Stop! Hammerchapel!

[boyofbadgers]

Standing on Baker Street's Westbound Circle line platforms a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the service indicator on the Eastbound platform still bore the legend 'Whitechapel and Circle Trains', despite it being over ten years since that branch of the Met got renamed. This got me thinking about the Hammersmith And City line, and what a rubbish

Comments

[marnameow]

The pink line = rubbish by any name. Does anyone love it?

(and it's a really nasty shade of pink, too)

[boyofbadgers]

We-ll, it's quite handy if you want to get from King's Cross to Mile End, or from Paddington to King's Cross, which I often do. And it's nowhere near as rub as the District Line. But aye, it is a bit too trundly and the three flat junctions do lead to an awful lot of stopping in tunnels.

[katstevens]

> it's quite handy if you want to get from King's Cross to Mile End

If the Central line is down, yes.

[katstevens]

Or one is carrying summat heavy. One of these days I am going to TIME both routes and see which one is quickest, because I am a Sad.

[boyofbadgers]

*If* the next train is an H+C that goes all the way, I think it might just be quicker. It's certainly not been worthwhile waiting for one to turn up the couple of times I've done it.

[marnameow]

It's the Hammersmith end of it I hate most. It goes around *every* house in West London.

[chezghost]

if only it actually went THRU BBC studios

[chezghost]

I like the pink and I love using the line between Paddington and Hammersmith. The satisfaction to be had by stepping off the train at Ladbroke Grove to find no drop at all between train and platform is hard to beat.

[marnameow]

But it takes *forever* to get to get anywhere, and there are not enough trains, and you end up standing at Shepherds Bush for forever in freezing winds waiting for the stupid tube to just *hurry up*.

[chezghost]

when i started my current job three years ago i was often getting the H&C from Shepherds Bush to Paddington in the morning with no problems but by Paddington the number of people on the trains was appalling and i was so glad to get off and jump on a 205. i don't know how people can travel on trains that crowded.

[marnameow]

Because they are strange people. I cannot stand crowded tubes.

Hurrah, current job is near my home and so I can cycle there in about ten minutes. I've become bike-obsessed *just* in time for freezing cold wet cyclist-unfriendly weather.

[chezghost]

me too. well not obsessed as such. but i have been planning to buy a bike.

[marnameow]

Do it! It's great fun and barely scary at all. Although a bit chilly at the moment.

[julietk]

I am contemplating the purchase of some wintery-er cycle kit from Minx. Unfortunately I am capable of spending a *lot* of money there within a very short period of time...

[marnameow]

I am going to try just wearing warmer clothes (actual boots and possibly a *jacket* instead of just a cardie) and see if that keeps me warm enough for now. But just cycling home from Waterloo last night froze my thumbs, and ear and nose tips, and I would like to be able to go on big long cycles before spring.

[julietk]

Nose tips are a bit of a dead loss, I'm afraid (I have occasionally considered a balaclava, but a) would look like total idiot & b) would probably be shot as terrorist). I have an ear-protecting thingy that is aimed at skiers/snowboarders that works well (I don't like hats) - broke it out this morning & was more comfortable. Gloves are also available, though I know you don't like them!