On 12/04/2012 16:19, Richard J. wrote:


LU reverted to the old-style Circle on Tuesday evening this week (10
April) after an earlier signalling failure at Baker Street which
resulted in the northern side of the Circle being closed. The resumption
of service in the evening consisted only of an (old-style) Circle Line
service, plus a shuttle service between Hammersmith and Edgware Road.

Quite why LU decided to recover from the suspension by operating a
completely different service from normal is a mystery. The result was
predictably a shambles. I saw two successive westbound trains held up
for 10 minutes while a driver was found. At one point there were 4
drivers and a manager on the platform, while we waited for a 5th driver
to arrive who could actually take the train forward.

I think I was on the first eastbound train out of Paddington at about
21:20 that evening which claimed to be only for Edgware Road but then
immediately changed into a Circle Line. Great I thought until arrival
at Edgware Road where we managed to pause for over 5 minutes waiting for
a relief driver...

In article , (Someone
Somewhere) wrote:

On 12/04/2012 16:19, Richard J. wrote:

LU reverted to the old-style Circle on Tuesday evening this week (10
April) after an earlier signalling failure at Baker Street which
resulted in the northern side of the Circle being closed. The resumption
of service in the evening consisted only of an (old-style) Circle Line
service, plus a shuttle service between Hammersmith and Edgware Road.

Quite why LU decided to recover from the suspension by operating a
completely different service from normal is a mystery. The result was
predictably a shambles. I saw two successive westbound trains held up
for 10 minutes while a driver was found. At one point there were 4
drivers and a manager on the platform, while we waited for a 5th driver
to arrive who could actually take the train forward.

I think I was on the first eastbound train out of Paddington at about
21:20 that evening which claimed to be only for Edgware Road but then
immediately changed into a Circle Line. Great I thought until
arrival at Edgware Road where we managed to pause for over 5 minutes
waiting for a relief driver...

My observations (more than once for reasons I won't bore people with) on
Monday were that they were waiting for 5 minutes on every train. None of
mine changed drivers.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:21:12 -0500
wrote:
I think I was on the first eastbound train out of Paddington at about
21:20 that evening which claimed to be only for Edgware Road but then
immediately changed into a Circle Line. Great I thought until
arrival at Edgware Road where we managed to pause for over 5 minutes
waiting for a relief driver...

My observations (more than once for reasons I won't bore people with) on
Monday were that they were waiting for 5 minutes on every train. None of
mine changed drivers.

I'm surprised anyones bothers with the circle line TBH. On the rare occasions
I need to go to the western end of it I'll just use the central or bakerloo
and walk. It simply isn't worth the hassle using the Circle anymore, its
a total failure as a line.

B2003

In article , d ()
wrote:

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:21:12 -0500
wrote:
I think I was on the first eastbound train out of Paddington at about
21:20 that evening which claimed to be only for Edgware Road but then
immediately changed into a Circle Line. Great I thought until
arrival at Edgware Road where we managed to pause for over 5 minutes
waiting for a relief driver...

My observations (more than once for reasons I won't bore people with) on
Monday were that they were waiting for 5 minutes on every train. None of
mine changed drivers.

I'm surprised anyones bothers with the circle line TBH. On the rare
occasions I need to go to the western end of it I'll just use the central
or bakerloo and walk. It simply isn't worth the hassle using the Circle
anymore, its a total failure as a line.

If you have luggage and walking issues and want to get from King's Cross to
Putney it's still the best option. If you have a non-folding bike with you
it's the only option.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:13:41 -0500
wrote:
I'm surprised anyones bothers with the circle line TBH. On the rare
occasions I need to go to the western end of it I'll just use the central
or bakerloo and walk. It simply isn't worth the hassle using the Circle
anymore, its a total failure as a line.

If you have luggage and walking issues and want to get from King's Cross to
Putney it's still the best option. If you have a non-folding bike with you
it's the only option.

The circle line goes to putney now? No wonder its been having problems.

Seriously , if you have a bike why not just ride it and save yourself
some money? Otherwise why bring it?

B2003

In article , d ()
wrote:

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:13:41 -0500
wrote:
I'm surprised anyones bothers with the circle line TBH. On the rare
occasions I need to go to the western end of it I'll just use the
central or bakerloo and walk. It simply isn't worth the hassle using
the Circle anymore, its a total failure as a line.

If you have luggage and walking issues and want to get from King's Cross
to Putney it's still the best option. If you have a non-folding bike with
you it's the only option.

The circle line goes to putney now? No wonder its been having problems.

Seriously , if you have a bike why not just ride it and save yourself
some money? Otherwise why bring it?

What's the f***ing point? Wait till you have a suspect stress fracture in
your foot and heavy luggage, as my daughter did, with granddaughter in tow.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In article ,
() wrote:

*Subject:* Circle restored
*From:*
*Date:* Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:13:41 -0500

In article , d
() wrote:

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:21:12 -0500
wrote:
I think I was on the first eastbound train out of Paddington at
about 21:20 that evening which claimed to be only for Edgware
Road but then immediately changed into a Circle Line. Great I
thought until arrival at Edgware Road where we managed to pause
for over 5 minutes waiting for a relief driver...

My observations (more than once for reasons I won't bore people
with) on Monday were that they were waiting for 5 minutes on every
train. None of mine changed drivers.

I'm surprised anyones bothers with the circle line TBH. On the rare
occasions I need to go to the western end of it I'll just use the
central or bakerloo and walk. It simply isn't worth the hassle
using the Circle anymore, its a total failure as a line.

If you have luggage and walking issues and want to get from King's
Cross to Putney it's still the best option. If you have a non-folding
bike with you it's the only option.

Looking at the TfL Journey Planner for tomorrow I see it gives me just two
choices from King's Cross to Putney. Either the Victoria Line and SWT to
Putney or the H&C or Circle to Edgware Road and District from there to East
Putney in much the same journey time.

A no brainer to use the Circle then as the Oyster fare to Putney via SWT is
a lot higher (£2.05 with a railcard on my Oyster card) than the Underground
fare to East Putney (£1.30).

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On 4/13/2012 6:33 AM, d wrote:


I'm surprised anyones bothers with the circle line TBH. On the rare occasions
I need to go to the western end of it I'll just use the central or bakerloo
and walk. It simply isn't worth the hassle using the Circle anymore, its
a total failure as a line.

B2003

I lived in London through much of the 'seventies and anytime I needed to
go somewhere where the Circle or the District appeared to be the obvious
choices my heart sank.

Both lines remain the pits.

Why?

On Apr 16, 3:51*pm, redcat wrote:

I lived in London through much of the 'seventies and anytime I needed to
go somewhere where the Circle or the District appeared to be the obvious
choices my heart sank.

Both lines remain the pits.

Why?

Knackered infrastructure, mainly.

But, unlike other countries, it does seem to be a LUL thing to run
nice new trains on knackered old infrastructure, rather than the
opposite as is more common (though usually maintaining the old trains
well so they aren't knackered).

Neil

On 4/16/2012 10:05 AM, Neil Williams wrote:
On Apr 16, 3:51 pm, wrote:

I lived in London through much of the 'seventies and anytime I needed to
go somewhere where the Circle or the District appeared to be the obvious
choices my heart sank.

Both lines remain the pits.

Why?

Knackered infrastructure, mainly.

But, unlike other countries, it does seem to be a LUL thing to run
nice new trains on knackered old infrastructure, rather than the
opposite as is more common (though usually maintaining the old trains
well so they aren't knackered).

Neil

I agree! Must say, though, the old trains can be charming on occasion.
Little time machines. When I ride the Circle or District (or the
Northern) I feel I haven't aged a bit over four decades.

redcat