Londoncityslicker wrote:


Rumours are around as that corridor has always had a line of sorts.
Called the Fleet line if I remember.


However I wouldn't put it passed Ken to spend millions putting back old
railway lines. ;-)


The Fleet Line was the original name of the Jubilee Line. The intention
was to extend the Jubilee Line via Aldwych rather than via Waterloo but
apart from tunnels extending from the now-disused platforms at Charing
Cross none of it actually exsists. There's no 'old railway line' to open.

There was a discussion here a while back about the pros and cons of the
DLR extension to Charing X. The use of the jubilee line platforms at
charing cross and the lift shafts at Aldwych would lower the cost of
doing it from scratch, but AIUI the platform at Bank points north
instead of west

Stuart wrote:
Londoncityslicker wrote:


Rumours are around as that corridor has always had a line of sorts.
Called the Fleet line if I remember.


However I wouldn't put it passed Ken to spend millions putting back old
railway lines. ;-)


The Fleet Line was the original name of the Jubilee Line. The intention
was to extend the Jubilee Line via Aldwych rather than via Waterloo but
apart from tunnels extending from the now-disused platforms at Charing
Cross none of it actually exsists. There's no 'old railway line' to open.

There was a discussion here a while back about the pros and cons of the
DLR extension to Charing X. The use of the jubilee line platforms at
charing cross and the lift shafts at Aldwych would lower the cost of
doing it from scratch, but AIUI the platform at Bank points north
instead of west


It definitely wouldn't be extended from Bank, it would be a new branch.

Stuart wrote:
Londoncityslicker wrote:


Rumours are around as that corridor has always had a line of sorts.
Called the Fleet line if I remember.

However I wouldn't put it passed Ken to spend millions putting back
old railway lines. ;-)


The Fleet Line was the original name of the Jubilee Line. The
intention was to extend the Jubilee Line via Aldwych rather than via
Waterloo but apart from tunnels extending from the now-disused
platforms at Charing Cross none of it actually exsists. There's no
'old railway line' to open.

Because of deep foundations, few alignments for railways in the city are now
possible. The alignment from Fenchurch Street to Charing Cross was
safeguarded for the River/Fleet line, and so survived development for
decades. The office block on Cannon Street station was even built with a
hole through the foundations for the railway to fit through. The alignment
might even still be safeguarded, for all I know. So you could say that the
"old railway line" is still there on paper waiting to be opened.

Stuart wrote:
doing it from scratch, but AIUI the platform at Bank points north
instead of west

That doesn't matter. DLR trains can go around some pretty severe curves
so what might be an issue for a tube line is a no brainer for the DLR.
Judging by the curves in the docklands area they could have the train
running west again in as little as 50 metres.

B2003

Stuart wrote:
apart from tunnels extending from the now-disused platforms at Charing
Cross

Disused for passengers but probably a little goldmine for LU judging by
the number of times they keep popping up in adverts and films. And
then theres to useful stabling and reversing facilities they provide.
My guess is LU would be somewhat reluctant to lose them.

B2003

Boltar wrote:

Disused for passengers but probably a little goldmine for LU judging by
the number of times they keep popping up in adverts and films. And
then theres to useful stabling and reversing facilities they provide.
My guess is LU would be somewhat reluctant to lose them.

Is there so much demand for filming etc. that they need both CX and
Aldwych?

Neil

Neil Williams wrote:
Boltar wrote:

Disused for passengers but probably a little goldmine for LU judging by
the number of times they keep popping up in adverts and films. And
then theres to useful stabling and reversing facilities they provide.
My guess is LU would be somewhat reluctant to lose them.

Is there so much demand for filming etc. that they need both CX and
Aldwych?

I would say so, and we would soon get sick of seeing just Aldwych
representing all underground staions!:-) (Last saw CHX standing in for
Stockwell for a Panarama re-enactment of the shooting there, dont think
it would have looked right using Aldwych for that)

I think John has hit the nail on the head when he says [Apart from
Crossrail 1 and 2] this is possibly the only alignment left through the
middle of London and it could be a case of use it or lose it.

kytelly wrote:

(snip)

I think John has hit the nail on the head when he says [Apart from
Crossrail 1 and 2] this is possibly the only alignment left through the
middle of London and it could be a case of use it or lose it.


The use it or lose it angle is pretty interesting.

One could argue that the TfL planners realise there's no possibility of
a DLR CX extension getting the green light anytime soon - but by openly
contemplating the idea they can stake their continued claim on the
safeguarded "Fleet line" alignment. This way, they can at least leave
open the possibility of tunnelling along that alignment in the future
after the next wave of buildings have gone up.

I'm far from convinced that taking the DLR down this route to CX would
be a good idea - I forsee the potential demand far outstripping the
capacity the DLR could provide. However - if these rumours of a DLR
exntension proposal are true - perhaps the DLR would merely be playing
the "useful idiot" role that would provide TfL with a continuing
justification for keeping the "Fleet line" route safeguarded.

How such a safeguarded route would be used in the future, if the DLR
didn't use it, is another question!

Mizter T wrote:

I'm far from convinced that taking the DLR down this route to CX would
be a good idea - I forsee the potential demand far outstripping the
capacity the DLR could provide.

Yeah I suspect as much. The only other central london extension for the
DLR that has been speculated about (Albeit mainly on here!) is an
extension from Bank station, somehow linking up with the soon to be
abandoned Moorgate to Faringdon Thameslink line.

Now would this hit the same obstacles as the oft suggested
Moorgate-Cannon Street connector? i.e. the vaults of the old lady of
Threadneedle street getting in the way? Or could a route be treaded
through somehow?

kytelly wrote:
Mizter T wrote:

I'm far from convinced that taking the DLR down this route to CX would
be a good idea - I forsee the potential demand far outstripping the
capacity the DLR could provide.

Yeah I suspect as much. The only other central london extension for the
DLR that has been speculated about (Albeit mainly on here!) is an
extension from Bank station, somehow linking up with the soon to be
abandoned Moorgate to Faringdon Thameslink line.

Now would this hit the same obstacles as the oft suggested
Moorgate-Cannon Street connector? i.e. the vaults of the old lady of
Threadneedle street getting in the way? Or could a route be treaded
through somehow?

I think that route is proposed on here for its own sake (UTLers don't
like good railway alignments to go to waste...). If a route were
actually proposed in this direction, a new tunnel would probably be much
more practical.

--
Dave Arquati
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London