Planned engineering work this weekend?

Hmmm, so I take it that you are talking about Stratford here?
If NR are doing station modernisation works, then couldn't the Central line have non-stopped the station if the remaining section of the line had no other works going on. Or is there some kind of a safety issue or something which means trains can't run through?

Ok, so that means when Shepherd's Bush (Central line) was being refurbished, the work on the platforms were being carried out beyond that minimum distance away from the platform edge (in service hours)?

Yes, reversals at Liverpool Street are going to be fun... and I can confirm about the metal fencing along the platform at Sheppy Bush. At one time some of them had some sort of blue mesh attached to them, I guess to dispel the amount of dust getting into the tunnel. Not that it worked much.

Oh ok, thanks for that info guys!
And on that note, with all trains reversing at Liverpool Street, what kind of service frequency have there been operating (over the last few weekends)? I mean surely a normal Sunday timetable couldn't have been operating?

And another question if I may, in such a situation how do trains from the Hainault loop reverse west to east at Leytonstone?

I'm sorry if I am asking too many questions. I'm just curious, that's all!

There is a wrong-road disc signal LES5757, which controls the route over the crossover 5808/5707 reverse (this is the crossover nearest Stratford/furthest from the platform).

Trains come in from Hainault into either platform 1 or 2 then pull forward and come to a stand clear of the crossover, LES5757 will clear when the route is set to the EB, train goes into platform 3 to head off east again.

And rich32 is right (I think), Epping reversers are in platform 2 via bang road starter LES5763 and crossover 5818/5717 reverse.

I'm not sure if the services swap branches when reversing, can't see any reason why not - unless the TTO wants to keep services self-contained and working in the same pattern.

EDIT: From a cursory look through the TTN pile, it seems that there is a desire to keep services self-contained, so I'm guessing that it is unlikely that reversers swap branches.

Yes, although I gather the plans are for West Ruislip - Liverpool St. shuttles, turning them short at White City would make the service too sparse east of White City. Likewise (I think) every other Leytonstone - Hainault shuttle is extended to Woodford. There will also be Leytonstone - Loughton shuttles (shades of the White City - Loughton shuttles in WTT 10 (15/4/52) which I was looking at the other day).

Erm.... I'm not sure off the top of my head, it used to be about 2½ minutes. (Well, that was the frequency before the extensions were built eastwards).

I think with this sort of service it is designed around 5 minute headways (not all trains would be in traffic) - however I think you can squeeze something like 2 - 2¼ minutes. I've not got my notes to hand (they're over the other side of the country), there may be a stephenk or a tubeprune along in a bit with more accurate figures. I'm only basing this on timetabled interstices, rather than getting out my pencil and abacus.

<large thunk as penny drops> Of course, we discussed Bethnal reversers *ages* ago (which I'd completely forgotten about)..... Ah. Hmmm. That means trains every 15 min which isn't a 'robust service'.

The service is 6tph West Ruislip - Liverpool St and 6tph Ealing Broadway - Liverpool St. With a 12tph service terminating at Liverpool St there is no slack to aid service recovery. So every 3rd train runs forward empty to Bethnal Green and return.

The lost sheep travelling who don't listen to announcements and stay on the train are all thrown off to aid efficent working.

My views on service recovery are probably best left unspoken, just hinted at - because you'll still get the dratted PAs - grr! ;D

As I commented upthread, trains reversing every 2½ minutes at Liverpool Street were an everyday event prior to 1946 [1]. Has technology really improved things so that the reversing frequency has now halved with speedier trains, calculated and guaranteed shorter overlaps?

I don't want to sound like an old timetabling crusty, but 60/2½ = 24tph and 60/5 = 12 => 12/3 = 4 : 12 - 4 = 9 so 9 tph reversing in the sidings at Liverpool Street does seem a slightly weedy effort by comparison!

[1] I do realise that there were more ways to reverse then rather than now.

As said elsewhere, you cannot blame passengers for not listening to announcements. If certain staff and managers would stop putting out so much nonsense about how there's a good service lah lah lah, people would listen when there's a genuine need for one (eg "all change!").

We all see it on audio visual on joining the line. but I don't know anyone who has actually done the shunt