Idea to optimise the WCML (ignoring HS2)

[465fan]

Open minded about that. The mkc to Watford/Clapham section was a useful local stopper service

I think it's clear that in the longer term, a half-hourly MK (but especially Bletchley) to West London service is quite important. You don't want to change at both Watford and MK if you can help it, as by that point, journeys from south of the river end up being easier through London itself and the Tube (not that I would mind).

What you do with it, as it goes on the slow lines south of Clapham, is a toss-up. But, it obviously needs to get to East Croydon, and then it seems daft to terminate anything there as you'd rather keep as many platforms available for through traffic including short-notice alterations during perturbation. There's realistically three places: Caterham, Tattenham Corner and Reigate.

 

[Silent]

Comfort and speed. Harrow & Wealdstone to Baker Street (using that as a comparable 'North side of Zone 1 interchange') is 34 minutes. Harrow to Euston is only 12 minutes when the path is 'clean'.

In my much younger years I used to go from South East London to Harrow to have a look at the freight (it was better then!), and I would get to Charing Cross, go to Euston, and then go to Harrow. I could literally go from Charing Cross to Harrow on the Bakerloo - no thanks.

It actually isn't much quicker than the London Overground depending on what time the train leaves and Metropolitan Line might be quicker but it's more comfortable and less likely to be overcrowded. I think it's much quicker when it goes places beyond Bushey. Only based on frequency though, in-train travel times are obviously much quicker on wcml.