John Rowland wrote:

Someone submitted this idea to the "Car-Free London" competition a
few years ago. Was it you?

No, it wasn't, unfortunately - there goes my patent!
However, I do have another thought which could do with some airing - LU
services (the majority, I believe), start and finish outside the main/
central area. This means that trains block platforms out of town for crew
turnaround etc. and then pass through rather than clogging up terminal
stations. If a system similar to step-back was introduced then the accrued
dwell times savings per day would allow quite a few more services to use
those stations.
Indeed one step better is feasible at Waterloo whereby the outlay would
probably pay for itself within a short time. It would mean something on the
lines of Waterloo being a through station, at least for a couple of
platforms and the lines basically going on past the buffers, through the
main building (!) and meeting up with the Charing Cross line and out to
London Bridge, which already has terminal and pass platform arrangements.
Because the trains don't stand over and the dwell times are reduced to say
that of Clapham Junction the increase in through traffic thanks to those
savings would make quite a difference. Some standarisation of stock may be
required, but what's wrong with Dartford area services, for example,
terminating at Wimbledon or something? Guildford - New Cross, peut-être?
It could be done ...

BTW, any idea of average dwell times for comparison, i.e. Clapham Junction,
Waterloo, London Bridge?

Paul