"Richard J." wrote in message ...
3518+3227 wrote:
Robin Cox wrote in message ...

"Richard J." wrote in message
...
How about sending them to Northfields? There are 4 tracks between
Acton
Town and Northfields, so it shouldn't affect the Piccadilly too
much.

Isn't one of these a test track?


Not any more - it was recommissioned for normal passenger train use
in 1995, though, for operational convenience at Acton Town, almost
all eastbound trains use the fast line.

But isn't it still used as a test track on occasions? There have been
several reports here in the last year or so, some of them mentioning the
water spray that is used to test braking in the wet. But this shouldn't be
a block to its eventual use for passenger service.

South Ealing is very busy at rush hour, omitting the Piccadilly Line
would cause chaos for a lot of people, even if it had a replacement.
Barons Court has a massive HE college near it, this probably secures
both lines staying there. I have to admit that those two stations are
my regular journey on the tube, I nearly screamed sacrilege to the
whole of South Ealing when I read that!

The outer tracks are test tracks, they have been testing the Central
Line stock on there recently. There are sprinklers to test brakes
under wet track conditions. I think they could be used for services.

I would put the 6tph up to Rayners Lane/Uxbridge. A better service to
the airport would be beneficial for London, and there would be no
delays getting in to Acton Town from waiting for trains on another
branch to come in. The journey into London is long enough from Rayners
Lane for three more mintues to make a difference.

I guess if Crossrail stops at Turnham Green (I don't see why they have
to build a tunnel, use the NLL I say) the piccadilly will stop there
too.