New Circle Line service at Paddington

[EM2]

When the Circle is extended to Hammersmith, will trains be using the H&C platforms at Paddington, or can they still use the District ones, as they do now?

 

[generalvegitable]

they would use both

 

[jopsuk]

Travelling from Hammersmith, they'll use the H&C platforms, then join the circle, run all the way round that through Edgeware Road, Kings Cross, Aldgate (I'm guessing the pause here is going to go?), along the river, back up through High Street Kensington, call at the District Line platforms at Paddington and then terminate at Edgeware road, then reverse that route.

Anything else would make no sense- they have to pass through the H&C platforms and would have to reverse at the platforms at Edgeware Road to reach the District platforms at Paddington.

If you're travelling between Paddington and anywhere between there and Aldgate on the Teacup-Circle, it will now be a no-brainer- go to the H&C platforms.

 

[yorkie]

Yes, they will have to use both, as they pass through Paddington twice on their journey from Hammersmith to Edgware Road via Edgware Road and the circle.

See http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html#5003776262878877385

 

[Greenback]

Is the Circle Line still going to be called the Circle even though it will be a teacup?

 

[harz99]

Is the Circle Line still going to be called the Circle even though it will be a teacup?

Might as well be called the Umfalozi (hope thats spelt right) line for all the meaning either Circle or Teacup will have in the new guise!

For those not in the know, the mythical Umfalozi bird goes round in circles until it disappears up its own a**e.

 

[Daniel]

Is the Circle Line still going to be called the Circle even though it will be a teacup?

Yes. The new service is being called 'The Extended Circle Line', so it will still be the 'Circle'.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Why after all these years have they desided to change the Circle Line route ?

 

[jopsuk]

to increase the service on the Hammersmith branch without trying to squeeze more trains along the north side of the Circle.

 

[Daniel]

...and to provide a fixed start/end point for the Circle line to aid service recovery.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

to increase the service on the Hammersmith branch without trying to squeeze more trains along the north side of the Circle.

Could they have just not run extra trains from Hammersmith - Paddington ? or is there no extra platform there to turn it around ?

 

[MCR247]

Could they have just not run extra trains from Hammersmith - Paddington ? or is there no extra platform there to turn it around ?

There is no way to turn it around

 

[Daniel]

I will also point out that before any of this t-cup business came around anyway, Circle line trains were sometimes sent to Hammersmith anyway to help get them back on time.

I still don't understand why we can't do it as we did then, with running them down there when required... but, there you go...

 

[A60K]

That would lead to a worse service - irregular and extended intervals and passengers needing to change at short notice.

 

[Waddon]

I tihink its a good idea overall, although it will inevitably lead to confusion

(on the other hand, the people who get confused will be the same ones who are confused already, the ones who somehow manage to find the narrowest, busiest bit of corridor, drop all their suitcases to totally block everyone's walking route and then begin to stare gormlessly at a pocket tube map as if that will somehow tell them the secrets of life...)

Still, if they really wanted to sort out the congestion on the north side of the circle/H+C, building grade-seperated junctions at Baker Street and the other junctions, and lengthening all platforms to 8 car would help. Hugely expensive maybe, but tiny compared to Crossrail...

 

[jopsuk]

or to do it "properly", make the entire circle 4 track, with no flat crossings, and all platforms islands to allow cross platform interchange, providing a circle that runs free of interference from the H&C, Met and District. Could even then run the other lines as semi-express services on the Circle section, with stops only at major interchanges. Go the whole hog, lower the track bed/raise the roof and wire it up for OHLE- run all the lines with something like 378s in eight car formations.

Wibble

I'm not mad, honest.

 

[Daniel]

That would lead to a worse service - irregular and extended intervals and passengers needing to change at short notice.

I disagree - it's only ever done when sending a train Edgware Road - Hammersmith - Edgware Road put's it back on time. So no disruption - considering the Circle line with 1 train missing is a Good Service... and I noticed a 20 minute gap on the Outer today, and that was put out as good.. I don't see how it would be a worse service than we have or will be getting.

 

[Failed Unit]

I have mixed feelings about this myself. My most frequent journey on the circle is Kings Cross - Paddington. This has always been good going from Kings Cross as you can just get the first train going though. As other have said going the otherway you have to gamble do I go for the circle platform or Hammersmith and City platform, at least a Paddington you will now know.

However there are a lot of losers, my other most frequent journey is to Notting Hill Gate or Bayswater. I would normally wait at Kings Cross for the Circle, unless I know there was a long gap. People doing this kind of journey will definately be unhappy bunnies. For me I will probably do Victoria to Oxford Circus and now use the Central line to get to both of these places.

 

[A60K]

I disagree - it's only ever done when sending a train Edgware Road - Hammersmith - Edgware Road put's it back on time. So no disruption - considering the Circle line with 1 train missing is a Good Service... and I noticed a 20 minute gap on the Outer today, and that was put out as good.. I don't see how it would be a worse service than we have or will be getting.

The main reason for the new service is to virtually double the service on the Hammersmith branch. Would your plan achieve that?

 

[Daniel]

Actually, no, that's not the main reason. The main reason is 'to provide a fixed start/end point for the Circle line to aid service recovery'. The new timetable ensures that all Circle trains go down to Hammersmith, meaning they get guaranteed extra services, something which is advertised as a main reason for the change, when in fact it is just something happening in consequence.

 

[LMS6202]

Might as well be called the Umfalozi (hope thats spelt right) line for all the meaning either Circle or Teacup will have in the new guise!

For those not in the know, the mythical Umfalozi bird goes round in circles until it disappears up its own a**e.

I always thought that it was called the "Upyabumole bird.

 

[james6286]

Frankly they've messed up with this.

The HC platformsat Paddington cannot cope with the increased footfall of all Eastbound passangers and now theres a massive Circle line platfrom for Edgeware road only.

Its highly dangerous for the less than able bodied for one thing and the penning the passengers in on the footbridge is surely an impractical solution.

Can they use other platfroms currently used by local FGW stoppers?

 

[Dstock7080]

Frankly they've messed up with this.

The HC platformsat Paddington cannot cope with the increased footfall of all Eastbound passangers and now theres a massive Circle line platfrom for Edgeware road only.

Its highly dangerous for the less than able bodied for one thing and the penning the passengers in on the footbridge is surely an impractical solution.

Can they use other platfroms currently used by local FGW stoppers?

Paddington (Suburban) H&C platforms are due to be rebuilt as part of the CrossRail project.

You could still use the EB District/Circle platforms, however a change of train is required- taking a "Circle" should get you into pfm2 at Edgware Road.