More Crossrail News

No new trains to be designed eh? Do I here odds-on for more 378s? ;D

Hang on, Crossrail Ltd aren't the UK government, so how can they insist that stations won't be cut, when its up to the government, and they haven't decided yet?

They were going to design a new train? Why? When we have so many lovely trains already existing to choose from. That sounds like a worthy cut to me. In fact, you sometimes wonder if some projects pad their budgets with superfluous items that they can later "cut" when the pressure is on.

But yes, I agree that we don't want to cut things that we're going to have to live with later. So no to making the tunnels tube gauge. And make the underground stations as they were conceived. However, the revamps of some of the existing stations on the ends can probably be deferred. Does Ealing Broadway need a facelift to work? It would be a really-nice-to-have, but probably not essential, at least not in full. These can be done later when there is more money kicking around or when we actually ask First to pay for its own damn investment like Chiltern do.

Surely tube gauge is a thing of the past. It was brought in by the limits of the technology for the original tubes, the limits of budget for Victoria and the legacy of using already existing tube tunnels for the Jubilee.

Also, this service will be going to Heathrow and will displace Heathrow Connect. That would be a massive downgrade of service from the lush class 360s. We're already have to live with the consequences of making the Piccadilly line the one to serve the airport (and I assume the tunnels eliminate the possibility of changing it over to the District).

But that raises an even more important question. With Crossrail providing through services into Central London from Heathrow in a much more comfortable environment, we might expect significant movement from the Pic to Crossrail as it is a quicker and more comfortable ride. Could the Pic be dialed back? Or will it still cost £6.50 to get as far as Ealing Broadway and thereby make the Pic still by far the most economical route?

Isn't SSR stock gauge basically the same as NR gauge? The A stock in fact seem bigger than any NR train.

I was just thinking S stock for Crossrail. Looking at the pics, there are these hatches on the top. Are they based on a design that was intended to use overhead AC?

It's the BAA that control the levy on Heathrow services.
I'm sure that the Picc would always be the cheaper option, much slower service, smaller trains and no prospect of A/C anytime soon etc.

But that'll be its maximum frequency. The tubes will be eventually about 30-33tph.

And 10 cars. Don't forget the 10 cars.

Regarding the trains, why can't they simply order more air-conditioned "S Stock", as a run-on from the current order, and insert two extra cars with pantographs near each end - that would do nicely. I heard that the "S-Stock" could be readily adapted to accept pantographs, much like the current Southeastern Class 376 trains, also manufactured by Bombardier...

Glom, please delete Class 315s from your list if they are on it. I have to use the damn things from time to time between Chadwell Heath and Liverpool Street. Far too similar to 313s for my liking and I was pleased to see the back of them on the Overground.

I'll be interested to see what sort of seating plans they're considering for Crossrail trains especially bearing in mind the likely passenger numbers. The wrath of Amersham Alan will be nothing compared to that of Romford Ron if he get's even a whiff of longitudinal seating only..........I'd be happy with 10 car 378s with a slightly modified seating plan to keep everybody happy.

As you bought up Clapham Junction, the South West Trains mainline suburban services are run at 3 minute frequency (with the odd 4 minute) all stations Wimbledon - London Waterloo. This applies especially London direction in the morning peak.



ATO is/was planned for the central sections of Thameslink and for Crossrail. The Central line, which Crossrail will relieve, can't possibly be upgraded to give the capacity needed now, let alone in the future.



The East London line part of LO will goto a four minute frequency when the Clapham Junction extension is opened, not quite your three minutes, but that is partly due to having several start points and sharing tracks with Southern trains. Crossrail will be fairly self contained and the three minute frequencies will be in the central tunnel section.

Quite how anyone could claim that London has the best rapid transit system in the World at the moment, I don't know.

This is particularly notable when looking at the cramped, decrepit, hot, sweaty, overcorwded state of most central stations, the constant delays and disruptions caused by decades of neglect, and the complete inability to implement any sort of modernisation plan - even on the part of the line that is only 10 years old.

Ok. They weren't on my list. I was thinking class 378 and it's Southern cousins, class 450, class 360 and a possible S stock derivative.

If these trains get any longer they'll be stopping at two stations at once.

"The next stations are Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road. Passengers for Bond Street, please move to the rear five coaches. Passengers for Tottenham Court Road, please move to the forward five coaches."

Never mind about interchanges being so long that you might as well alight and walk at surface, how about platforms being so long that you might as well get off at the previous stop?