If you're the forward-thinking type who likes to read Londonist on your BlackBerry or iPhone while heading to or from work, yet resent having the myriad delights of John Q Stranger's armpit swabbed over your face on yet another overcrowded carriage, some good news: the government has promised an extra 100,000 seats across the country's rail networks. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirmed that a 10% increase in rolling stock is planned, with around 600......

A trackside fire in Bermondsey this morning has led to the closure of London Bridge station with Southeastern, Southern and First Capital Connect services to London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Waterloo East affected. The station will remain closed until at least 7pm this evening although London Bridge tube is still open. Additionally road closures are in place at Blue Anchor Lane, Rockgrove Way, Southwark Park Road, Lucey Way, St James' Road, Jamaica Road.......

First Capital Connect, wordy if not worthy inheritors of the Thameslink franchise, vowed to increase capacity and performance when they took on the route in 2005. And, God bless them, they've tackled the problem with refreshing imagination. Running the trains on a 26-hour clock is a stroke of genius. Unable to increase their rolling stock, they've tweaked the Earth's rotational period to maximise the number of passengers per day. Now, install some fricking Oyster......

A tribute to the capital’s alleys, ginnels and snickleways. 12. St Chad's Place Where? Dingy little dogleg behind King's Cross Thameslink. What? Ah, St Chad. You know, the brother of St Cedd and St Cynibild? Founder of the moanstery at Barrow-upon-Humber? Patron saint of rigged elections? No? Since ancient times, this spot contained a small, health-giving spring dedicated to the saint. St Chad's Well, was one of several ancient and important water supplies associated......

The BBC are reporting that King's Cross railway station has been evacuated over fears a fire in a nearby building may spark an explosion. There's currently a 200m exclusion zone around the construction site near the station which caught fire at around 8:30 this morning. The station was evacuated at around 11. One person has been taken to hospital with burn injuries. East Coast main line operator GNER was forced to turn around trains......