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Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
I was on a westbound Piccadilly Line train from the Rayner's lane branch
at about 6:45pm on Friday that stopped for a while at Acton Town, waiting for a relief driver. So far, nothing unusual, but then another westbound Piccadilly train pulled into platform 4 (the westbound District platform). Normally only trains from Ealing Common do this; I don't know which branch the second train had come from. It would be surprising if another Rayner's Lane train had been following our train so closely, but very rare for a train from the Heathrow direction to be using that section of (test) track. The second train was the first to leave Acton Town, and I dashed across when I heard the doors beeping. To my considerable surprise, we stayed on the District tracks, running non-stop to Hammersmith. The other train (ie, the one I'd moved from) overtook us along the way, and was leaving Hammersmith just as we arrived there at the District platform. I can't remember any previous occasion when Piccadilly Line trains ran in parallel on both westbound tracks, with both running non-stop. As far as I'm aware, the District service was running, and I think we must have been following a District stopper, which is why the other Picc train overtook us. Does this sort of thing happen often, and what could have made it necessary? Or did someone make a mistake? |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
"Recliner" wrote
I was on a westbound Piccadilly Line train from the Rayner's lane branch at about 6:45pm on Friday that stopped for a while at Acton Town, waiting for a relief driver. Westbound trains usually travel *to* the Rayners Lane line from Acton Town. |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
[Assuming you mean "eastbound"...]
"Recliner" wrote in : I was on a westbound Piccadilly Line train from the Rayner's lane branch at about 6:45pm on Friday that stopped for a while at Acton Town, waiting for a relief driver. So far, nothing unusual, but then another westbound Piccadilly train pulled into platform 4 (the westbound District platform). Normally only trains from Ealing Common do this; I don't know which branch the second train had come from. It would be surprising if another Rayner's Lane train had been following our train so closely, but very rare for a train from the Heathrow direction to be using that section of (test) track. I often travel east from Northfields at that time of day (well, any time between 5:30 and 9:30), and it's not at all unusual to end up on the outside (District) platform). I would estimate it happens to me more often than once a fortnight. It *is* unusual to then run down the slow line to Hammersmith - I can't remember ever being on a train that did that. Are there points between Hammersmith and Barons Court that put the train back where it should have been? |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
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Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
James Farrar wrote on 05 April 2009 07:44:35 ...
[Assuming you mean "eastbound"...] [wrong directions now corrected in original post below] "Recliner" wrote in : I was on [an EASTbound] Piccadilly Line train from the Rayner's lane branch at about 6:45pm on Friday that stopped for a while at Acton Town, waiting for a relief driver. So far, nothing unusual, That it should be viewed as "nothing unusual" for a train to stop for a while waiting for a train operator *in the evening peak* is an awful indictment of the current management and/or timetable of the Piccadilly Line. but then another [EASTbound] Piccadilly train pulled into platform 4 (the [EASTbound] District platform). Normally only trains from Ealing Common do this; I don't know which branch the second train had come from. It would be surprising if another Rayner's Lane train had been following our train so closely, but very rare for a train from the Heathrow direction to be using that section of (test) track. I think you'll find that any eastbound train from Northfields can access Platform 4, not just those on the 'local' (test track). I often travel east from Northfields at that time of day (well, any time between 5:30 and 9:30), and it's not at all unusual to end up on the outside (District) platform). I would estimate it happens to me more often than once a fortnight. It *is* unusual to then run down the slow line to Hammersmith - I can't remember ever being on a train that did that. When the District is disrupted, the Picc does sometimes use the District tracks and stop at all stations, but I agree that it's rare for it to run non-stop on the District ('local') tracks. Are there points between Hammersmith and Barons Court that put the train back where it should have been? Yes, immediately east of Hammersmith station. The other train (ie, the one I'd moved from) overtook us along the way, and was leaving Hammersmith just as we arrived there at the District platform. [...] As far as I'm aware, the District service was running, and I think we must have been following a District stopper, which is why the other Picc train overtook us. Not necessarily. The speed limit is 35 mph on the District tracks, with 25 mph at the starter signals at each of the 4 intermediate stations, compared to 45 mph for most of the Piccadilly IIRC. -- Richard J. (to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address) |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
In message , James
Farrar writes It *is* unusual to then run down the slow line to Hammersmith - I can't remember ever being on a train that did that. Are there points between Hammersmith and Barons Court that put the train back where it should have been? There are bi-directional crossovers between Piccadilly and District just east of Hammersmith (at either end of the Piccadilly siding in the middle of the track formation). There was a time when early and late Piccadilly services would start from / end at West Kensington (being stabled at Lillie Bridge overnight), using District tracks for the most easterly part of the route (and possibly right through to Acton Town). A few of these services still ran as staff trains until about 15 years ago. But I agree that it's rare to see Piccadilly trains on the district tracks as far east as Hammersmith these days. -- Paul Terry |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
wrote in message
Can we all assume you are confusing West and East? Yes, I plead guilty. |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
"John Salmon" wrote in message
"Recliner" wrote I was on a westbound Piccadilly Line train from the Rayner's lane branch at about 6:45pm on Friday that stopped for a while at Acton Town, waiting for a relief driver. Westbound trains usually travel *to* the Rayners Lane line from Acton Town. Yes, I'm sorry, I got that wrong. |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
"Richard J." wrote in message
James Farrar wrote on 05 April 2009 07:44:35 ... [Assuming you mean "eastbound"...] [wrong directions now corrected in original post below] "Recliner" wrote in : I was on [an EASTbound] Piccadilly Line train from the Rayner's lane branch at about 6:45pm on Friday that stopped for a while at Acton Town, waiting for a relief driver. So far, nothing unusual, That it should be viewed as "nothing unusual" for a train to stop for a while waiting for a train operator *in the evening peak* is an awful indictment of the current management and/or timetable of the Piccadilly Line. It's happened for as long as I can remember, so there's nothing new about this. The same happens on the District at Earls Court. but then another [EASTbound] Piccadilly train pulled into platform 4 (the [EASTbound] District platform). Normally only trains from Ealing Common do this; I don't know which branch the second train had come from. It would be surprising if another Rayner's Lane train had been following our train so closely, but very rare for a train from the Heathrow direction to be using that section of (test) track. I think you'll find that any eastbound train from Northfields can access Platform 4, not just those on the 'local' (test track). I wasn't aware of that. |
Unusual Piccadilly movement at Acton Town
In message , James
Farrar writes I often travel east from Northfields at that time of day (well, any time between 5:30 and 9:30), and it's not at all unusual to end up on the outside (District) platform). I would estimate it happens to me more often than once a fortnight. There's a crossover from the EB fast to the EB local just west of Acton Town. In 7 years, I think I've only been routed over it about 3 times. I note that EB 261 and 315 (ex Northfields at 2101 and 2142 respectively) are booked to do this move although I've never seen it so it may be an Acton turn that does it. You could, of course have travelled east along the EB local/test track from Northfields. You can only end up in the EB local platform at Acton if you do, there is no route to the fast until you're east of Acton Town. There is also a booked train for this (326 ex Northfields at 0125 sadly out of service) although I remember in the last timetable there was one around 2115 in passenger service which seems to have disappeared now. It *is* unusual to then run down the slow line to Hammersmith - I can't remember ever being on a train that did that. Are there points between Hammersmith and Barons Court that put the train back where it should have been? Ahem.. Local line if you don't mind; you'll have the District Railway boys having apoplexy! There is a crossover east of Hammersmith where a train routed along the local can regain the fast. Again not common, I think I've done it about half a dozen times. -- Steve Fitzgerald has now left the building. You will find him in London's Docklands, E16, UK (please use the reply to address for email) |
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