On Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:18:27 +0000, asdf
wrote:

On Fri, 08 Dec 2006 22:57:22 +0000, Paul Corfield wrote:

Transport for London seem intent on making every other vehicle on our
roads a half empty bendy bus. I believe it being on fire is optional :-)

Something of an exaggeration I feel.

But why don't they do some similar bribery to get more trains running on
the overground ? I come in from Palmers Green to Moorgate every morning
and there are huge gaps in the service.

I think the issue will lie somewhere between DfT and Network Rail. DfT
is more interested in screwing huge premiums out of franchise holders
than it is in getting more trains running or funding an expansion in
infrastructure. The lines out of Kings Cross and Moorgate are pretty
much full in the peaks due to the need to mesh fast, semi fast and local
trains on the tracks alongside GNER, Hull Trains and soon Grand Central.

But those trains don't use the Hertford Loop (the line through Palmers
Green). The section from Alexandra Palace to Finsbury Park might be a
bottleneck, but aren't there extra tracks there?

Yes and where do they then go? Moorgate is a very tight bottleneck and
Kings Cross is pretty much at capacity AIUI. Mr Cowling is complaining
about the peak timetable IIRC.

Having been caught up in disruption off peak on the Great Northern I
think there is a deliberate decision to retain spare capacity on the
Hertford Line in case GNER and others have to be diverted. It seems to
be able to handle a fast every 5 minutes or so in such circumstances
provided all the stopping trains are kicked out of the way!

There is also freight traffic to be considered.

TfL have limited rights with respect to main line rail and can offer to
fund extra services. However if there is no capacity available to run
them it is a somewhat academic exercise surely?

That may be an issue at peak times, but it certainly isn't off-peak.
The off-peak service is only 3tph (weekday daytimes) or 2tph (evenings
and all weekend). This is very poor for a suburban "metro" service -
if it were run by TfL I'm sure there would be at least 6tph on each
branch (which they manage to run in the peaks, so there must be
capacity for it). The Piccadilly Line runs through similar areas, and
manages to justify something like 18tph.

It may be poor but I do use the Hertford line infrequently and typically
off peak. It is never more than 20% full even with 3 car trains. A lot
of people seem to leave the train between Alexandra Palace and Enfield
Chase with few others boarding.

Would TfL really run that level service parallel to a 18tph tube line? I
think you've just answered your own question.

--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!