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Dave Arquati · December 10th 06, 08:35 PM posted to uk.transport.london

Colin Rosenstiel wrote:
In article , (Dave Arquati) wrote:

Edward Cowling London UK wrote:
In message , John Rowland
writes
A train ever ten minutes all day south of Gordon Hill and New
Barnet would do a lot to pull people back from the Picc, so
frequent trains might end up fuller than infrequent ones. Wimbledon
to West Croydon springs to mind.

Exactly ! There is tumble weed rolling about on Alley Pally
station during the day yet the Picc line is still wall to wall
shoppers and back packers. They don't even think of using the
rail link because...

a. The timetable is complex and keeps changing. Leaffall !! gimme
a break it just means we all miss our trains for weeks trying to
work out when the darn trains will actually arrive.

b. The service is too sporadic. A train every ten minutes
stopping at every station and you'd see the shoppers back on the
trains.
c. The stations are in much less convenient locations than the
Piccadilly stations.

d. The shoppers and backpackers may well be coming from the onward
destinations served directly by the Piccadilly line.

There are several differences between this and Wimbledon to West
Croydon, including the provision of new stops on Tramlink thus
bringing the surrounding population within easier reach of the
services, the onward tram route to East Croydon station, and the
lack of a more frequent and more conveniently-located alternative.

When I'm going to Hornsey it's much better located for my destination than is Turnpike Lane. It does have double the frequency (off-peak at least) of Palmer's Green, though.

I'm not saying that the GN stations are inconveniently located for
*everyone* - obviously some destinations will be closer to the GN
stations than the Piccadilly ones, and some bus connections will be more
easily made at GN stations. On balance, however, major destinations and
bus connections are easier at Picc stations simply because the Picc
follows the main road.

I imagine GN stations will also be more convenient if you are starting
near another GN station, but the Picc has a much better catchment area
(particularly because it serves central London directly).

--
Dave Arquati
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London