Circle line to Barking?

[rmHawk765]

The TfL website is saying that Circle line trains will be running between High Street Kensington and Barking only this weekend.
https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/#circle

CIRCLE LINE: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January, no service between Hammersmith and Tower Hill, or between High Street Kensington and Edgware Road. Trains operate between Barking and High Street Kensington (via Victoria) only.

I barely use the subsurface lines nowadays, but can someone fill me in on why they're doing this and whether it has occurred before? I don't see why these couldn't be District line trains, though 'This is a Circle line train to Barking' would be a great catch.
Also, does this mean the infamous P3&4 at High Street Ken might be used throughout the day?

 

[Dstock7080]

It has happened before.
one previous thread:

Circle Line to Barking

Interesting configuration of SSR services today due to Engineering Works: A special Circle line service operates between Edgware Road and Barking (via Victoria) and Hammersmith & City line trains operate between Hammersmith and Kings Cross St Pancras Has the Circle Line ever run out to Barking...

www.railforums.co.uk

Driver destination code 542 likely to be used, which is: “Barking Inner Rail District from Edgware Road” pretty nondescript what is displayed.

High Street Kensington pfm.3&4 will be used by Wimbledon trains, as they are every weekend for the Olympia service.
Olympia services this weekend will operate to Earl’s Court (yard) only.

 

[stadler]

You would think that if they are running between High Street Kensington and Barking via Victoria then they would be advertised as District Line trains. That would make more sense. It is entirely the District Line route other than that one small curve.

It is also worth pointing out that Barking has a couple of booked Circle Line workings every day.

05:07 Barking to Anti Clockwise Circle
05:11 Barking to Clockwise Circle
05:32 Barking to Clockwise Circle

Clockwise Circle to Barking 01:07
Clockwise Circle to Barking 01:14

This is a normal booked thing that has been going on for years if not decades.

There are also many other booked early morning and late evening hybrid Circle / District / Hammersmith & City trains each day.

Up until a few months ago there was also a booked 05:43 Acton Town to Barking 06:53 service which is a train that goes via Paddington and Farringdon instead of the usual via Victoria and Embankment route. I recall that it was advertised as a Circle Line train. This train lasted for years but they got rid of at some point in the past few months.

 

[dvboy]

The 05.07 Barking to anti-clockwise circle, would that not just be a Hammersmith and City line train?

The others I guess can change what line they are on en route (on the displays and announcements etc) - I'm not a regular user of the tube but I've definitely been on a train that has done this.

 

[Dstock7080]

The 05.07 Barking to anti-clockwise circle, would that not just be a Hammersmith and City line train?

It runs via Edgware Road, High Street, Victoria, Aldgate to Hammersmith as a Circle train.

 

[stadler]

The 05.07 Barking to anti-clockwise circle, would that not just be a Hammersmith and City line train?

The others I guess can change what line they are on en route (on the displays and announcements etc) - I'm not a regular user of the tube but I've definitely been on a train that has done this.

No because it goes around the full circle. Once it gets to Edgware Road it then goes down the High Street Kensington branch. Hammersmith & City line trains go to Hammersmith instead.

It runs via Edgware Road, High Street, Victoria, Aldgate to Hammersmith as a Circle train.

It also makes it one of the very few Circle Line trains where you can do a full Circle from somewhere other than Edgware Road station. You could board this train at Liverpool Street and do a full circle back to Liverpool Street on the same train. Just like when the Circle Line was an actual circle.

 

[Harpo]

It is also worth pointing out that Barking has a couple of booked Circle Line workings every day.


05:07 Barking to Anti Clockwise Circle
05:11 Barking to Clockwise Circle
05:32 Barking to Clockwise Circle

Clockwise Circle to Barking 01:07
Clockwise Circle to Barking 01:14

This is a normal booked thing that has been going on for years if not decades.

Certainly back in the 70s the District kept it’s hand in by operating two circle trains on Sundays. It was wonderful to travel on the north side on red CO/CPs and avoid the rancid C stock.

 

[Dstock7080]

Certainly back in the 70s the District kept it’s hand in by operating two circle trains on Sundays. It was wonderful to travel on the north side on red CO/CPs and avoid the rancid C stock.

Only Parsons Green crews, and pretty sure it was 2 trains on each Circle

 

[Harpo]

Only Parsons Green crews, and pretty sure it was 2 trains on each Circle

I did wonder who crewed them. Happy to be corrected on numbers. I’m nowhere near my 197x set workings booklet at the moment.

 

[A60stock]

Yes. still wondering as to why it is not designated as a District line service, simply because of one small curve between HSK and Gloucester Road

 

[SteveHFC]

My guess is that the HSK to Barking trains are being crewed by H&C/Circle line drivers and not District line drivers.

 

[rmHawk765]

High Street Kensington pfm.3&4 will be used by Wimbledon trains, as they are every weekend for the Olympia service.

Ah yes, I forgot about that - it's just that the TfL website does not even say that services to Olympia will be running.
Edit: What I meant to say, is that I forgot the District is still running

 

[A60stock]

My guess is that the HSK to Barking trains are being crewed by H&C/Circle line drivers and not District line drivers.

Would that matter? As it's a case of just setting up the train to say it's a District Line service?

 

[Dstock7080]

My guess is that the HSK to Barking trains are being crewed by H&C/Circle line drivers and not District line drivers.

Would that matter? As it's a case of just setting up the train to say it's a District Line service?

They would be H&C drivers, as District drivers are not trained from Gloucester Road-High Street.

The Line cannot be setup separately, one three-figure code, gives routing, Line, destination.
Depending also upon whether the control room overrides the driver input into the signalling system.

 

[southern442]

They would be H&C drivers, as District drivers are not trained from Gloucester Road-High Street.

The Line cannot be setup separately, one three-figure code, gives routing, Line, destination.
Depending also upon whether the control room overrides the driver input into the signalling system.

So the issue is that the codes for the HSK - Barking trains are entrenched in the system as 'circle line' codes?

 

[rmHawk765]

Unfortunately could not go and see for myself today, did anyone else?

 

[Harpo]

Only Parsons Green crews, and pretty sure it was 2 trains on each Circle

Now able to access my 1970 stock book confirming 2 on each rail.

 

[Dstock7080]

Now able to access my 1970 stock book confirming 2 on each rail.

finally withdrawn in May 1990.