wrote:

Aidan Stanger wrote about a semi-fast Crossrail service to Milton
Keynes...


The kind of service I envisage would stop at Willesden
Junction to give cross platform access to the Tube.

Interesting idea, but... Wouldn't this involve major restrucuring of
all the fast and slow lines in the Willesden Jn area?

Not all of them - the fast lines (currently used by Virgin) would be
unaffected.

Possibly even closing Euston while it's carried out!

Of course not! It would be done one track at a time. Apart from
rebuilding Willesden Junction station, all it needs is a bit of
diversion S of Willesden Junction so that the tunnel can surface between
the tracks, and a new flyover at the N end. Temporary flat junctions
could be installed to enable these to be constructed.

The disruption during the work wouldn't be popular with passengers.
After all, the current WCML disruption is bad enough, and you want to
make them go through it all over again!?!

No, not all of it - probably a weekend or two of rail replacement buses
on Bakerloo and Silverlink S of Watford Junction, and the trains might
take slightly longer for a while. Virgin Trains wouldn't be disrupted.