Charles Ellson wrote:
On Mon, 26 Nov 2018 02:09:29 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
wrote:

Basil Jet wrote:
On 25/11/2018 23:11, Recliner wrote:
Charles Ellson wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2018 22:54:58 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
wrote:

Basil Jet wrote:
On 25/11/2018 20:21, Roger Lynn wrote:
On 25/11/18 01:40, Basil Jet wrote:
On 25/11/2018 00:55, Recliner wrote:
However, I hope that Chiltern's request for a reopened line into the new
OOC Crossrail/HS2/GWR station comes to fruition, so it can run an hourly
service to it from Milton Keynes via Aylesbury.

It seems like a stupid place to terminate - I can't see many people
getting trains in from High Wycombe to change onto HS2 for Birmingham.
Crossrail is just a glorified tube line - although I suppose the other
Chiltern trains terminate at a station with only one tube line.

Connections to Heathrow and the GWML would be useful. At the moment
getting to Heathrow from Chiltern stations is a pain and it's easier and
faster to drive or get a coach.

I wasn't suggesting it shouldn't go to OOC - just that it should go on
to Clapham Junction afterwards, giving Chiltern stations a one change
journey to Gatwick and half the country.

I don't think there would be any route beyond OOC to the West London line.
The Crossrail depot is in the way.

Round the north side meeting the WLL on the south side of Willesden
Junction IIRC.

That would miss the OOC station altogether. It would have to cross the
canal and join the WLL on the north side.

No, it would require a short curve in the vicinity of Acton Wells
Junction. (Admittedly levels might be an issue.) The curve from Acton
Wells Junction to the southbound WLL is already there, crossing the
canal twice, and not currently used by any passenger trains.


The Richmond line crosses the former GWR line to Birmingham at right
angles, so there's no easy connection. And if you cut through the Boden
building and Waitrose to get a connection, you'd miss the more important
OOC station.

High Wycombe - South Ruislip - Northolt - Drayton Green - Ealing
Broadway - Acton Main Line - round the NW side of OOC (or whatever is
there after rearrangement connected with HS2) - Willesden Relief/SW
Lines - West London Line ?

Yes, that would work, apart from the lack of paths on the GWR relief lines
when Crossrail is in full operation. The journey would also be very slow.

The direct route on the old GWR Main line to Birmingham would be much
shorter, quicker and independent of other lines. It would provide a direct,
fast, reliable, dedicated route to dedicated Chiltern bay platforms at OOC,
just next to the HS2 and Crossrail platforms. That's why it's the route
Chiltern wants, not an incredibly slow, meandering, congested route to CLJ,
via an inconvenient station near OOC.

Those Chiltern passengers who do want to get to CLJ can do so via a change
at OOC.


IIRC at least a couple of the cunning plan maps for post-HS2 Old Oak
Common involve platforms/routes a bloody long walk[TM] further
north-ish of the main station to deal with WCML(NW)-WLL(S),
NLL(S)-WLL(S) and NLL(S)-NLL(N) trains.

Which is partly why it's not what Chiltern wants.


Part of the above route (SW
lines) would pass through what was the platformed area of Willesden
Junction until the 1960s.


There may be scope for a long moving walkway or airport-style shuttle
between Willesden Junction and OOC. That would make OOC an even more
important interchange station.