It's the British Way.
Posted on 07/08/2005 2:24:30 AM PDT by MadIvan
London commuters showed their determination to return to normal today, boarding trains and buses in their thousands to get to work.
Less than 24 hours after the capital came under terrorist attack, and despite continued disruption to the Tube network, many people made clear they would not let their lives be affected.
Sonia Crosby, station manager at Reading, Berkshire, said passengers were in "resilient" mood.
She said: "People are wanting to get back to normal. It won't stop anyone going back to work and that's what makes Great Britain great really.
"Yesterday there was confusion, today there is resilience, and our aim is to get people moving again and get some normality back."
Network Rail said the vast majority of its services were running normally, with the exception of the east coast mainline GNER services to King's Cross which were stopping at Peterborough.
But they said they hoped to have a limited service up and running by lunchtime. As rush hour got started, a Network Rail spokesman estimated the number of passengers was at 60% of normal.
"A lot of people do seem to have taken the day off," he said.
On the streets of the capital, there were extra high-visibility patrols as police sought to reassure the public, including in areas with large Muslim populations.
Commuters arriving at King's Cross remained defiant and determined to carry on as normal.
The station was far quieter than normal but by 7am the area was beginning to fill up as travellers started arriving in the capital.
William Austin, who lives near Royston, Hertfordshire, said: "You have to carry on. I have meetings to go to today and there's work to be done.
"People of my generation have grown up with the IRA threat and we've seen all sorts of bombings down the years.
"You just have to get on with life. The City will be up and running again today and these people won't have any effect."
Police with sniffer dogs were patrolling the concourse at King's Cross. Shops and cafes began to open as normal at around 7am.
Although Londoners were returning to the capital's public transport, they admitted they were slightly nervous after yesterday's outrages.
There was a heavy police presence on Tube lines with officers patrolling platforms at many stations. Many commuters said that the city was unusually quiet for a Friday morning.
Finance officer Liesl Richter, 19, from Walthamstow, was walking to work in Whitechapel and said: "I've taken the Tube this morning which was fine for me but I was a little bit wary getting on.
"But I am going to work and I will be using the Tube to go back home tonight and life goes on but it is very quiet for a Friday morning."
Staff nurse Duncan Njoroge, 29, from Forest Gate, was going to work at the Royal London Hospital.
"I have caught the bus from Forest Gate and I was quite nervous about getting on board when I saw it approaching," he said.
"But I have to come to work and I have no choice but to use the bus so life goes on."
Andrew Thompson, 29, who lives in central London, was making his daily journey from King's Cross to Cambridge.
"I make the journey every day and I have to be at work today so I've got to go," said Mr Thompson, a history lecturer at Cambridge University.
"King's Cross is very quiet this morning. There would normally be four or five times the number of people here that there are.
"But I'm not worried about travelling at all.
"I travelled on the Underground this morning and it took me a little bit longer because of various closures but nothing too bad."
Mr Thompson, who works at Queens' College, added: "It's unbelievable how they've got the transport system up and working again pretty much as normal."
06.40 hours - Tube services todayFollowing yesterday's attack, services are now running on most lines, although you may experience some delays.
However there will be no service on the following lines until further notice:
Piccadilly line - no service between Hyde Park Corner and Arnos Grove. A special bus service will operate between Arnos Grove and Finchley Central to connect with Northern line services.
Circle and Hammersmith & City lines - no service at all
Metropolitan line - no service between Baker Street and Aldgate
District line - no service between High Street Kensington and Edgware Road
Additionally King's Cross St Pancras station is closed.
Passengers are to keep their belongings with them at all times and report anything suspicious to a member of staff.
Congestion charge
Please note, the congestion charge will not be in effect during Friday. TfL's advice to drivers remains not to travel through central London during this period.
Ends
That's it. That's all they were able to do. You lose, Abdul.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
It's the British Way.
Well said Ivan
Well done!
As I was changing channels (I'd already seen that one a dozen times or so), I came across another story on the IRA bombings in Britian. The juxtaposition was breathtaking to the point that I said out loud "what the HELL were they thinking?" How could the IRA actually think they could affect anything with a few piddling bombs when the country absorbed thousands of tons of bombs from Hitler's Luftewaffe?
Bad choice, lads. Bad choice.
I might just have to come over your way to show some extra support . That is if there is any room for us ;-)
I want a pair of those. Go good with my Harley.
And that was their best shot. After four years.
Indeed. They lose.
Oh, that's a relief. When I was in England 15 years ago, I always used the Red Line to come in from Red Bridge to the hotels around Hyde Park.
The Red Bridge station and adjoining tunnels was an aircraft factory during WW II, so the outlying NE stretch of the Red Line is no stranger to conflict.
I was just thinking the same thing. Wish I spoke Spanish in order to read what their papers are saying today.
Once again, the indomitable Brittish spirit is on display for the Axis of Evil to see and fear, and her allies here to admire!
Now, if you all could just see that some HARM comes to Mr Galloway....
They have kicked over another hornets nest. That's all they've got to show for their treachery.
Well spoken.
Our hearts and prayers for the British people attacked by these soulless, heartless bastards.
Great Britain's people have always shown such grace under fire. They are to be commended for returning to normal after suh an attack. We will win, we have to.
I hope the authorities have their hands around the cowardly weasels as swiftely as possbile.
Capitalism, the real enemy, showed its resilience yesterday also, with Dow, NASDAQ up.
Love it!
Eff, Yeah!!!
"a Network Rail spokesman estimated the number of passengers was at 60% of normal."
4 out of 10 stayed home?
Not to mention what comes later for Abdul and company (all they have to do is ask Hitler and various IRA punks).
Followed by a nice rebound by the foreign markets, especially FTSE (unfortunately, oil has also rebounded).
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