Fantasy - Greater London Re-Done

[LloydyRail]

Hi all,

I've been paying a game called 'Nimby Rails' which is basically a sandbox game where you can create rail lines, stations and train timetables anywhere in the world. You can use metro lines, rail, tram, light rail etc. it can be quite fun and helps me to learn about schedules, lines and signalling. (Inserted a few images).

All examples I've seen are people replicating the current system we have but i got me thinking, in a non realistic world what would peoples idea be if they could Re-do Greater London Network based on how London has developed today.

How many rail termini would you have?
How many metro lines? would you keep any of the current lines and just add new ones?
etc,etc.

i know this is super unrealistic, but it's fantasy no need to jump in with the crayon talk, just give your idea/vision

 

[Sad Sprinter]

I've thought about this. In a post-war world where you had a near blank slate on rail planning in London, I'd leave things as they were but create a number of high capacity heavy rail metro corridors like how we see in Tokyo. I'd have one linking Charing Cross with Euston, St Pancras and Kings Cross, another linking Waterloo with the route into Broad Street and a route over what is now Crossrail, possibly scooping up the entire Metropolitan Line.

I'd keep the railway termini because with London I don't think there's any point in building through stations because there's no where for the trains to go at the opposite ends. Sure you can have Leeds to Bournemouth services or Bristol to Norwich but that's about it. It's not like Brussels or New York where through services can connect from one side of a continent to another.

 

[stevieinselby]

How many rail termini would you have?
How many metro lines? would you keep any of the current lines and just add new ones?
etc,etc.

The first thing that I would do differently would be to have several (at least 2 more) Thameslink/Crossrail type routes, with high-capacity corridors enabling cross-London outer suburban trains. That could potentially reduce the number of underground lines we would need slightly, although those routes wouldn't completely replace high density metro services even on the same axes, but it would reduce the pressure on central London terminus stations which would become predominantly for long-distance services and also on the underground.

I would also reduce the amount of braiding and weaving of lines in south London. Each suburban station would have one frequent service through central London (main stations may still have a choice between City and West End routes), and then instead there would be orbital routes more akin to the Mildmay and northern side of the Windrush lines, with interchanges on most/all radial routes they cross. That would allow significantly higher frequencies making for more convenient travel, even if more passengers needed to change trains.

 

[HSTEd]

I think that if a "London Central" station could be built, it would obviously be in our interests to build one.

Unfortunately the congested underground environment in central London and the lack of an obvious site makes such a station very challenging indeed.

 

[popeter45]

I think that if a "London Central" station could be built, it would obviously be in our interests to build one.

Unfortunately the congested underground environment in central London and the lack of an obvious site makes such a station very challenging indeed.

Tottenham court road would have been the logical location in my eyes as so many existing termini point in its general direction
close waterloo and reroute via a new Victoria low with low level platforms
rebuild and merge broad street and liverpool street again low level