Boltar wrote:

And - as been pointed out already - District trains did used to run
further than then they do now to beyond Upminster.

So? This isn't the 1930s. It doesn't run there anymore and nor does it
have steam trains pulling the carraiges. Plus its highly unlikely it
ever will run there and even if it did then it would probably just
suffer the same fate as the east london line and become part of NR
using standard NR stock.


I agree with your overall argument Boltar about the lack of any need
to fit Underground SSL stock with pantographs etc for running on NR
lines.

However I disagree with your comments that the East London Line will
suffer from it's future fate of conversion into an NR line - the ELL
extension will unleash the potential of the cross-river line. That
said, I'd be wary if the new operation was to be run by an outfit such
as Connex - but the ELLX trains will be run under the auspices of TfL
as part of their "London Overground" network, which makes me feel much
more confident that things will be done properly.

The fact that I support the ELLX doesn't mean I'd be in favour of
taking the District line out to Southend - the District line is
already more than fulfilling it's potential as a useful urban railway.


There was so much negative thinking in your response. If everything
proposed was dealt with your way nothing would ever move forward. It was

And if everyone thought like you then we'd be paying through the nose
for trains with a compromise design and possibly redundant equipment
which would never get used.

I mean why not take your argument to its logical conclusion and make
every train everywhere in the country compatable with every line? Lets
fit 3rd rail shoes to pendilinos and class 91s for example, then we
could have through services then from edinburgh to Brighton via snow
hill!


The Pendolinos would need to be shrunk quite a lot to fit into the
tunnels of the Central line, which would prove an interesting
development to those people who already think they're cramped!