Piccadilly Line replacement buses at Finchley Central?

[Basil Jet]

When travelling southwards along Ballards Lane you see a sign for the Piccadilly Line replacement bus PL5 (presumably for the drivers rather than passengers) directing into the Finchley Central station forecourt, and there is a similar sign at the same junction facing buses coming out of the forecourt. Why would a Piccadilly Line replacement bus be at Finchley Central? TfL's site suggests that the PL5 will call only at New Southgate NR station and at numerous Piccadilly stations.

 

[Mike395]

It sometimes makes geographic sense to connect users of one line to other nearby lines rather than run 'linearly' between those stations affected by the engineering works, as it'll reduce overall journey times. This is one such example - far better passenger experience to give the choice of NR from New Southgate or Northern from Finchley Central into London rather than run to the nearest open Piccadilly Line station.

 

[Basil Jet]

Thanks, the principle of serving extra stations is a good one with which I am well familiar, but the publicity for the closure only lists New Southgate as an extra served station. Looking at a map I can't even tell which end of the route would extend to Finchley Central. Of all the stations between Camden Town and High Barnet, Finchley Central appears to be the *furthest* from the Piccadilly Line.

 

[BJames]

I remember from a previous closure route PL5 ran Finchley Central - Arnos Grove - Southgate - Oakwood - Cockfosters (possibly alongside another replacement bus continuing more towards Wood Green).

Edit - I can't remember exactly when this was from but it may have been a night replacement from one of the recent closures?

 

[Dstock7080]

Information to Staff is:

Rail replacement bus service:
Bus Service PL-5: Cockfosters – Oakwood – Southgate – Arnos Grove – New Southgate (for Great Northern services) – Bounds Green – Wood Green. • Overnight rail replacement bus services will not be provided. Passengers must be advised to use Night Bus route N91.

 

[hassaanhc]

I remember from a previous closure route PL5 ran Finchley Central - Arnos Grove - Southgate - Oakwood - Cockfosters (possibly alongside another replacement bus continuing more towards Wood Green).

Edit - I can't remember exactly when this was from but it may have been a night replacement from one of the recent closures?

That was probably a King's Cross St Pancras to Cockfosters closure. I have some photos from almost a year ago, when that closure had PL5 as the route you mention, and PL6 as: Finsbury Park, Manor House, Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, Bounds Green, New Southgate, Arnos Grove.

 

[BJames]

That was probably a King's Cross St Pancras to Cockfosters closure. I have some photos from almost a year ago, when that closure had PL5 as the route you mention, and PL6 as: Finsbury Park, Manor House, Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, Bounds Green, New Southgate, Arnos Grove.

Thanks - that's exactly what I'm thinking of.

 

[Basil Jet]

So the signs I saw at Finchley Central the other day were hangovers from the PL5 of the previous closure and have nothing to do with the current closure. Thanks all!

It's very sloppy that TfL put their litter on lampposts and just forget about it, because no-one else can remove it without feeling that they are doing something antisocial. Surely in this electronic age there is some sort of dashboard-mounted solution to remove the need for these signs which are a distraction for every car driver.

 

[Broucek]

I live in Southgate and the buses are NOT going to F Central

 

[richardcoughla]

When travelling southwards along Ballards Lane you see a sign for the Piccadilly Line replacement bus PL5 (presumably for the drivers rather than passengers) directing into the Finchley Central station forecourt, and there is a similar sign at the same junction facing buses coming out of the forecourt. Why would a Piccadilly Line replacement bus be at Finchley Central? TfL's site suggests that the PL5 will call only at New Southgate NR station and at numerous Piccadilly stations.

They've been doing that for years! I remember in the aftermath of 7/7 they ran to Finchley Central I believe ensign was running that? I'm not sure if they done that before though

 

[LU_timetabler]

Any occasion we close King's Cross to Cockfosters. Daytime set up is for PL5 and PL6 both operate, one does all stations Cockfosters to Arnos Grove then runs off to Finchley. The other does all stations Arnos Grove to Finsbury Park adding in New Southgate. That was the same both times this closure operated in the last 2 years.