In the message ups.com...
wrote:

Michael Hopkins wrote:

The only ways to increase capacity a
i) more trains
ii) improvements to track and signalling to allow them to run closer
together, thereby increasing the number of passengers carried per unit
time.
iii) redesign trains to get more people on each one, i.e. adjusting the
balance of seats to standing space, and positioning the seats to take up
least space.
iv) schemes (such as the extra platforms proposed at Victoria) to help
(ii)
by decreasing station dwell times.

What seems to be proposed for Victoria is a very clever solution to
*station* overcrowding. As I understand it, in itself it won't affect
train
capacities.

Michael
The frequency on the Victoria Line is already very high, I suppose that
you might squeeze a few extra in per hour but then you still have to
overcome the overcrowding and unloading/loading time at Victoria.

Indeed. Looking at the timescale (Building work will start in 2008 and is
due to finish in 2013) I can't help thinking that the money could be spent
better in helping to provide alternative rail routes from southern London to
central London - notably the Thameslink 2000 scheme, but also the ELR
extension and Crossrail. According to press reports, "The "huge influx" of
commuters from the Home Counties and south London has increased pressure on
the station, the mayor said. Every morning about 35,000 passengers pass
through it." Yet despite the clearly identified lack of traffic on the west
of London for Crossrail, the idea of incorporating a service to
Richmond/Twickenham/Kingston has apparently been discarded. Joined-up
thinking, anybody ?

Regards,

- Alan (in Brussels)