London Banter - View Single Post

[email protected] · January 21st 07, 09:47 PM posted to uk.transport.london

wrote:
From your comments I dont think I can ever see the line going past Epping
again. Would other people agree?

Probably. As things stand at present, there are simply too many
obstacles:-

1) Cost - the track will probably require total renewal, new signalling
will be needed, and at least one new substation would need to be built.
All this, especially the signalling, is very expensive.

2) Layout - even if a passing loop were reinstated at North Weald the
line is going to have a very infrequent service, which is what killed
it in the first place. Likewise, through trains from London would
probably not be workable because of the risk of the long single-line
section transmitting delays to the entire line.

3) Trains - there aren't enough 92ts as it is, without anything between
one and three trains being needed for a reinstated Ongar service.

4) Capacity at Epping - with Epping now seeing a very high frequency of
trains, the station layout there would be a major headache.

5) Long way from London - Ken is interested in projects in the centre,
and normally for the benefit of deprived areas (ELLX, DLR to Stratford
Int). Serving Essex isn't going to be a priority.

IMO the only chance for the line serving Ongar again is if there is
ever a big scheme to develop the green space around Ongar or North
Weald. It's quite possible some developer might come up with the
"brainwave" of building houses with a ready-made Tube link (well,
almost), but there would probably be a *lot* of local opposition. If
this ever happens, I'd imagine most of the costs would be borne by
private financiers, and the line would get totally upgraded. Not
impossible, but hardly likely either.