On Thu, 6 Aug 2015 08:43:32 -0700 (PDT), Chris
wrote:

On Thursday, 6 August 2015 13:55:28 UTC+1, Recliner wrote:
Yes, I suppose so, though at least HS2 will now be in tunnel in the
Park Royal area, rather than taking over that old GWR Oxford line
alignment to Northolt.

But once Crossrail and the OOC station are built, I wonder if a
possible route to Paddington with available capacity will remain?

Think laterally - what'll be at OOC station? Yup, Crossrail & a connection to LHR. Won't that be enough to attract Chiltern?. Quite probably, with no requirement for Paddington.

Also, someone up-thread suggested Risborough/Aylesbury - why not extend that northwards & eastwards when the new EastWest comes online & run to Milton Keynes or Bedford? That's my thinking.

The stretch of track between Old Oak Common and Northolt Junction is a
beautifully engineered RoW. It was completed in 1906 and once saw
Castle Hauled express trains to Birmingham. The line is almost
straight with an almost imperceptible curve past Hanger Lane.

In 1948 it was joined by the LPTB Central Line. Planned pre WWII this
was part of an anti-recession, job creation exercise.

The issue with this section is that there in insufficient demand from
South Ruislip. Et al, for trains to Marylebone, Paddington (or OOC)
and the TfL Central Line service.

The current arrangements thru the Ruislip Stations, along with the
Greenford to West Ealing branch are messy to say the least. But there
is no quick fix.

At first glance a Crossrail branch to say, Gerrards Cross, seems
attractive. But, Crossrail and the Central Line to the West End and
City is overkill. Could Crossrail replace the Central Line? Maybe,
but it would only make sense if Crossrail also took over the Central
Line branch to Ealing Broadway. That would mean cutting the Central
Line back to White City. This in turn would mean the loss of access
to Ruislip Depot. So, the Depot facilities at the eastern end of the
Central Line would need beefing up.

Can this section justify frequent 10 car trains? And what of the
Greenford to west Ealing section, it would become an isolated diesel
branch between two Crossrail routes. Perhaps the Central Line is
better left as it is. What is the demand for trains between West
Ealing and Greenford anyway? Would it make a sensible Central Line
branch?

But, then, the Greenford branch also sees use for mainline diversions.
I doubt Network Rail want tube trains in the way of those!

The route from Ruislip into Paddington is due to be severed at OOC if
the HS2 plans go ahead. And in truth the Central Line serves this
stretch adequately.

Chiltern Railways are developing their services thru the old GCGW
section very well. However, Interchange between Chiltern Railways and
the Central Line is rather inconvenient. The nationalized railway
pulled one of their platform widening stunts at West Ruislip. The
platform was extended over the platform loop but the canopy was not.
Moreover the Central Line was left with its isolated island platform.
Passengers alighting from Central Line trains at West Ruislip wanting
to continue to Denham and beyond, have to climb and descend stairs
despite the fact their train is sitting right next to the down
mainline platform.

Would it be so hard to rebuild South Ruislip and West Ruislip as
normal four platform stations that allowed interchange across the
middle island to the down route to Denham et al? That would at least
tidy up the stations and give some focus to passenger convenience.

What of the Greenford branch? A possible use for tram-trains perhaps?
But, where would they go from their termini? Maybe this will become
another isolated section of the Overground.