Why was Rayners Lane to Uxbridge closed?

[dalesman]

This weekend, the Piccadilly Line isn't running between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.

Any special reason why not? There are no closures on the Uxbridge branch of the Met this weekend, and the Piccadilly Line is running from Cockfosters to Rayner's Lane, so why not run through to Uxbridge as normal?

[andypurk]

Nov 6, 2011 13:20:10 GMT dalesman said:

This weekend, the Piccadilly Line isn't running between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.

Any special reason why not? There are no closures on the Uxbridge branch of the Met this weekend, and the Piccadilly Line is running from Cockfosters to Rayner's Lane, so why not run through to Uxbridge as normal?

Maybe because there is no access to Northfields Depot and so there will be insufficient trains available to run to Uxbridge without reducing the frequency through central London.

[metman]

That sounds like the reason to me.

[bronzeonion]

+2

[The Major]

I'd go along with that too, Rayners to Uxbridge and back is 28 mins (just running time - without the stand at Uxbridge), adds up to a lot of time used up over a whole day!

[version3point1]

That's pretty much the reason. At Acton Town, trains are being double-ended into 26 sidings to ensure there's a quick turnaround back into London to maintain the 3-4 minute service between trains.

[dalesman]

That explains it.

Interestingly, though, was the service to Rayners Lane the normal daytime frequency? If so, then was it possible to turn all the trains round at Rayners Lane without delaying the Metropolitan Line, or following Piccadilly Line trains?

I had understood that one of the reasons that half of the daytime trains ran through to Uxbridge was that there wasn't enough capacity to turn every Piccadilly train in the one siding at Rayners Lane.

[v52gc]

Rayners services ran every 10 minutes.