On Thu, 8 Jul 2004 at 18:43:59, Dave Arquati wrote:

The problem on the Victoria line is in the centre rather than at the
edges. You *could* extend it to Croydon - but there'd be no room on
the trains for anyone else to actually get on them. In the outer areas, it
might be possible to dedicate existing track to Crossrail-like services
and thus improve the frequency (part of the current problem in South
London is conflicting movements as trains cross each other's routes).

The thing is, at the moment, the Tube empties out at Brixton and
everybody crowds on to southbound buses. Which, admittedly, mostly
start in Brixton so are empty (but not for long). It's better than it
was, but trying to get on a southbound bus in Brixton at about 5.30-6.00
pm is still a nightmare. What it will be like if/when the CRT opens, I
dread to think.

At least if people didn't have to get off the Tube or CRT in Brixton,
the buses would be emptier for those who chose to use them!

I think south London needs more *capacity* into the centre (either
through higher frequency or longer/double-deck trains). Rapidity
certainly seems to be good from key centres such as East Croydon
(about 30 mins to Victoria or London Bridge on a fast train?), Bromley
South and Wimbledon (SWT).

It is good, and the trains are (allegedly) frequent, even if they don't
run on time. But there are some black spots, and getting from Brixton
to Streatham is one of them. Where I live in Brixton, I can't even go
there directly, but have to either walk, or change buses.....
--
Annabel Smyth
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/index.html
Website updated 6 June 2004