On Thu, 30 Jun 2005, asdf wrote:

Full details in the TfL press release at:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-cent...s-releases-con
tent.asp?prID=398

The release also says:

"Customers can still travel between Central London and Heathrow on the
Underground via the Central line to Ealing Broadway then the District line
shuttle to Acton Town which will operate at a frequency of three trains
per hour and then the Piccadilly line to Heathrow Terminals 123"

Well, that's great. However, given that it takes 6 minutes for a train to
fo from Ealing Broadway to Acton Town, how on earth does the shuttle work
out at 3 tph? Even if it was worked by just one train, taking 6 minutes
either way and having a 3-minute rest, that's 4 tph!

Only 1.5 mins turnaround at each end, for the entire day, would be a
bit hectic...

I guess they'd have to step back. Other than that, i don't see why it
should be a big problem - after all, a normal station stop is shorter than
that.

Of course, they could always just use 2 trains, and actually provide a
decent frequency. 3tph just doesn't cut it. It's a slap in the face
considering the "customers" are already being highly inconvenienced by
the closures.

Quite so.

Ideally, rather than relying on the shuttle, they'd extend the Heathrow -
Acton Town Piccadilly stub to Ealing Broadway, via a reverse at Acton
Town. I'm assuming the track layout permits this; i'd guess lack of
drivers who know both legs prevents it, though. Trying to do that at any
useful rate of trains per hour would also be a bit of a challenge.

tom

--
I know you wanna try and get away, but it's the hardest thing you'll ever know