Should "false destinations" be used on slow/circular services?

[zwk500]

Services leaving Cannon Street (to return to London via Bexleyheath, Sidcup or Greenwich) will always be advertised as terminating at Slade Green until they reach Eltham/Sidcup/Woolwich Arsenal.

Then, depending on what route the train is taking on its’ way back to Central London it will market itself as terminating at Eltham/Sidcup/Woolwich Arsenal.

Once it reaches Slade Green, it will advertise itself as terminating at Cannon Street.

It does make sense for some of the reasons already pointed out. Additionally, passengers from stations like Lewisham that want to travel to stations like Woolwich Arsenal would probably be misled by a service terminating at Woolwich and a service that goes to Dartford via Woolwich.

The loop service is honestly great, my only issue with it is unnecessary padding at some locations, and also train drivers sometimes “forget” to change the destinations at the points above. This is very confusing for passengers that are not familiar with the system, especially if you aren’t starting your journey from the London terminals (the only location on most of these trips where they will bother to make announcements to correct the record). I think this tends to happen most when drivers changeover at Slade Green, but that’s just a theory. I’m hopeful that on the new stock they will have this happen automatically so it’s not down to drivers to fix the destination.

I think for these (and the Waterloo Circulars) there's a strong argument to standardise the stopping patterns (if they aren't already), get the services on clockface even intervals, give them route numbers and use Clockwise/Anti-clockwise direction indicators as a metro service.

 

[drb61]

(Thanks for the new thread @Bletchleyite)

IIRC the Cathcart Circle services, whether Inner or Outer, are advertised at Glasgow Central as going to Cathcart, presumably on the basis that for stations further round the Circle there is often a quicker direct train. At stations on the Circle however it is quite common to have trains displayed for Glasgow Central from both platforms!

Showing Cathcart as the destination only makes sense for the Inner Circle services. The xx.50 Outer Circle service will cover all stations on the western half of the circle before the next xx.15 Inner Circle service - useful for anyone travelling no further than Langside who just misses the xx.45 Newton service.

Actually Langside, rather than Cathcart is the 'aphelion' of the circle with almost equal journey times each way.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Showing Cathcart as the destination only makes sense for the Inner Circle services. The xx.50 Outer Circle service will cover all stations on the western half of the circle before the next xx.15 Inner Circle service - useful for anyone travelling no further than Langside who just misses the xx.45 Newton service.

Actually Langside, rather than Cathcart is the 'aphelion' of the circle with almost equal journey times each way.

To me, calling them inner/outer circle gives the impression of two completely separate circular routes rather than just opposite directions on the same circle- see the early plans for London Underground's Circle Line for example which was at one point called the "Inner Circle". It would make much more sense for the Glasgow Subway to have "clockwise" and "anti-clockwise" rather than outer and inner: not everyone knows that most UK railways use left-hand running and I'm only assuming that the Subway does.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Was going to ask this as an aside in a different thread, but it makes more sense here...

Due to the upgrade works at Huddersfield what was the Leeds to Huddersfield stopper is diverted after Mirfield to run to Bradford Interchange via Brighouse and Halifax instead. At Bradford, is this service advertised on the departure boards as going to Leeds? Or is a false destination (maybe Dewsbury?) used instead? Or just a "via Brighouse" note?

MTIA.

 

[Andyh82]

Was going to ask this as an aside in a different thread, but it makes more sense here...

Due to the upgrade works at Huddersfield what was the Leeds to Huddersfield stopper is diverted after Mirfield to run to Bradford Interchange via Brighouse and Halifax instead. At Bradford, is this service advertised on the departure boards as going to Leeds? Or is a false destination (maybe Dewsbury?) used instead? Or just a "via Brighouse" note?

MTIA.

At Bradford Interchange it is now advertised as the service to Cottingley

 

[61653 HTAFC]

At Bradford Interchange it is now advertised as the service to Cottingley

Thanks. Makes sense given the journey time to Leeds on those trains... Though Bradford also has a district called Cottingley (of the fairies hoax fame) so it could still be confusing!