On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 12:59:59 +0100, Craig wrote:

[big snip]

Was just wondering that's all, all points understood - oh and I also
travel for the 1320 odd seconds from Walthamstow to Oxford Circus
daily, and indeed having thought about how 'bouncy' the ride is and
unstable then if anything maybe some bubble wrap would be better for
the passengers !

The bouncy ride is far more to do with track quality and the age of the
rolling stock. The trains are nearly 40 years old which is the end of
their design life. Given that everything on the Victoria Line is nearly
40 years old it's a minor miracle it still runs every day.

The bit of track on the northbound between Finsbury Park and Seven
Sisters is noticeably quieter and smoother of late - I assume this is
where the weekend works are happening.

I would still prefer to have a comfy seat cushion on rebuilt track than
an orthopaedic bed disguised as a train.

Also - the flipdown seats, do the designers really think that during
rush hour people will actually stand and not flip them down - I can't
recall being on any train with those where people have not always been
seated, in fact have seen on numerous occasion people squashing others
aside to be able to flip them down...

I think the tip up seats are a compromise to deal with making a
vestibule area available for those in wheelchairs or with buggies. The
tube is clearly not an ideal environment for such travellers at present
but new trains have to be DDA compliant whether we like it or not. Given
the generally very small numbers of disabled travellers it is a sensible
measure to provide seats - after all Londoners are used to them.

There is no rule here - unlike Paris - which prohibits the use of tip up
seats in the peak. In any event it would be unenforceable IMO.

...and as for the perches - they are acceptable on the Central, but
all the others seem to require you to have the posture of a deformed
baboon (ok at 6'5 I'm not average height), even Mc Donalds ditched
perch type seats years ago I seem to recall.

I hate perch seats in areas beside doors. They are neither one thing nor
the other. The upholstered perches at car ends are not a bad idea but
tend to be too high. The poster who commented that anyone who positions
themselves on a perch seat has to both contort their head and splay
their legs had it spot on - I had to do that on a Picc Train the other
morning and it was very uncomfortable.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!