On 21 July, 21:22, "Paul Scott"
wrote:
"MIG" wrote in message

...

Obviously, it makes a lot of difference whether the train is due to go
and whether any feeding NR trains have arrived from the south since
the last one left. *I suspect most ELL users at New Cross may be local
rather than changing, but that would take a lot of standing around to
verify. *On the other branch, people do seem to be travelling through..

Does anyone know if there have ever been any serious proposals to extend
that leg of the ELL further? *Despite a new up direction flyover being a
fairly obvious requirement, and a bit more double tracking (approximately
where the old depot was), surely an ELL extension in the general direction
of Lewisham would be a lower cost option than for example Bakerloo
extensions? *Of course it depends to an extent on transfer to other lines
but Crossrail should help there...


I'm pretty sure there's aren't any 'serious proposals',.
unfortunately.

New Cross ELL doesn't exist to serve a local population (given how
close New Cross Gate and other stations are). It exists to turn trains
around for operational reasons.

As I understand it, New Cross ELL is essentially a third platform at
New Cross Gate, used for terminating/reversing trains - at least
that's how TfL see it.

However... if the thinking around the purpose of New Cross ELL could
be changed, then extending the line would open up all sorts of
possibilities.

The biggest obstacle would probably be capacity at New Cross if it
became a through service, requiring two dedicated ELL platforms. But
once this is overcome, an extension to Lewisham could mean that South
Eastern trains don't need to call at St. John's, so that could become
a dedicated ELL station.

Beyond Lewisham it could perhaps take over the Bromley North branch.
That would be a good little route. Currently getting from Lewisham
onto the southbound ELL is hugely inconvenenient. Through services
would mean one fewer change and much improved journey times.

Another possible problem would be the bottlenecking of Surrey Quays,
which would probably end up with a fantasticly frequent northbound
service for anyone who happened to live there, but would really need
serious upgrading to handle the traffic of three feeder lines,
probably to a 4-platform layout.

But in theory it's a highly desirable proposition.

BTN