On Mon, 30 May 2005, Dave Arquati wrote:

Tim Roll-Pickering wrote:
ONscotland wrote:

I read that LUL are withdrawing the "Circle" line service, as it
causes far too many delays at the various bottlenecks on the route.

Naturally, the lines will still be there (ie: H&C, Met and District
Line will still have services), but without a circular service
operating. The nickname "tea-cup" was mentioned, as this will
basically cover the stylised map of new routes that will be utilised.

Does anyone have any other details on this: or is it just another plan
that is being considered?

The problem is that although the proposed change is meant to improve
reliability on the Circle and increase the service to Hammersmith, it
requires that Met trains are diverted from Aldgate to Whitechapel or
Barking to replace the lost H&C service from Liverpool Street eastwards.
Not only does that mean that Met City services are required to traverse
an extra flat junction at Aldgate East, the longer route will be more
susceptible to delay.

Isn't there also a significant increase in the number of movements over
Praed Street junction? 22.5 up to 30 tph springs to mind, BICBW. I'm
skeptical about the chances of a plan which increases the exposure to two
flat junctions increasing reliability!

I was thinking about this the other day, and i realised there's another
downside: no direct trains from east of Aldgate to Paddington. Not a
showstopper, but it does make catching a train out west that bit harder
from the east end. Again, the improved overall frequency in practice
should more than make up for this, but still, a pain.

tom

--
I think it would be a good idea -- Mohandas Gandhi, on Western civilisation