Pic Line -> Heathrow T5

[eurovision50]

I would build a curve so that the trains coming from T5 can join the loop straight away... and preferably a short loop at T5 so that the trains can just loop straight around without the driver having to get-out of the train. To be honest, this idea is simply a way of trying to get T5 on the loop rather than on a seperate branch, which are the demon of the Underground network. In reference to the toilet break... how did the driver get one when Heathrow was on a nice simple loop in the olden-days? I presumed that the trains went: Hatton Cross, T4, T123, Hatton Cross, as if the loop were just a straight piece of track.

[joy54]

They did but they never went straight through at T123 they waited and there was usually another train opposite that would leave first.

[eurovision50]

Oh I see, so they went through T4 fast and then took a break at T123? So why not include T5 on a loop of some kind and have the timetable thusly:

HATTON CROSS (Normal Station)
TERMINAL 4 (Normal Station)
TERMINAL 5 (Normal Station)
TERMINAL 123 (Acts as terminus station for cleaning and toilet break, 8 minutes)
HATTON CROSS (Normal Station)

Also, does anybody know of any plans to sort-out the other annoying branches on the Underground network? Namely: Mill Hill East, Chesham and the District Line.

[Starkey7]

The whole of the District line? Well, closing them down would certainly save some time.

I think that the drivers are doing darn good jobs and should have en suite toilets, colour TVs and and tea and coffee making facilities in all cabs.

[eurovision50]

Yup, the whole of the District line! On the other hand, it could be worse. The District line used to own the Heathrow and Uxbridge branches of the Piccadilly line, track out from Ealing Broadway into Windsor, another branch to South Acton and used to go all the way to Southend! Nevertheless, I think that two things need to be done:

The annoying three station configuration on the District line, which mainly serves Kensington Olympia should be scrapped or transferred to another line. I don't use the word 'scrapped' often, but come on, how unnecessary is that branch?! Secondly, I would transfer the Edgware and Wimbledon branches to a new line, which would preferably be forced through Kensington Olympia, thereby abolishing Earl's Court as the official spaghetti-junction of the District Line. The new line would run thusly:

Wimbledon
Wimbledon Park
Southfields
East Putney
Putney Bridge
Parsons Green
Fulham Broadway
West Brompton >>>
Earl's Court >>>>>>
Kensington Olympia >>>
High Street Kensington >>>
Notting Hill Gate >>>>>>
Bayswater >>>
Paddington >>>>>>
Edgware Road >>>>>>
Baker Street >>>>>>>>>

[jonny]

Eurovision, not meaning to be rude but do you actually put any thought into these fantasies of yours?

In what way does sending trains to Olympia between EC and HSK abolish EC as 'spaghetti junction'? Especially seeing as a West Brompton - Earl's Court - Olympia manoevre would require trains to reverse at EC (which, I would point out is impossible with the layout at EC without a rather large amount of reverse line working). And then after visiting Olympia (and indeed reversing there as well) trains would have to revisit Earl's Court to get to HSK!

Of course, you could just start again with the track.

[eurovision50]

Damn you, Jonny! Actually, I don't think I was being that unreasonable. What I meant was that trains would run from Wimbledon to Edgware Road on District Line tracks (as I believe is possible with current track configuration), but simply as an independant line. In the meanwhile, Olympia would either be scraped as a District Line station or served en route via means of new track. That way, Earl's court would have three lines going through it: Piccadilly Line, District Line (just the one branch) and the new line. Currently, however, Earl's Court is used to change between the District Line's main branch, the Edgware Road branch, the three-station configuration... amongst all the other combinations of termini that appear now-and-then. Sure, you'll need a lot of reworking and several stretches of new track and platforms, but I just feel that it would be so much simpler. What do you think?

[jonny]

OK, if you meant it like that then fair enough - I thought you were suggesting it as just a 'simple' change!

I don't happen to see much advantage to it though, except for abolishing the Olympia service which (as far as public service is concerned as opposed to tube challenge) seems a bit unnecessary to me.

[eurovision50]

I would hate to have to scrap any service. In fact I'm quite the supporter of reinstating all the old routes which don't create unnecessary branches. That's-to-say, I'd reinstate the Bakerloo line up to Watford Junction, but not Aldwych. The thing is, the Underground network is hard enough for non-natives to understand, anyway. I think that Earl's Court complicates matters further. Even its depiction on the current Tube map bears virtually no resemblance to the actual routes served.

[editorsfoot]

except for abolishing the Olympia service which (as far as public service is concerned as opposed to tube challenge) seems a bit unnecessary to me.

Having been to a few shows and expos at Olympia the trains get busy when there is something on. Although we would be a bit stuffed if Olympia service went back to exhibition times only, but at least i have found the loos there.

[eurovision50]

Yeah, you're right, I think if they keep Olympia open, it might as well be served the whole time. But I still can't get past the fact that the representation of Earl's Court on the Tube map is highly confusing.

[eurovision50]

Check-out the image, that's what I would suggest. Sorry, I don't mean it to look like the Metropolitan line, but there are only so many colours!

Earl's Court Reorganisation.GIF

[Starkey7]

That all seems quite simple. All you'd need to do would be to stick the line in a tunnel under Earls Court, then have a nice tight bend back round to Olympia, and then convert Kensington High Road to a Tube track, and destroy a few shops. I'd be up for it, in some senses.

[dudey]

I would also mention here that at peak times you get lots of through trains from Upminster (or maybe a little further down the line) to Wimbledon. This is is for commuters from the city who otherwise would have to either change at Earls Court, or place even greater pressure on Waterloo at rush hour. As much i love your idea, and would suggest tunelling from just before Earls Court through to HSK would be the way of doing it, this is just another issue.

The Olympia branch is silly, but my suggestion for it has always been to extend it up the Overground/Southern line to the new Shepherd's Bush Overground and maybe even as far as Willesden Junction. I know you could connect to the Overground at Olympia for that, but for me extending the District (or perhaps calling it something new or maybe even bring it under the Overground banner) beyond there would just make the service much more useful and less pointless on non-expo days.

[eurovision50]

Thanks Starkey, some support!

And Dudey, about your plan to extend the Olympia branch, I totally agree. One of my other ideas was to allow the District Line to keep the Wimbledon branch, and instead create a new line using the Olympia to Edgware Road branch plus an extention from Olympia to, say, White City. However... one of my own criticisms of this is that you'd end up with this S-shaped line with the two termini virtually within walking distance. It seems like a waste to have such a short line, which is why I opted for an Edgware Road to Wimbledon line...

To be honest, come the Circle line reorganisation in 2011 (I believe that's the year) the whole core of the Underground Network is going to be revamped. I dare say that the District line will be somewhat reorganised to. The Olympics mean a lot to the government and TFL (the latter, I stress, on a purely financial basis) and so making the Underground layout more accommodating for tourists would certainly be a good idea.