On Fri, 25 Jan 2008, Mr Thant wrote:

Worth looking at the accompanying PDF at the bottom of this page:
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/me...08/brent_cross

As rail fantasy, It's up there with the finest work of uk.t.l. It even
manages to include a North Acton triangle interchange station. I
especially like the half mile gap between Brent Cross shopping centre
and the Dudding Hill branch (including the crossing of the Midland
Mainline), where they can't even see a possible route. Also, top marks
for the pasted in Windows Live Local maps and satellite pictures.

They haven't included even the beginnings of a cost-benefit analysis,
which says a lot about how seriously it wishes to be taken. It's just
hot air.

Hang on, though, I get the impression that the organisation behind ths
plan is not one which has the expertise or resources to do or commission a
cost-benefit analysis: they're not simple to do. It's therefore a bit
harsh to dismiss them for not doing one, as it would be for dismissing
them for not supply detailed engineering drawings, or built a test track.

It seems entirely possible that the plan is a non-starter, but i think
it's fair enough to propose it in the hope that a better-resourced
interested party, like the council, might take a harder look at it.
Particularly the 'phase 1' bit that links the Northern line station to the
Thameslink station at Brent Cross, which isn't that grandiose (although,
as was pointed out, does involve a rather high ratio of depot to track).

tom

--
made up languages, delusions, skin diseases and unaided human flight