In article .com, (Adrian Auer-Hudson) wrote:

Aidan Stanger wrote:

My website at http://www.bettercrossrail.co.uk is now up and
running. It features a plan for getting Crossrail constructed at a
fraction of the cost of the CLRL plan (or of the Superlink plan) so
that more Crossrail lines can subsequently be constructed.

Your opening statement seems to imply that Crossrail is too expensive.
But, I see nothing in you proposals that reduce cost.

Moreover, the present Crossrail plan has strength in its simplicity.
You proposals are more complex.

In my opinion the current Crossrail proposal is a good one East of
Paddington. Although I think there is a case for a station at
Holborn. It is West of Paddington that the current plans fall short of
an optimum solution. Turning 10 tph around at Paddington seems to be a
formula to inconvenience the maximum number of passengers.

With you so far.

In Modern Railways, October 2005, a Mr. Adam Edwards suggests
Crossrail should take over the Hammersmith branch. I endorse this
proposal. The cons a 1. The probable need for platform lengthening
on the branch. 2. The need to re-electrify the branch at 25kV. 3. The
loss of Hammersmith depot for Circle Line trains. The pros a 1. The
Hammersmith Branch is self contained. There is NO risk of timetable
pollution. 2. Circle Line operation is greatly simplified. One
junction is eliminated. 3. 6tph are NOT turned around at Paddington.
4. This will allow more Met. trains to reach Moorgate or Aldgate, with
knock-on benefits to Metroland commuters.

Con 3 and Pro 1 are contradictory. The fact that the Circle (and also Wimbleware) stock is maintained at Hammersmith means the branch is not self contained.

As for platform lengthening, this could be counterbalanced by
rationalizing the number of stations on the branch. Do we really need
Royal Oak? for example. Re-electrification could be avoided by
utilizing dual voltage trains. But, re-electrification is probably
the simpler and more resilient option. If I recall correctly, Circle
Line trains were once maintained at District Line facilities. I
wonder how easy it would be to do so these days?

I don't think you do recall correctly. Circle stock has always been part of the Met's stock rather than the District's. What District depot do you think has been used (apart from the Wimbleware stock)?

As for the remaining 4tph, perhaps these could be reversed at Ealing
Broadway, this is surely preferable to doing so at Paddington.

Is there room to turn trains at Ealing?

--
Colin Rosenstiel