Tim Roll-Pickering wrote:
Boltar wrote:

Is there anyway that the Aldwych branch could be adapted for the
purpose? Or
does that require too much work to justify?

Probably not realistic since it only links to the northbound main
line and at
holborn the north and southbound lines are at different levels so
you'd need some sloping tunnel to be bored to link up with the
southbound
line. Far too expensive.

Is it me or did someone set out to make the Aldwych branch next to
useless for the main Picadilly line?

It a remnant of the original railway from north London. The Piccadilly is
actually made up of three separate railway schemes. The first was a deep
level tube railway running under the existing District Railway to provide
express services. The second was the Piccadilly & Brompton Rly intended to
run from Air Street (near Piccadilly Circus) to a junction with the deep
level District at South Kensington and the third was the Great Northern &
Strand which was to run from Wood Green Great Northern Railway station under
the GNR to Kings Cross and over the present alignment to Strand (now
Aldwych) station.

Upon electrification the District gained sufficient capacity that they
didn't need to built the deep level line and the three schemes (icluding the
District Railway company) were bought up and combined by Charles Tyson
Yerkes, an American financier. A section was added between Piccadilly Circus
and Holborn and the section north of Finsbury Park abandoned. Hence the stub
that is the Aldwych Branch.