On Mar 24, 5:45*pm, wrote:
On Mar 24, 4:52*am, peter wrote:

Just a thought. No idea if it's practical

There's a lot of redundant platforms at Moorgate now. *How about
starting at Moorgate, doing a complete circle then on to
Hammersmith? * Or would that be too much traffic on the Moorgate-
Edgware Road section?

The problems come with the flat junctions at Baker Street and
Moorgate. Trying to fit a more intensive Circle/Lasso service in
between the Metropolitan Line trains that cross it at Baker Street
could be tricky, and ditto for trains 'turning right' to the bays at
Moorgate crossing through trains coming west.

The only way it could reasonably work would be for all Metropolitan
Line trains from the north to terminate at Baker Street, at which
point you'd presumably project these trains on to Aldgate to replace
the Met ones -- but I don't think this would be popular.

My preferred solution would be not to increase the Hammersmith
frequency and to run it round all the way and then on to Moorgate,
Aldgate or Barking (wherever the Metropolitan doesn't go, according to
taste), so providing the same frequency as currently proposed along
the top of the Circle where it overlaps.

Increased peak services could go direct to Barking etc.

That way there would be no need for the impossible plans for Edgware
Road and no need to turn round half the ex-Wimbledon Trains at High
Street Ken.

I don't think there's a problem with frequency on the Hammersmith
line. The problem is the grinding slowness.