In article ,
Nitro wrote:
The benchmark scheme that was approved by Mr Darling yesterday
included two western branches and two eastern one: Heathrow, Kingston,
Shenfield and Ebbsfleet. 24 trains a hour would run in the centre of
London.

12tph would run to Shenfield, 12 tph to Abbey Wood, 4 tph to
Ebbsfleet. In the west 12 tph would run to Richmond, 4tph to Kingston
(if more than 4tph runs to Kingston then the line will continue to
Norbiton), and 4tph to Heathrow. The remaining 8tph in the west is
undecided.

GWML: 6 tracking did not stack up in cost : benefit terms, the 4tph to
Heathrow only stop at Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington. Many
people at the meeting were ****ed off that it would not stop at
Southall.


Thanks for an interesting report. From what was said, I guess that running
some of the remaining 8tph to Slough/Reading in place of existing GWML
outer suburban services might still be a possible option (even without 6
tracking the GWML), subject of course to electrification.

David