On Mon, 18 May 2009, 1506 wrote:

On May 12, 3:13*pm, "Peter Masson" wrote:
"Paul Scott" wrote

So exactly what is the extra work DfT are paying for at Camden - as Peter
suggested NR and TfL are happy with the descope, does that mean 'happy for
the time being' or 'four tracking completely abandoned for ever'?

AIUI the only feature that's been lost in the descope which might be of
benefit for the planned train service is the turnback platform at Camden
Road. Instead, trains from Stratford which terminate there will have to go
on to the Primrose Hill line to reverse, where they would block freight.
However, at one time TfL were at least toying with he idea of eventually
extending someELLXtrains down the DC line, at least as far asQueensPark
(perhaps in conjunction with extending the Bakerloo to Watford Junction and
withdrawing the Euston - Watford Junction DC service). This would presumably
need 4-tracking through Camden Road, and a different track layout between HI
and Camden Road.

IMHO extending the East London Line to Queens Park makes sense. And,
moreover extending them on to Watford makes better sense.

How so? How would it help the good people of the Boroughs of Brent and
Harrow get to work? Presumably, most of them who currently commute to work
along that line work in central London, somewhere the N/ELL conspicuously
does not go. So what would they do? Get off at Camden Road and traipse
down to Camden Town? That'll be fun! Or maybe hang on to Highbury &
Islington and change, onto the Vic for the west end (because that's got
*loads* of spare capacity, and getting into town by taking two sides of a
triangle makes perfect sense) or the Northern City for the city (at least
that's only overcrowded, and not going in the wrong direction too). Or
just go to Shoreditch and walk - as long as they work on the north side of
the city.

No, sorry, extending the ELL to Watford makes no sense at all.

It would be easier then extending the Bakerloo to Watford.

Being easy isn't a good enough reason to do something - where's Andrew
Heenan when you (finally) need him?!

The route could be third rail throughout, except for the short joint
Bakerloo stretch.

Watford to west Croydon by way of Whitechapel trains could open up a
world of travel and interchange possibilities.

Not a single one of which would be quicker than a London-crossing
alternative.

tom

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