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Colin Rosenstiel · December 18th 04, 11:24 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article , (Dave Arquati)
wrote:

John Rowland wrote:
"Mait001" wrote in message
...

That is called foresight and forward planning that is so patently
missing now.

I don't agree. Many modern schemes have passive provision, or more,
for other schemes. In fact, the existing Heathrow Express has a
junction which was built for the T5 branch, although this will not be
used.... and the Piccadilly T4 loop has a straight bit beneath where
T5 was planned, although this will also now not be used.

And away from Heathrow, the Jubilee line has provision for an eastwards
branch to Thamesmead at North Greenwich; the DLR has provision for
future stations at Connaught Bridge, Thames Wharf (on the new LCY
branch) and also I believe even in the tunnel to Bank for an
underground station to replace Tower Gateway, which was originally
going to be closed in favour of Bank, but DLR decided operationally
that it was too useful to close. Plus the CTRL works incorporate
provision for Thameslink 2000 by building a new link from St Pancras to
the GN lines out of King's Cross.

So I agree with John; planners still take into account future
possibilities, but whether those possibilities change or not is a
different issue. No-one can predict the future!

The world is littered with provision made for schemes that never came off.
How many single track railway lines had enough land bought for future
doubling that never happened, for a start?

--
Colin Rosenstiel