Paul Corfield wrote:
On Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:27:42 +0000 (UTC), d
wrote:
Anyone know what the plans are for the remaining parts of the
moorgate line are? Will LU take them over eventually?
I thought something had been said in Modern Railways about the
remaining alignment (net of any incursions by Crossrail or Thameslink
works) was being considered as potential stabling sidings for LUL
use. I might be imagining it though!
The problem is access. The only real access route would be across the
existing, short stabling sidings at Farringdon - but that would approach the
Smithfield tunnels at a rather oblique angle.
As someone who daily suffers the problems of congestion between Baker Street
and Aldgate, due to too many trains being funnelled down into the City, I
had long been thinking whether there was any way of separating Moorgate
terminators at Farringdon and running them parallel down into the old
Thameslink platforms at Moorgate (possibly even reducing the number of
Aldgate terminators by, for example, turning all or some of the Uxbridges at
Moorgate). All armchair planning, of course, but I think that the tunnel
approach from the Farringdon direction rules out any serious use of the
remains of the branch, unless some extensive building work is carried out
beneath Smithfield to realign the tunnels.