(X-Posted to uk.transport.london to see if others have the answers.)

allantracy wrote:

With some time on my hands, earlier this week, I took a ride on the
Central line, all the way to Epping.

Most trains seemed to be heading either for Hainault or Epping or some
point short.

So how is the Chigwell loop operated is it still a shuttle or a
through train via Woodford?

In my experience it's a through service at Hainault that terminates at
Woodford (do they still do any peak throughs?) but with a lower frequency
between Hainault and Woodford than on the other lines. It's been a while
since I've paid attention to Central line destinations but is it possible
that to avoid sending confused passengers the long way round they're
announcing Woodford via Hainault services as just Hainault until the loop?

Woodford seemed somewhat ill equipped to handle a terminating shuttle
having only two platforms.

I discovered that Epping is a long way by Tube.

--
My blog: http://adf.ly/4hi4c

On 26 Sep, 23:54, "Tim Roll-Pickering"
wrote:
It's been a while
since I've paid attention to Central line destinations but is it possible
that to avoid sending confused passengers the long way round they're
announcing Woodford via Hainault services as just Hainault until the loop?

From Central Line working timetable instructions:

"Through trains operating between central London and the Woodford loop
via Hainault must be described as follows:-
Eastbound Trains: Train to be described and labelled as ‘Woodford via
Hainault’ throughout.
Westbound Trains: On departure from Woodford, train to be described as
‘Hainault’ as far as Hainault, from where it will be
described by its Westbound destination.
Train Operator to label the train as ‘Hainault’ until arrival at
Grange Hill where it must be changed to the
train’s Westbound destination.

--
gordon

On 26 Sep, 23:54, "Tim Roll-Pickering"
wrote:
(X-Posted to uk.transport.london to see if others have the answers.)

allantracy wrote:
With some time on my hands, earlier this week, I took a ride on the
Central line, all the way to Epping.
Most trains seemed to be heading either for Hainault or Epping or some
point short.
So how is the Chigwell loop operated is it still a shuttle or a
through train via Woodford?

In my experience it's a through service at Hainault that terminates at
Woodford (do they still do any peak throughs?) but with a lower frequency
between Hainault and Woodford than on the other lines. It's been a while
since I've paid attention to Central line destinations but is it possible
that to avoid sending confused passengers the long way round they're
announcing Woodford via Hainault services as just Hainault until the loop?

Woodford seemed somewhat ill equipped to handle a terminating shuttle
having only two platforms.
I discovered that Epping is a long way by Tube.

--
My blog:http://adf.ly/4hi4c

Automatic Train Operation was tested on the Woodford - Hainault
section before being introduced on the new Victoria Line. Was this
section operated as a shuttle between these stations at that time, or
did trains in passenger service run through at one or both ends, and
just switch to ATO when running on the line so equipped? Did the ATO
system remain in use on this line after the Victoria Line opened?

In article
,
(Stephen Furley) wrote:

On 26 Sep, 23:54, "Tim Roll-Pickering"
wrote:
(X-Posted to uk.transport.london to see if others have the answers.)

allantracy wrote:
With some time on my hands, earlier this week, I took a ride on the
Central line, all the way to Epping.
Most trains seemed to be heading either for Hainault or Epping or some
point short.
So how is the Chigwell loop operated is it still a shuttle or a
through train via Woodford?

In my experience it's a through service at Hainault that terminates at
Woodford (do they still do any peak throughs?) but with a lower
frequency between Hainault and Woodford than on the other lines. It's
been a while since I've paid attention to Central line destinations but
is it possible that to avoid sending confused passengers the long way
round they're announcing Woodford via Hainault services as just Hainault
until the loop?

Woodford seemed somewhat ill equipped to handle a terminating shuttle
having only two platforms.
I discovered that Epping is a long way by Tube.

Automatic Train Operation was tested on the Woodford - Hainault
section before being introduced on the new Victoria Line. Was this
section operated as a shuttle between these stations at that time, or
did trains in passenger service run through at one or both ends, and
just switch to ATO when running on the line so equipped? Did the ATO
system remain in use on this line after the Victoria Line opened?

It was a shuttle from electrification until long after the OMO trials IIRC.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On 2012\09\27 07:27, Stephen Furley wrote:

Automatic Train Operation was tested on the Woodford - Hainault
section before being introduced on the new Victoria Line. Was this
section operated as a shuttle between these stations at that time, or
did trains in passenger service run through at one or both ends, and
just switch to ATO when running on the line so equipped?

It was a shuttle. I would imagine only one train or perhaps two trains
were so equipped.

Did the ATO
system remain in use on this line after the Victoria Line opened?

No.

In message
, at
23:27:38 on Wed, 26 Sep 2012, Stephen Furley
remarked:

Automatic Train Operation was tested on the Woodford - Hainault
section before being introduced on the new Victoria Line. Was this
section operated as a shuttle between these stations at that time

From some old tube maps:

Woodford Hainault.

1951: Through Capacitor
1956: Terminus Capacitor
1986: Through in peaks only Capacitor
1995: Through in peaks only Through
2002: Terminus Through

--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote in message ...

In message
, at
23:27:38 on Wed, 26 Sep 2012, Stephen Furley
remarked:

Automatic Train Operation was tested on the Woodford - Hainault
section before being introduced on the new Victoria Line. Was this
section operated as a shuttle between these stations at that time

From some old tube maps:

Woodford Hainault.

1951: Through Capacitor
1956: Terminus Capacitor
1986: Through in peaks only Capacitor
1995: Through in peaks only Through
2002: Terminus Through


In the 1960s and 1970s Woodford - Hainault was operated with a 4-car
shuttle, without any through running at either end. This included the period
before and after the shuttle was used for ATO testing.

Currently a full-length train is used which runs through Hainault and
terminating at Woodford, using the reversing siding (No. 21 Road) south of
the station. Sometimes the Live Departure Boards show a train as 'At road
21'. There are a couple of trains in each peak which start from Hainault
Depot, come into passenger service at Grange Hill, and run through to
Central London via Woodford. There are no corresponding journeys in the
other direction, and these are the only through trains between the Hainault
Loop and Leytonstone via Woodford.

Peter

Anyone trying to understand the logic behind the Hainault/Woodford
loop workings should bear in mind that most of the route is in Essex,
not London. Both Woodford and Hainault stations are in the London
Borough of Redbridge but about three quarters of a mile north of
Woodford Station the line enters Epping Forest District Council.
The re-enters London about halfway between Grange Hill and
Hainault Stations. The other point to remember is that the loop
is very lightly used even in rush hour so Epping Forest Council,
cash strapped like every other local authority, is unwilling to stump
up the subsidy for a fuller service.

Until quite recently it was noticeable to passengers travelling
eastbound from central London that there were about three times
as many trains going to Hainault via Newbury Park as to Epping.
This seems to have changed to some extent. I don't know if there
has been an official announcement about this. As Woodford has three
platforms (not two as stated in an earlier post) I've never understood
why no trains from West London terminate at Woodford leaving, say,
every second train to run on to Epping.

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 23:26:38 +0100
Paul Corfield wrote:
Epping has a x10 minute service off peak and it's x5 to Loughton off
peak. The peak is more frequent than this. I can't think of any
National Rail line that offers stopping services at this sort of
frequency for an equivalent distance out of London at the same fare
level. This would explain the huge volume of railhead commuters at
Epping.

I wonder if it would have made sense to double track the section to north
weald , terminate trains there and capture commuter traffic from the M11.
There are plenty of empty fields around there that could have been turned into
a huge park and ride facility, unlike Epping station which is pretty much
hemmed in.

B2003

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:09:15 +0100
Paul Corfield wrote:
It might well have done but park and ride is not a prominent aspect of
transport policy in London and even less so for an outpost of the

I suppose because of all the mainline trains into london its not seen as
mattering much. OTOH I have some relatives who live up in Bury St Edmunds
and the train service there is so woeful that its quicker for them to drive
to redbridge and get the tube in.

have the land available. Having checked the TfL site Epping has the
largest car park on the tube system (516 spaces).

Pretty large, but still not even 1 train of people assuming 1 person per car.
I bet the local sidestreets have parking problems during the week.

the car park. I guess there must be jams each morning with loads of
people heading to the station.

More than likely, and epping high street the few times I've been there has
been busy on a w/e. What its like during weekday rushhour with all the
traffic to the station I dread to think.

B2003