A great map here showing you whether it's actually quicker to walk between two underground stops than it is to take the train. There are a load of stations like this, probably down to the deep tunnels and escalators you need to travel to them. And of course, delays.

Just in time for the Olympics I got to take part in one of the quintessential experiences of London living by being trapped on the underground in the stagnant heat, between stations, during rush hour for over half an hour. I was lucky to have got on the last car so despite the hour it wasn't completely packed - I can only imagine the cattle car conditions at the front. There is literally no space in the tunnel beyond the tiny train - just pipes and one hundred year old tunnel. After half an hour of updates from the driver as to why we hadn't moved an inch (and increasing scoffs and grumbling from everyone) the train pushed forward a little until the drivers door was at the platform of the next station, whereby we all filed out by the drivers door. As I was leaving they shut the doors to the station, and hordes of irritated commuters stood around looking for a bus and loudly proclaiming - this would never happen in X (replace with your favourite city not holding the Olympics in a few days).

Continuing my perverse interest in subway ideas for Dublin (well, metros and undergrounds are pretty cool anyway), this presentation was released recently showing the most recent CGI rendering of a Dublin metro. Nicer link to the agency's full presentation video on their website here The bare minimum concrete walls of all the stations aren't exactly inspiring but at least they seem to have decided to finally build the thing, amazing despite the recession. I would have thought a valuable and permanent piece of infrastructure desperately needed by the city would be the first thing to get axed by the not so far seeing politicians.