"neill" wrote in message
...

I've been on SW Trains journey over the LT line onto the Richmond line
at Clapham Junction within the last few years. This was becuause of
engineering works on the mainline. IIRC a connection between the two
Network Rail lines into Clapham Jct is kept in case they need to get a
crane around the scene of a rail crash in order to aid recvovery.

Access for emergencies may well be a secondary use, but the main use is to
allow down trains to access Wimbledon Park depot without causing pathing
difficulties or conflicting moves crossing other lines. There are a number
of diagrammed moves over the course of a normal day that go via East Putney
(in both directions), 16 in total that I can find, of which at least 3 are
passenger services - these are early and late in the day to maintain route
knowledge so I expect many passengers are unaware of the possibility.

Paul S