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The transport offices of the Mayor of London are really bending over backwards to tell us that they run a “good service” on the tubes. Sometimes I feel that our “love-to-hate” affair with the tubes consumes us so much that we don’t very often stop to think about whether the claim is true. I think it is. Sure, it could be better, but I would have to say that the service isn’t bad. It’s definitely better than it used to be 15 years ago - when I would say it certainly was “bad”. So would I say that today it’s certainly “good”? Yes - I would.
Apart from all the up and coming improvements that the Mayor bends over backwards to tell us about - there’s only one improvement that I would request of London Underground: and that is: please, please and pretty-please - hire an urban fashion design consultant to sort out the naff bright blue uniforms and peaked caps that make the London Underground staff look like they belong to a 1950s Butlins-style holiday camp instead of belonging to the coolest metro/subway system in the world.
Posted by jag at April 22, 2004 11:16 PMIt would seem superficially that they are trying to create a “feel good” factor like what BJP did with “India shining” ads - seems a lot more like it - dont u think?
Every silver cloud has a black lining - so there is nothing wrong if the dresscode of the staff looks out from the 1950’s
i really doo feel for LU employees
Posted by: Jaina on April 23, 2004 06:39 PMHi Sat: yes indeed - “feelgood” politics is alive and kicking here in the Uk as well! Even if there isn’t really much to feel good about at the moment - especially on matters of foriegn policy. Having said that - the economy seems to be very bouyant at the moment - and this contributes very greatly to the overall feelgood factor.
Re the dresscode of the tube workers: trust me Sat - they look really “out of place” and stupid in those uniforms - honestly! They really deserve to be dressed more appropriately for the 21st century - it would add a lot more “coolness” to the image of the Underground.
Jaina: I agree with you completely! :-)
Posted by: Jag on April 23, 2004 10:19 PMIt never stays that way for very long, so they might as well make the most of it. Doesn’t look quite so impressive when only three or four lines are running a “Good Service”.
Posted by: Stu on April 25, 2004 10:54 AMI can’t quite make out the set-up of that board - are they wee sticky on ‘Flash cards’ of varying degrees of service? If so, ohh how tempting to get busy with the printer and make your own ‘Absolutely fecked - best walk’ indicator.
Posted by: Vicky on April 25, 2004 07:21 PMThey actually abandoned the term “normal service” in favour of good as, to the general public, normal service usually means delays delays & delays.
Posted by: Jams on April 26, 2004 10:34 AMStu: Yes I agree - there have been occasions when only one or two have indicated a “good” service. Never very impressed by that at all.
Vicky: never thought of that. You have a wicked sense of humour Vicky! I wonder if I could get away with doing something like that …
Jams: thanks for visiting here! That explains it - because I’m sure that I used to hear them say “normal” for a while - and now they don’t say it anymore! And I can really understand why.
Posted by: Jag on April 26, 2004 07:51 PMjag, what does it say when it doesn’t say ‘good service’?
(by the way, robin and i are thinking of names, and he mentioned that he likes ‘jag’…hmm…what is the full version of your name anyway?)
Posted by: mamatha on April 27, 2004 05:29 PMHi there M! Apologies for the delay in responding.
Do you know what - I almost forgot for a minute what it says when it doesn’t say Good Service! It normally says “Delays” - check out the picture at Annie Mole’s pages:
http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_london-underground_archive.html#108188606911472308
Hey - “Jag” is a really cool name! :-)
Mine is short for “Jagdeep” - which means “light of the world”. Yeah - I like that.
Jag you are right their “costumes” are hideous
Here’s a woman looking particularly stylish
http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2003_07_01_london-underground_archive.html#105960814524916826
They always look like extra’s from Thunderbirds or Captain Scarlet to me.
I think if you were looking for some delays signs you may have the wrong link above - try
http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_london-underground_archive.html#108198774368662281
Posted by: Annie Mole on April 30, 2004 03:41 PM