www.waspies.net wrote:
Bob wrote:
The Central London Railway began with Camel Backed Electric locomotives
hauling unpowered carriages. In order to improve efficiency distinct
humps (mini summits) were built into the track profile at stations from
Notting Hill to Liverpool Street - incoming trains were slowed by the
rising gradient whilst outbound trains were hastened on their way by
the falling out bound gradient. The heavy unsprung locomotives were
soon replaced by multiple units with intermediate powered bogies. Does
anybody know if humps are still built into station tracks on new tube
lines.

No but the effect of Metromess and TubeCrimes track replacements means
that it feels as if you are going over speed humps at 50 mph, worst bit
of track used it be Pic Acton to Hammersmith.


Er, I actually think the track replacement programme is having an
effect. Travelling around the network there are sections on many of the
lines where there is a notably smoother and quieter ride, which I
presume can only be the result of track repacement. It's still quite
patchy - i.e. it may just be between certain stations, but at least the
large scale programme has started.

What comes to mind in particular is parts of the Northern line City
branch, and parts of the Circle / District line (the southern shared
section). Unsurprisingly they've both had weekend closures so track
replacement work could be carried out on them.

BTW I'm not cheerleading for MetroNet / Tube Lines here, as I
understand they're behind schedule, and I suspect that despite the
supposed private investment that the PPP's were supposed to bring to
the table it's probably still public money that's paying for the bulk
of this. It does appear to be happening though.