Tom Anderson wrote:
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!

Well, yes. There's also a need to reverse a large number of trains at
Edgware Road. I wonder what alternative plans have been considered and
why they have been rejected. All sorts of combinations of H&C, Met,
Circle and Wimbleware services are possible, and I think there was a big
discussion about this on here a few months ago.

I wondered whether Crossrail could take over Hammersmith - Paddington;
it would make use of some/all of those 15tph from the east that would be
terminating at Paddington (or rather, reverse at Westbourne Park
sidings), it would remove all conflicting movements across Praed St
junction, and would release two platforms at Paddington for suburban
services to use. Frequency on the northern side of the Circle could be
maintained by extending Wimblewares through to Whitechapel etc.

The problems would include the resiting of Royal Oak station (as the
Crossrail tunnel will surface right next to it) and poorer access to
stations Edgware Road - King's Cross.

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



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