In article , Matthew Malthouse
wrote:
On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 23:20:49 +0100 Michael Bell wrote:
} In article , Dave
} wrote:
} Roger H. Bennett writes
} Cross-London regional journeys are difficult to make at present, so
} Crossrail, TL2K and more effective use of the Willesden Junc-Clapham
} route will help that - although the latter route probably suffers
} because it avoids central London.
}
} I was thinking of intercity journeys but not necessarily intercity
} trains. A regional train from Peterborough or Cambridge, with limited
} stops, could provide a more attractive alternative than going to Kings
} Cross, changing to the Tube, then changing again at another London
} terminus.
}
} Those are what are what is meant by 'regional' journeys.
}
} We already have Thameslink services from Brighton to Bedford. When the
} Bedford electrification is extended northwards, as surely it must be
} in the end, I would think that the Brighton service would follow, so
} we would have a service Brighton, London, St Albans, Luton, Bedord,
} Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield. That seems to have reasonable
} commercial potential.

I wonder how much of that traffic actually crosses London? And how much
would cross London if such an extention were to happen?

More subtly how much crosses for Gatwick and how much goes all the way?

Resonable question! But people from say, Brighton, will not
all want to get off at the same point in London, they will get off
some at Croydon, some Farringdon,,,etc and as they get off, they might
as well be replaced by people getting on to go to Luton, Sheffield,
etc. Running straight through central London isn't just a benefit to
passengers, it also avoids the need to supply crew in central London,
always a problem, and avoids the need to reverse trains in terminal
stations.

Michael Bell

--