Anyone trying to understand the logic behind the Hainault/Woodford
loop workings should bear in mind that most of the route is in Essex,
not London. Both Woodford and Hainault stations are in the London
Borough of Redbridge but about three quarters of a mile north of
Woodford Station the line enters Epping Forest District Council.
The re-enters London about halfway between Grange Hill and
Hainault Stations. The other point to remember is that the loop
is very lightly used even in rush hour so Epping Forest Council,
cash strapped like every other local authority, is unwilling to stump
up the subsidy for a fuller service.

Until quite recently it was noticeable to passengers travelling
eastbound from central London that there were about three times
as many trains going to Hainault via Newbury Park as to Epping.
This seems to have changed to some extent. I don't know if there
has been an official announcement about this. As Woodford has three
platforms (not two as stated in an earlier post) I've never understood
why no trains from West London terminate at Woodford leaving, say,
every second train to run on to Epping.