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#1
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Chiltern vs the Central line
One might think that a journey from the outskirts of London into the
centre would be quickest via a fast National Rail operator, like c2c vs the District line from Upminster into the City. I made a journey from High Wycombe into Kensington last week. Usually I take a train into Marylebone, then either use Bakerloo+ Circle, Bakerloo+Piccadilly or Circle from Edgware Road to reach Gloucester Road, taking about an hour and a quarter in total. However, this time, I only had a ticket between Wycombe and South Ruislip, having used the Tube to reach Ruislip on the outward journey as I started at Holland Park earlier in the day. The bonus of using the Tube from South Ruislip is the cheap Oyster fare in the offpeak. I definitely didn't expect to travel from Wycombe to Gloucester Road in almost exactly an hour. It turns out that the Central is very quick from Ruislip to Notting Hill Gate (23 mins), only a few minutes more than the time it takes any Chiltern train stopping at Ruislip to reach Marylebone (20 mins minimum). Obviously this is advantageous in reaching western areas. This doesn't really apply to the faster trains which skip the Ruislips - but even an ideal scenario with a non-stop train (usually taking around 33 mins) from Wycombe to Marylebone, followed by a 5-min walk and a Circle journey from Edgware Road (13 mins) gets you to Gloucester Road in 51 minutes. Although my hour-only journey via the Central line involved just a minute's wait at both South Ruislip and Notting Hill Gate, it also involves a tortuous interchange at Notting Hill and, in this case, an all-stations train from Wycombe (including a stop at the fantastic Denham Golf Club). -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London |
#2
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Chiltern vs the Central line
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005, Dave Arquati wrote:
One might think that a journey from the outskirts of London into the centre would be quickest via a fast National Rail operator, ^^^^^^ I made a journey from High Wycombe into Kensington last week. ^^^^^^^^^^ Dave, are we going to have to go over this again? I definitely didn't expect to travel from Wycombe to Gloucester Road in almost exactly an hour. Sit down with a map - a real map, not Mr Beck's filthy propaganda - and have a look at the routes. The surprisingly fast route is also surprisingly direct! I take your point, though - by rights, a non-stop train from Ruislip to Marylebone should be faster than a stopper to Notting Hill. The Central is a bit of a speed demon, but i suspect the problem is really that the Chiltern trains are a bit slow. I have no idea why; probably some line speed thing, or else complications arising from congestion. (including a stop at the fantastic Denham Golf Club). Do expand on that. tom -- Michael Jackson had that idea back in the 80s. There was even a ride at Disneyland. |
#3
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Chiltern vs the Central line
Tom Anderson wrote:
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005, Dave Arquati wrote: One might think that a journey from the outskirts of London into the centre would be quickest via a fast National Rail operator, ^^^^^^ I made a journey from High Wycombe into Kensington last week. ^^^^^^^^^^ Dave, are we going to have to go over this again? Oh dear, not this old chestnut... you'll just have to accept that Dave's definition of Central London is Zone 1 :-) I'm having flashbacks to the whole "Metropolitan Kent" argument. I definitely didn't expect to travel from Wycombe to Gloucester Road in almost exactly an hour. Sit down with a map - a real map, not Mr Beck's filthy propaganda - and have a look at the routes. The surprisingly fast route is also surprisingly direct! Yes, should have thought of that... it happens to be extremely similar to the route I take on the rare occasion that I drive it (Western Avenue then either West Cross + Cromwell Road or Westway + Hyde Park). But then again, the direct route is not necessarily the fastest (especially when Chiltern makes a maximum of 4 intermediate stops, but the Central makes 9). I take your point, though - by rights, a non-stop train from Ruislip to Marylebone should be faster than a stopper to Notting Hill. The Central is a bit of a speed demon, but i suspect the problem is really that the Chiltern trains are a bit slow. I have no idea why; probably some line speed thing, or else complications arising from congestion. Sometimes they sit outside Marylebone for a bit, but I don't think that's the main problem - line speed between Northolt Junction and Neasden seems to be a bit slow. (including a stop at the fantastic Denham Golf Club). Do expand on that. The king of Chiltern's rural stations. I've never seen anyone get on or off there - not even with any golf clubs. I reckon most people travelling to Denham Golf Club do so by BMW rather than Chiltern Turbo (although the latter has more plentiful room for one's clubs). -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London |
#4
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Chiltern vs the Central line
Dave Arquati wrote: Tom Anderson wrote: Do expand on that. The king of Chiltern's rural stations. I've never seen anyone get on or off there - not even with any golf clubs. I reckon most people travelling to Denham Golf Club do so by BMW rather than Chiltern Turbo (although the latter has more plentiful room for one's clubs). -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London It is eleven years since I last travelled the GC/GW joint. Is the Pagoda still at Denham Golf Club? A. |
#5
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Chiltern vs the Central line
Adrian Auer-Hudson wrote:
Dave Arquati wrote: Tom Anderson wrote: Do expand on that. The king of Chiltern's rural stations. I've never seen anyone get on or off there - not even with any golf clubs. I reckon most people travelling to Denham Golf Club do so by BMW rather than Chiltern Turbo (although the latter has more plentiful room for one's clubs). -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London It is eleven years since I last travelled the GC/GW joint. Is the Pagoda still at Denham Golf Club? A. Yup. I don't think anything's really changed at Denham Golf Club in the last 100-ish years. -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London |
#6
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Chiltern vs the Central line
"Dave Arquati" wrote in message ... Adrian Auer-Hudson wrote: Dave Arquati wrote: Tom Anderson wrote: Do expand on that. The king of Chiltern's rural stations. I've never seen anyone get on or off there - not even with any golf clubs. I reckon most people travelling to Denham Golf Club do so by BMW rather than Chiltern Turbo (although the latter has more plentiful room for one's clubs). -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London It is eleven years since I last travelled the GC/GW joint. Is the Pagoda still at Denham Golf Club? A. Yup. I don't think anything's really changed at Denham Golf Club in the last 100-ish years. Not so! The up platform used to be nearer to London than the down platform. About 40 years ago a new up platform was built opposite the down platform. That's why there are three pagodas, not two. Some very important people have used it. In fact you could have seen me get on and off there, but I have never played a round of golf. However I regularly trespassed on the golf course, using it as a short cut to the station. I am pleased that you recognise the significance of this distinguished station. Regards, David Fairthorne -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London |
#7
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Chiltern vs the Central line
snip
http://therailwaystationgallery.foto...t/c126732.html RPM has pictures of Denham Golf Club that show the pagoda. |
#8
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Chiltern vs the Central line
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005, Dave Arquati wrote:
Tom Anderson wrote: On Mon, 24 Jan 2005, Dave Arquati wrote: One might think that a journey from the outskirts of London into the centre would be quickest via a fast National Rail operator, ^^^^^^ I made a journey from High Wycombe into Kensington last week. ^^^^^^^^^^ Dave, are we going to have to go over this again? Oh dear, not this old chestnut... you'll just have to accept that Dave's definition of Central London is Zone 1 :-) I'm having flashbacks to the whole "Metropolitan Kent" argument. I think we did Essex a bit before that. Still, correct definitions are important, and, moreover, this group collects argumentative pedants like uk.local.london collects raving lunatics. (including a stop at the fantastic Denham Golf Club). Do expand on that. The king of Chiltern's rural stations. I've never seen anyone get on or off there - not even with any golf clubs. I reckon most people travelling to Denham Golf Club do so by BMW rather than Chiltern Turbo (although the latter has more plentiful room for one's clubs). Why on earth does this station exist? Why does it *still* exist? tom -- I see large and small words on this page, arranged in long rows separated by little dotty characters. Suspect written by little dotty characters, too. -- RonJeffries |
#9
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Chiltern vs the Central line
Tom Anderson wrote:
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005, Dave Arquati wrote: Tom Anderson wrote: On Mon, 24 Jan 2005, Dave Arquati wrote: One might think that a journey from the outskirts of London into the centre would be quickest via a fast National Rail operator, ^^^^^^ I made a journey from High Wycombe into Kensington last week. ^^^^^^^^^^ Dave, are we going to have to go over this again? Oh dear, not this old chestnut... you'll just have to accept that Dave's definition of Central London is Zone 1 :-) I'm having flashbacks to the whole "Metropolitan Kent" argument. I think we did Essex a bit before that. I'm afraid for simplicity's sake, on my website, places are either Central, North, East, Southeast, Southwest, West or Northwest, and if they're not any of those, they're Outside. For my sanity, Outside means outside the GLA boundary. Still, correct definitions are important, and, moreover, this group collects argumentative pedants like uk.local.london collects raving lunatics. I think uk.railway is worse (for pedants). (including a stop at the fantastic Denham Golf Club). Do expand on that. The king of Chiltern's rural stations. I've never seen anyone get on or off there - not even with any golf clubs. I reckon most people travelling to Denham Golf Club do so by BMW rather than Chiltern Turbo (although the latter has more plentiful room for one's clubs). Why on earth does this station exist? Why does it *still* exist? To be fair, it probably sees more use than Kempston Hardwick. -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London |
#10
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Chiltern vs the Central line
Tom Anderson wrote: Why on earth does this station exist? Why does it *still* exist? I suspect because the cost of all the procedure required to close it would be greater than the cost of keepiiing it open. You don't save much by closiing the odd unstaffed halt. The trains that Chiltern are most concerned about the timing of, the Birmingham ones, don't stop there. What would make consderable savings would be to close lines; no need for train crews, station or PW staff, no need for trains, or maintainiing them, or fuel for them, track can be re-used elsewhere or sold, land can be sold off etc. It is highly unlikely today that this line would be proposed for closure, so major savings cannot be made. Denham Golf Club station does very little good, but it also does little harm, so it just stays as it is. If at some time it required major expenditure to keep it open, then I suspect that it would close. To be honest, it would be difficult to make a serious case against such closure. |
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