Whose decision was it to run down Acton Main Line?

[Harlesden]

I remember a time in the mid/late 1970's when there was a regular Paddington-Slough service with trains stopping at Acton Main Line. There are no direct buses from Acton Main Line to either Paddington or Ealing Broadway (the two stations either side) and so Acton Main Line, although never a busy station, was a popular commuter station.
I have recently discovered that it was when First Great Western won the franchise that the Paddington-Slough services were discontinued, and the only trains serving Acton Main Line were the half hourly trains to/from Greenford with no service at all on Sundays.
I wondered which side made the decision to reduce the services stopping at Acton Main Line.

 

[transmanche]

Back in around 1994/1995, I used to commute out to Slough. Even then, nearly all the Paddington-Slough trains skipped Acton Main Line. Only one or two rush hour services to/from Slough called at Acton Main Line.

Paddington-Greenford trains were (and still are) the only regular services to call at Acton Main Line.

 

[John55]

There are plenty of buses to Ealing Broadway from Acton on the main roads parallel to the GWML. Acton ML lies on a north south road so is unlikely to have east west routes on it.

There are 8 other Underground and Railway stations within about a mile of Acton Main line so there isn't a shortage of transport options.

 

[autotank]

I've always thought it would make sense to make the Heathrow Connect 360's call at AML instead of the Greenford Turbos. Surely the better acceleration of the 360's would free up just a little more capacity on a busy route, increase access from West London to Heathrow and allow a Sunday service to operate.

 

[judethegreat]

Much as I hate sticking up for (most) TOCs, to be fair it must be pointed out that a) the Padd-Slough service was not discontinued, it was EXTENDED to Reading giving double the frequency for Maidenhead and Twyford, albeit missing out a couple of stops (which are now served by Heathrow Connect), and b) the Greenford-Ealing service was only extended to Padd in the nineties, taking over the Acton stop from the Sloughs. So unless the Greenfords ran into Padd in the seventies and were discontinued before I started taking notice, then the frequency at Acton ML has NOT decreased.
I do agree though that it would be better if the Heathrows stopped there, as you can get to Greenford on the Central line, but you can't get west of Ealing without changing. Perhaps though even reintroduce an all-stops Slough (or Windsor, Maidenhead or Marlow??) (in addition to the extra Readings) to provide westward connections..
Anyway, like your avatar, Harlesden
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Or what about an interchange station with the WLL, and call the Readings there, or will Crossrail run via Willesden Junction with an interchange? T'would be good.
Aside from extending either or both Underground lines from Ealing Broadway, which would be very difficult, though ideal, I have thought before about diverting the Greenfords onto the WLL and/or NLL, to Clapham Jcn, Stratford or wherever..

 

[paulravuslante]

Heathrow Connect calling at Acton Mainline is certainly a possibility because provided the Connect leaves Ealing Broadway on time and runs without delay to Paddington, it can arrive at least 2 minutes early. During the Marylebone closures last year (when the Greenford trains were stopped) Connect called at Acton Mainline without any additional running time and still ran to time.

What I want to know is whether West Ealing, Hanwell or any stations on the Greenford branch have ever had a Sunday service? When I work on Sundays I usually see someone waiting on the platforms at Hanwell or West Ealing as I sail past them.

 

[causton]

When I work on Sundays I usually see someone waiting on the platforms at Hanwell or West Ealing as I sail past them.

Never underestimate the public -- I saw a group of 10 students waiting for a bus on Christmas Day! (and this is in Hertfordshire - the nearest bus in service would have been at Stansted Airport running nowhere near!)

Is the Greenford service busy? Every time I've been on it (admittedly coming into London at about 7pm on a weekday) I've been the only person in the front carriage, albeit surrounded by tonnes of discarded Metros and coffee cups, so I can see evidence of commuters using it, but outside of the peaks?

 

[cjohnson]

What I want to know is whether West Ealing, Hanwell or any stations on the Greenford branch have ever had a Sunday service? When I work on Sundays I usually see someone waiting on the platforms at Hanwell or West Ealing as I sail past them.

Come Crossrail, Hanwell and West Ealing should finally have a Sunday service!

Is the Greenford service busy? Every time I've been on it (admittedly coming into London at about 7pm on a weekday) I've been the only person in the front carriage, albeit surrounded by tonnes of discarded Metros and coffee cups, so I can see evidence of commuters using it, but outside of the peaks?

Evening peak coming out of Paddington is usually full (mind you it is only a 2-car DMU...)

 

[transmanche]

Never underestimate the public -- I saw a group of 10 students waiting for a bus on Christmas Day!

I can remember buses and tubes running on Christmas Day in London - albeit a very limited service. It only stopped about 30 years ago.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

You do get the feeling that they would like to see it go the same way as Westbourne Park.

 

[Oracle]

When did the Paddington - Hayes & Harlington 'shorts' stop? They called at AML.

 

[swt_passenger]

You do get the feeling that they would like to see it go the same way as Westbourne Park.

Except it is being remodelled and made step free for a 4 tph Crossrail service - if no-one was really bothered about it, like you suggest, wouldn't Crossrail have been the ideal excuse to close it?

The plans include a new station building fronting the main road (to the south of the railway), new canopies, footbridge, lifts, and platform extensions for 10 car trains.

 

[ess]

You do get the feeling that they would like to see it go the same way as Westbourne Park.

i thought westbourne park was only a tube station?

 

[Oracle]

In the past it was also a BR station with interchange to the H&C.

 

[transmanche]

i thought westbourne park was only a tube station?

It had BR platforms, which closed 20 years ago.

 

[Bungle73]

It had BR platforms, which closed 20 years ago.

I remember that station from my jaunts out of Paddington in the late '80s/early '90s. I also remember the closure notices put up around the Tube prior to closure. Funny how when you travel on a train through there now there's no trace that was ever a mainline station there at all!

 

[Ivo]

Why was Westbourne Park clsoed anyway? I know it used to exist, and I've often tried to spot traces of it, but with little success for obvious reasons...

 

[W-on-Sea]

I think it closed to allow remodelling of the tracks into/out of Paddington - possibly associated with the earlier stages of work on the Heathrow Express. There's certainly no trace of it at platform level left. It didn't get much use in its last years, anyway!

 

[Waddon]

Going back to an earlier comment about the Greenford service, does anyone know when this is going to start terminating at West Ealing? I know the bay hasn't been built yet, but presumably the platform extensions and track alterations will go ahead quite some time before the opening of Crossrail?

 

[judethegreat]

West Ealing? God, that'll be worse than when they terminated at Ealing Broadway (for connections). Why not six track through Broadway and link onto LUL, or the Overground? Just had a thought though, what about a service from the Chiltern line, or atleast Ruislip, to Heathrow (or Slough?) via the western curve?

 

[thedbdiboy]

I think it closed to allow remodelling of the tracks into/out of Paddington - possibly associated with the earlier stages of work on the Heathrow Express. There's certainly no trace of it at platform level left. It didn't get much use in its last years, anyway!

Yes, that is why it was closed, the space was needed for the new Paddington layout in connection with HEx construction.

 

[cle]

At Westbourne Park, you can see slight traces from the NR side. Also it is why the EB platform diverges a bit to the right as the lines do.

 

[swt_passenger]

Why not six track through Broadway and link onto LUL, or the Overground?

Because that would cost a huge amount.

Just had a thought though, what about a service from the Chiltern line, or at least Ruislip, to Heathrow (or Slough?) via the western curve?

Because the reason for cutting the service back is to prevent down trains TO Greenford having a flat crossing with up Crossrail services. Your idea would re-introduce the same problem, but it would now be trains FROM Greenford conflicting with Crossrail.

The solution is to provide another flyover or diveunder - but if you could afford that you might as well just divert some Crossrail services up to Greenford (or further) anyway...

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Except it is being remodelled and made step free for a 4 tph Crossrail service - if no-one was really bothered about it, like you suggest, wouldn't Crossrail have been the ideal excuse to close it?

The plans include a new station building fronting the main road (to the south of the railway), new canopies, footbridge, lifts, and platform extensions for 10 car trains.

...am quite surprised that they are going to that extent - unless there are plans to do something else in the area.

Westbourne Park used to be a fairly substantial station for it's usage. Though that usage was probably a lot less than the receipts of singles from Westbourne Park taken at the barrier at Paddington. There were one or two who would travel West from there but it was still quite a small number.

 

[holyflyer]

Just had a thought though, what about a service from the Chiltern line, or atleast Ruislip, to Heathrow (or Slough?) via the western curve?

I seem to remember that FGW ran Greenford - Hayes & Harlington (bay platform) some years ago during infrastructure work or was it longterm disruption (not sure). I know there was general surprise at the high loads from the branch to Southall & Hayes and vv.

The bay at West Ealing is long overdue although it would require some additional pointwork to access the bay and for departing trains to access the Down Greenford.

Financially there is no point extending the service beyond Greenford to West Ruislip as the Central Line does that already at far greater frequency.

 

[judethegreat]

Er, connections..? One change is better than three or four, especially over a short distance..

 

[cle]

I think the Greenford branch is due to be 4tph when it becomes a shuttle, so it will probably time well with both westbound and eastbound Crossrail services. There will be at least 6tph from West Ealing in each direction.