On Sun, 3 Apr 2011, Jamie Thompson wrote:

On Apr 3, 10:47*pm, "Peter Masson" wrote:
"Tom Anderson" wrote

Also, 12 Crossrail in the peak hour? I thought 16tph were going to
Shenfield?

The plan is 12 Shenfield and 12 Abbey Wood in the peak. Actually I think
there is a case for 16 Shenfield and 8 Abbey Wood in the high peak,

In another forum a very good idea was put forward for a chord between
the tunnel near Puddling Mill and the tunnel west of Canary Wharf.
Essentially, it lets you use the remainder of the tunnel capacity to
operate additional services over the other branch.

i.e. Peak, your 24tph core becomes 12tph core-Shenfield, 12tph core-
Abbey Wood, and 12tph Shenfield-Abbey Wood, giving 24tph on all
branches. Using the alternative mentioned above, that could become 16tph
core-Shenfield, 8tph core-Abbey Wood, and 8tph Shenfield-Abbey Wood,
giving 24tph on the core, 24tph on the Shenfield branch, and 16tph on
the Abbey Wood branch.

An interesting but slightly mental plan. This 'chord' would actually have
to be one side of a fully grade-separated two-track delta junction if it
was to have any chance of working. And who would ride on those ten cars
every five minutes in either direction between Shenfield and Abbey Wood?
People with a pathological aversion to the Dartford Crossing? Presumably,
the proposed market is commuters from metropolitan Kent to Stratford, and
Essix to Canary Wharf. I suspect there are enough of those to justify some
level of service, but not 12 tph; the plan which delivers 8 tph makes more
sense. Although of course, that's the capacity - you wouldn't have to use
all of it.

It also gives interesting options like WAML trains down to Abbey Wood
via Canary Wharf,

Given some way for them to cross the main body of the GE formation without
wrecking the service.

greatly relieving the Jubilee at Stratford (perhaps permitting an
extension northwards somewhere).

Direct airport trains from Stansted to City, via
Stratford-change-for-Stratford-International?

Perhaps even offering the possibility of a station somewhere in Tower
Hamlets, which might be good for the area.

Might not be good for the station.

tom

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