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Post by ruislip on May 14, 2008 21:20:01 GMT
Were there any plans to run surface stock on it (in essence having the District take over the then-Hounslow branch of the Piccy, with the District's Ealing Broadway services possibly taken over by the Piccy), since surface trains would have had a larger capacity (especially for luggage) than the 73 stock has?
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Post by 21146 on May 14, 2008 23:33:22 GMT
I think it was madness not to have constructed the short Heathrow extension to surface gauge given that the rest of the branch was so constructed. Even more so as the Northfields - Barons Court 4-tracking could have allowed express operation. If travelling from central London and looking at the Underground map you'd think you were almost there when reaching Acton Town when in reality it's as long again! Even without Priv Cards accepted. give me the HEX anytime!"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2008 23:54:28 GMT
I think it was madness not to have constructed the short Heathrow extension to surface gauge given that the rest of the branch was so constructed. Even more so as the Northfields - Barons Court 4-tracking could have allowed express operation. If travelling from central London and looking at the Underground map you'd think you were almost there when reaching Acton Town when in reality it's as long again! Even without Priv Cards accepted. give me the HEX anytime!" Priv cards are accepted for the 75% discount on the HEx, and if your lucky to have someone like me whose wasting their 21 min wait until their next train in the ticket office at Padd, like mois, then you'll probably get on for free, maybe even First Class.   ;D I did Arnos Grove to Hounslow Central for just under a year, and as you say, it is such a long journey even from Acton!  To be fair though, they couldn't of predicted the expansion of Heathrow as we see it today, when it was first built.  |
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
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Post by Oracle on May 15, 2008 6:54:54 GMT
I think it was madness not to have constructed the short Heathrow extension to surface gauge  Hooray! Someone else agrees with me! However I regret to say that I have the answer. It was purely down to economics. To have provided for sub-surface stock would have required the cut and cover tunnels from Hounslow West to be much deeper than as constructed, then there was the requirement to bore tubes under the airport. |
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Post by abe on May 15, 2008 8:52:15 GMT
I recall reading somewhere that J. Graeme Bruce thought that not arguing harder for the Heathrow extension to allow surface stock was one of his biggest regrets.
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Post by 21146 on May 15, 2008 12:46:19 GMT
Privs accpted? Damn! To think I paid full both ways!
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Post by 21146 on May 15, 2008 12:57:46 GMT
I recall reading somewhere that J. Graeme Bruce thought that not arguing harder for the Heathrow extension to allow surface stock was one of his biggest regrets. I know the Picc was argued as being the "natural" line to serve T123 as 75% of hotels were supposedly on its route but when one sees how the City and Docklands has developed the option of a direct District Line link would have been useful, plus the larger rolling stock would have been able to accommodate luggage more easily. Back then the govt I presume was only going to sanction a BR or LT link so the latter were lucky be chosen, though again a fast non-stopping service from Waterloo BR via Feltham would probably have been a better option for airline passengers. I don't suppose running non-stop Hammersmith - Boston Manor would have made much sense, presumably just catching up the "stopper" in front, but anything to relieve the tedium of the all-stations service! Again, in 1977 it seems that it was only thought there would be one Heathrow - London rail line and the Picc was the best option - all or nothing. Now with HEX, Connect and maybe Crossrail various routes are in operation or are planned. The short-sighted decision to built the LU extension to Tube gauge damns any improvement to LU services however... |
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Post by ruislip on May 16, 2008 17:53:53 GMT
If the District were used to Heathrow, it would have the advantage of more reversing points at its eastern end(Mansion House, Tower Hill, Barking, Dagenham East, and Upminster)-unlike the Piccadilly with Arnos Grove and Cockfosters (and in those days sometimes Wood Green and Oakwood). If the District did get Heathrow back in the 1970s, one side-effect IMO would have been the Wimbledon services being limited to the "Wimbleware" operations to avoid congestion on the east end of the main District.
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Post by Dstock7080 on May 17, 2008 15:10:26 GMT
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;D
Hooray! Someone else agrees with me!
