View Single Post
  #21   Report Post  
Old April 18th 05, 10:41 AM posted to uk.transport.london
Dave Arquati Dave Arquati is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity at LondonBanter: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,158
Default Why are Silverlink Metro trains NEVER on time ?

Tom Anderson wrote:
On Sun, 17 Apr 2005, asdf wrote:


and they are seriously considering re-extending the Bakerloo to Watford
and re-assessing the Silverlink services - they consider that there is
an over-supply of service to central London between Wealdstone and
Queen's Park.


I think people here are underestimating how popular Euston is as a
destination



Very true.

So, how about adding *more* trains to the Euston service, and running it
on a tube-like basis? Rather than trying to stick to a timetable in the
face of Bakerloos running about the place, just provide a high-frequency
service without a declared timetable. That should simplify operations on
the line - it would be just like other bits of track shared between two
tube lines, such as the Met/Picc beyond Rayner's Lane. Obvious problems
with this are the need for more rolling stock (bound to be some 313s
knocking around they could use!) and the issue of terminating such a
service at Euston - i haven't the faintest idea what the approach to
Euston is like; is there any chance it could take 12 tph?

The service pattern could look broadly like:

Watford Junction - Euston: 12 tph
Watford Junction * - Elephant & Castle: 12 tph
Queen's Park - Elephant & Castle: 12 tph

* Or Harrow & Wealdstone, if there really isn't demand.


The original problem is that TfL consider there not to be sufficient
demand to sustain the *current* level of service to central London
(whether that's Oxford Circus etc or Euston only) - I highly doubt that
an *increased* level of service would be viable - certainly not fundable.

The plan is to reduce services between Queen's Park and Wealdstone in
order to use the savings made to increase services where demand is too
high for the service level, i.e. the NLL.

That leaves capacity on the NR branch south of Queen's Park which could be
used for ELL services. I have no idea how they'd reverse at Queen's Park;
come to think of it, i have no idea how Bakerloos reverse either.


To be useful, those ELL services really need to run through to
Willesden, to make orbital journeys easier.

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London