September 02, 2004

Heavy delays and the extinction of the Routemaster

Tonight I took the 91 bus home, just for a change. York Way down by Kings Cross is now hardly recognizable. Just months ago it was a true sleeze pit. Sure, there are still some nasty spots, but most of the buildings have apparently been bought by companies willing to invest in renovation. And renovating they are! Gone are the broken windows backed by cardboard and the charred entryways that screamed, "Don't come near this place unless you plan to shoot up!" Gone are the layer upon layer of old posters on the building sides. It is astonishing how quickly things are cleaning up.

This is due to the new Eurostar Terminal at St. Pancras (just next to Kings Cross)
that will be finished in a few years time. Road works (construction to you and me) have been going on there for the past 2 years. When I first saw the signs that warned of "heavy delays until 2007" I laughed out loud. Now I understand what a major undertaking it is.

Old routemaster bus on Charing Cross Road, London

I read that the Routemaster buses will soon be no more. You know, the cool rounded corner ones where you jump on and off the open back of the bus. What a bummer. They look so much nicer than the square double deckers.