London Banter - View Single Post

Roland Perry · August 8th 14, 12:16 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In message , at 06:39:29
on Fri, 8 Aug 2014, remarked:
Shenfield, while not being a dead-end, is very much the "edge of
London" (in a way that nether Harold Wood or Brentwood are) and a lot
of trains terminate there (6tph), also in future with Crossrail.

You probably know that area a lot better than me but I've never understood
why Shenfield has always been the limit of GE Main Line suburban services.
Why not Chelmsford, for example?

Chelmsford station is on a viaduct and has just two platforms and a
turnback siding. It just doesn't have the capacity to reverse many
trains, and there was a good enough main line service for those heading
for London. To get to intermediate stations it was always "change at
Shenfield", which has five platforms.

Back in the 70's, which was before Chelmsford's expansion to become a
dormitory town, many of the trains terminated at Gidea Park, which was
regarded as about as far out as commuters would normally live.
--
Roland Perry