In message
"Clive Coleman." wrote:

In message .com, MIG
writes
Look how they've drawn the Bakerloo, which we know exactly
follows all the kinks of Haymarket and Regent Street.

I've got no opinion on where the Victoria line goes though.
I remember this item when the Victoria line was being built. It was
said that to compensate all the home owners for subsidence if anything
happened was so great that the roads were followed and houses were not
run under,

The other reason was that the legal situation of running under private
property was unclear when the early lines were built. To avoid potential law
suits the lines followed the roads.

but when the Vic. Line was built such was the cost that the
situation had reversed and it was cheaper to pay a subsidence bill than
follow street plans.

More to the point, the Victoria line was deep enough that subsidence was not
though to be a problem. Also the legal situation had been clarified. ie you
don't own the land under your property, unlike the USA. This enables the
Government to sell off the mineral rights.

--
Graeme Wall
This address is not read, substitute trains for rail.
Transport Miscellany at http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/index.html