"Peter Masson" wrote in message
...


"Graham Harrison" wrote in
message ...
There does seem to be a need for a passenger service between Willesden
Junction and Ealing Broadway

Interesting suggestion. While I don't disagree can you justify it? And,
are you suggesting just that short hop or using that piece of track as
part of something bigger (e.g. Barking (by electrifying Goblin) to
Heathrow)?
I doubt that there'd be enough passengers to justify taking Heathrow paths
away from HEx and HConn/Crossrail. But how about Barking - Gospel Oak
(would need rebuilding so that through trains could call) - Willesden
Junction - Ealing Broadway - Greenford. There would be same platform
interchange at Ealing Broadway for Heathrow, and it would give a better
route to Heathrow from the FCC Bedford line and the Jubilee Stanmore line
(via West Hampstead), and, at least if Willesden Junction were ever to
gain Slow Line platforms, the Milton Keynes line.

IMHO curtailing the Ealing Greenford line to a shuttle from West Ealing
will be a considerable disbenefit - passengers for the LUL District Line
will have to change twice at West Ealing and Ealing Broadway, though
passengers for the Central Line will be able to circulate the other way
via Greenford.

Peter

I wonder if curtailment at West Ealing is about capacity through the flat
junction? Which makes any use of the line up to the NLL from the GWML an
issue as well. Combine the 2 routes and I suspect you have a complete
no-no so long as they remain flat junctions.

It all depends what the real target is. Willesden Junction to Ealing would
be nice but I can't really see it's a requirement. Willesden Junction to
Heathrow makes more sense but other than using the GWML/NLL link the only
other route I can see would be through South Acton then along the
(unelectrified) line to Kew, along the Hounslow loop to wherever Airtrack
joins (if that ever happens and if the junctions point the right way).