on the tube in the 21st century and that was Heathrow Terminal 5 in the same year. In the 2010s, there have been some major upgrade works at London Underground stations and lines. From major station upgrades associated with the Crossrail programme, to the removal of the remaining wooden escalator at Greenford station, to major signalling improvements on numerous lines, this decade has been very important. It is often hard to imagine that some sections of the London Underground opened over 155 years ago, yet improvements are being made to modernise the tube. 

A major addition to the London Underground in the 2010s was the introduction of the Night Tube in August 2016. Not without its controversy, the Night Tube is currently made up of services on Friday and Saturday nights on parts of the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines, and the London Overground, and services on all of the Jubilee and Victoria lines. Over 8 million people used night tube in its first year and will see an economic boost of over £12m a year for London. 

But on the London Underground we said good bye to three stocks in the 2010s. The final 1967 Stock train on the Victoria line ran on 30 June 2011. The 1967 Stock has been replaced by the 2009 Stock, which has a capacity of over 1,175 people. The general reception to the 2009 Stock has been positive with incarriage displays with real time information, nearly 20% more standing room and speed. 

On 26 September 2012 we said goodbye to the A Stock on the Metropolitan line. The A Stock has been replaced by the S8 Stock. In June 2014 the final C Stock ran on the Circle line and on 21 April 2017 the last D78 Stock ran on the District line. The C69/C77 and D78 Stocks have been replaced by the S7 Stock. The S7 and S8 Stocks are fairly similar and are well liked by both commuters and tourists for their c.25% increase in standing room and air-conditioning. I do however, miss the D78 Stock after having fond memories of using this classic stock from the 1970s when I first starting using the tube as a young child. 

New stock has also entered railway services across London, from Azuma, to Class 700, but for me the most exciting additions have been the Class 345 on TfL Rail or the Class 710 on London Overground. The Class 345 will eventually run on the Elizabeth Line, but are currently in operation on TfL Rail. The seven-car sets entered service in June 2017, however, when operational on the Elizabeth line, they will run nine-car sets. The Class 710 entered service in May 2019, although they were initially planned to enter service in March 2018. This delay caused major problems for passengers on the Gospel Oak to Goblin Line. 

I cannot talk about public transport in London in the 2010s without discussing one of the most important events for the city in decades, the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The games brought huge scale development across London, but especially in the East End around Stratford. The International Olympic Committee initially commented that London's "underground, light rail and regional rail networks will [need to] be substantially upgraded and extended, particularly in east London". 

TfL carried out vast improvements in time for the game. On the London Overground, there were improvements on the East London Line and North London Line. The former London Underground line closed in 2007, but reopened on the London Overground in May 2010 following upgrades and extensions which opened between February 2011 and December 2012. A high-speed rail link from St Pancras International Station to Stratford, and on to Ebbsfleet, was developed for the games. During the games, this rail link was branded as the Olympic Javelin and planned to carry 25,000 people an hour travelling to the Olympic Park. 

For the games, the DLR also received an upgrade. An extension from Canning Town to Stratford International, via. Stratford, opened in August 2011. This extension runs alongside the Jubilee line for the majority of its length. Pudding Mill Lane station was closed during the games. The Emirates Air Line, a 1-kilometre gondola crossing the river Thames from North Greenwich to the Royal Docks, opened in June 2012 in time for the games. The O2 at North Greenwich was a venue for the games, hosting Basketball, Wheelchair Basketball and Gymnastics. 

London received two new railway stations this decade, both on the same section of railway, Lea Bridge and Meridian Water. Re-opening in May 2016, Lea Bridge railway station closed in July 1985, however, railway services began running again on this section of railway in 2005. Nearly 390,000 people used the station in 2017/18. Meridian Water station opened on 3 June 2019 just a few days after London's former least used railway station, Angel Road closed on 30 May 2019. Earlier in the year I boarded the final train from Angel Road, the 19:52 service to Stratford. Although I was not prepared to board the 05:57 on a Monday morning, I did visit Meridian Water on its first day of service. 

Away from railways in London, the 2010s has been an important decade for a variety of public transport modes. The New Routemaster bus entered service in February 2012, expansions to the Tramlink in south London and major and minor infrastructure improvements to encourage walking and cycling. 

There is also plenty to look forward to in the 2020s. The Northern line extension will see new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station and is expected to be completed in Autumn 2021. There is also planned extensions on the Bakerloo line that will see services extend to New Cross Gate and Lewisham, with two new stations between Elephant & Castle and New Cross Gate. Construction is expected to commence in 2023 and TfL is currently running an online consultation. In 2014 TfL announced their plans for the New Tube for London that will increase capacity on the Bakerloo, Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines. The New Tube for London is expected to enter service in 2024 on the Piccadilly line. Finally, surely we will see the Elizabeth line open in the 2020s?

Merry Christmas - How to travel around London on Christmas Day?

Merry Christmas all. I need to start this post by explaining why I have been a bit quiet in recent months. I have recently moved flats, however I am still living in London, and I have just been too preoccupied to keep up with regular posts. I have exciting things planned for 2020 which I will share just before the end of the year. Whether you are celebrating Christmas or not, I hope you are enjoying the festive period.

If you follow me on Twitter, if not you should (@TubeSpottingDan), you will know that I often run a weekend quiz. One question earlier in the year that stumped a few people was "What was the only TfL 'transport unit' to operate services on Christmas Day 2018?" The answer will be revealed in the blog post.

Once again, there will be no London Underground services running on Christmas Day 2019. The tube has not always been closed on Christmas Day, a service ran on 25 December until as recently as the 1980s. There are many accounts of the London Underground running a Sunday service or reduced services on Christmas Day, often closing around 4pm. There will also be no services on the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, TfL Rail or any other National Rail in Great Britain on Christmas Day. On 25 December 1979 the only rail services to run in Great Britain was a local service in Glasgow, however, since then there has been no passenger rail services on Christmas Day. 

In London there will also be no services on the buses, Trams, river services or the Emirates Air Line. Some tourist river cruise boats may still run on Christmas Day, however, as these do not fall under TfL's control, the only TfL 'transport unit' to operate services on Christmas Day is Santander Cycles. Last Christmas Day over 35,000 traveled around the city using a Santander Cycle. This a slight peak in user ship from the average ridership figure of 28,500. The scheme launched in July 2010 and now has over 13,000 bicycles available to hire from over 800 docked stations across the city. 

Does everything go back to normal for Boxing Day? There will be a service on the London Underground, however, it will be reduced and there are planned closures on certain lines. The DLR, London Overground, Emirates Air Line will be operating services, however, special service times. There will be no service on TfL Rail and most other National Rail services, although those operating services will be reduced. 

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will have one final post before the end of the year, and the end of the decade. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the festive period, even if for one day the tube is closed.

Ban snacking on public transport - is it a good idea?

One of the big pieces of news last week was Dame Sally Davies' outgoing report as chief medical officer recommending prohibiting eating and drinking on public transport. Her recommendation has been controversial. Davies calls for government to ban snacking on public transport as a method of dealing with childhood obesity. Whilst I am in favour of improving public health in the UK, I am skeptical of discouraging people from using public transport. Is banning food and drink on public transport a good idea?

One of my biggest bugbears is travelling on a busy train and sitting next to a stranger whilst they noisily eat their food. I have lost count on how many times I have been on a carriage that reeks of McDonald wrappers or raw fish from Wasabi. I am however, aware that not many people share that view, and that is not the reason the former chief medical officer suggests a clamp down on snacking on public transport. In fact, over 85% of my Twitter followers who took part in my poll on Friday say that the proposed ban of snacking on public transport is a bad idea. 

The UK is in an obesity crisis. Around a third of children are obese or overweight by the age of 11 in England, one of the highest figures in the world. In the report it is suggested that Davies wishes to discourage excessive snacking for children whilst using public transport for local travel to and from school. The ban, if approved, will apply to adults and children, and will not apply to Inter-city trains with buffet cars or people who need to eat or drink because they have a medical condition. The ban will not apply to people drinking water. 

I believe we need to be encouraging as many people as possible to think about using alternative methods of transport to private motor vehicles, such as public transport. Banning consuming food and drink on public transport could discourage public transport as an option. Whilst the report states the ban would exclude Inter-city trains, not all 'long' journeys are using Inter-city trains. For example Grantham to London is roughly 70 minutes using Inter-city trains where eating or drinking would be allowed, but what about Grantham to Liverpool Lime Street using a service that would be classed as 'local services' that takes 3 and a half hours? 

The UK is in a climate emergency and too many peoples default mode of transport is public transport. If only there was a transport solution that improves public health and does not add to the climate emergency that the chief medical officer could promote in her outgoing report? 

There is and she did - active travel. Walking and cycling are great ways to travel, especially in urban areas. It is cost effective, healthy, great for air quality and also fun. Recommendation 4.2 of the report states "increase dedicated funding for active travel infrastructure by rebalancing investment in vehicle travel infrastructure towards walking and cycling", not that any media reporting Davies' report acknowledges this. 

Overall, I believe banning snacking on public transport is not the correct way to deal with childhood obesity and overall improvements in public health. My post has focused predominantly on railways and has not even touched the debate on other forms of public transport from the London Underground, to the DLR, or buses. There are many positives in Dame Sally Davies' out going report, however, the media has not published these positives and has instead focused on her suggestion to ban snacking on public transport as ultimately it is not a good idea.