Because on the SE suburban network all services are different. On the North Kent Line southeastern go to Cannon Street via 2 different routes, one of which is a circular service which has to line up with all the timings from the Bexleyheath line.
Would you suggest it go to Charing Cross fast to London Bridge? The fast/Charing Cross lines are pretty much full in the peak
Post #122 suggests a Southend extension which is roughly the same story. It's too far, disrupts local services and has no real benefit.
WCML platforms at Old Oak Common (Willesden Junction renamed) would be a much better idea and it could all come together to create an enormous hub station at OOC with HS2, Avanti, LNWR, GWR, Elizabeth Line, London Overground and even Chiltern (down the NNML) all serving the station.
All that is needed is a covered walkway between the two parts of the station (OOC and Willesden Junction) with travelators (flat moving walkways) like they have in airports across the world - I wouldn’t move any lines, just (re)construct WCML platforms at Willesden Junction and rename it Old Oak Common.
The Elizabeth line was predominantly funded for and by Londoners. I can't see any mayor agreeing anything that would impact on the core service.
That is the Thurrock council which, courtesy of half-assed wacky investments by the ruling Tories is bankrupt..... If they can fund it then perhaps it could be considered....
That is fairly unnecessary. Some other form of people mover would be adequate.
Can't be. If they even possibly could do this it would mean extending somewhat to Belevedere and Erith first to really turn towards Thamesmead and even then it would also mean that part of Abbeywood station would be rebuilt to remove the lower floor entrance and ticket area which is in the way of the platform 4 side tracks.
Terminating the DLR at Abbey Wood after Thamesmead would provide a reasonable people mover, although presumably the various bus routes (to Abbey Wood, and North Greenwich) do this already.
The only issue would be that DLR station highly likely won't be at Abbey Wood Station itself but end up like a Woolwich situation with Woolwich Arsenal and Woolwich Elizabeth Line stations separately placed.
Woolwich Elizabeth line station was paid for by the home builder company. If housing pays for the Abbey Wood DLR station then they’ll want the Elizabeth line connection. I think it depends on what further housing can be unlocked between the announced extension and Abbey Wood station.
Depends. With Abbeywood they'd not stop services and close off certain roads to allow such a rebuild. The DLR would essentially end up going underground which would need some sort of rebuilding at Abbey Wood main station site.
Good news but the gap between the opening and this installation shows a distinct lack of forethought about passenger requirements.
Indeed
Agreed. Overground from Barking Riverside is only 4tph and doesn't really get you anywhere that critical. DLR will get Thamesmead folks to Custom House (for CR), Canary Wharf and to the City in one ride. Maybe up to Stratford (Int) too, for all those connections.
Putting a high frequency service onto a single line isn't a great idea, although it might be noted this happens at Heathrow.
Why would you need to re double the line? It already supports 2ph and 2ph is what I suggested
Through services on/off the branches, ie Greenford, Bourne End and Henley, were all binned to remove the timetabling problem of down trains towards the branches conflicting with up direction through trains at the flat crossings. I very much doubt they’ll ever be back.
The Henley line can support a 2tph timetable where only one unit is involved, running into and out of the bay.
