London Banter - View Single Post

Paul Corfield · November 22nd 07, 09:35 PM posted to uk.transport.london

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:45:16 -0800 (PST), wrote:

was at paddington today waiting for circle line to south ken.
Wimbledon service rolls in and announcer says the next Circle is at
Kings Cross at least ten minutes away.

Get on and at the next stop Bayswater stick my head out. Next circle
line is 1 minute away.

I know that they do not know when the next train is coming because of
the antiquated sinalling system but why do they have to lie. If they
dont know then dont say anything. Grrrrr

I don't know why you leap to the conclusion that someone lied. I can't
begin to understand why a member of staff making a public announcement
would do that.

The most likely explanation is that a decision was taken to reverse a
train at Edgware Road or one was brought out from the sidings or taken
off the Wimbledon service and made into a Circle Line in order to fill
the gap. As you acknowledge the signalling system is not very
sophisticated in that part of the network. Given Paddington is about 1
minute from Edgware Road it is entirely plausible that a signal had not
been cleared for the "new" Circle Line train and that would not have
triggered the platform display or Trackernet to indicate an imminent
arrival at Paddington.
--
Paul C

Admits to working for London Underground!