Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Since Friday we've all been urged to travel only if it's absolutely essential. In response TfL have been reducing frequencies and shutting down parts of the network, while leaving enough open to ensure key workers can still travel.
Since Saturday, the zone 1 tube map has looked like this.
(click for a larger version)
For example on the Central line Holland Park, Queensway, Lancaster Gate and Chancery Lane have closed. Meanwhile on the District line it's now only four stops from Victoria to Cannon Street rather than the usual seven.
Only stations underground are affected, because those at surface level have far less stringent staffing needs. Also only non-interchange stations have been closed (with the exception of Charing Cross, which is very close to Embankment). Some very efficient choices have been made.
Elsewhere entire lines have closed and other modes have been restricted. So I thought I'd attempt to create a day-by-day record to chronicle what closed down when, as a measure of sequential superfluousness. I'll try to keep it updated as further closures continue.
| Day | Lines closed | Stations closed |
| Wed 18 | | |
| Thu 19 | | Arsenal, Barbican, Borough, Bounds Green, Bow Road, Covent Garden, Goodge Street, Hampstead, Manor House |
| Fri 20 | Waterloo & City | Bayswater, Caledonian Road, Charing Cross, Great Portland Street, Holland Park, Hyde Park Corner, Pimlico, Queensway |
| Sat 21 | Dangleway | Bermondsey, Blackhorse Road, Chalk Farm, Chancery Lane, Clapham South, Gloucester Road, Kilburn Park, Lancaster Gate, Mansion House, Mornington Crescent, Redbridge, Regent's Park, South Wimbledon, Southwark, St James's Park, Stepney Green, Swiss Cottage, Temple, Tufnell Park, Warwick Avenue |
| Sun 22 | Circle | |
| Mon 23 | Surrey Quays - New Cross | Island Gardens |
Tue 24-
Fri 27 | | |
| Sat 28 | Thames Clippers
Uxbridge - Rayners Lane | |
| Sun 29 | | Prince Regent |
As of Tuesday 233 out of 270 tube stations remain open.
Ideally you shouldn't be using any of them.
The frequency of services is another matter. Cutting frequencies makes for a more resilient service, better able to cope with staff shortage. But it also makes those trains which do run more crowded, endangering the health of those squeezed aboard. On Monday the Overground was operating at roughly normal intervals but the tube much less often.
Under the upcoming lockdown all may change. But it's more important than ever not to travel unless you really have to.
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