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Post by harlesden on Nov 17, 2010 18:42:14 GMT
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Post by dazz285 on Nov 17, 2010 18:51:51 GMT
Just goes to show that the complete lack of investment over the years has now caught up.
It needs to be done.. Better to do it in big chunks than over loads of weekends that could take years.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2010 18:54:14 GMT
It does look a little bleak I'll grant you, but I suppose the eventual benefits will make it worthwhile and it's got to be done sometime so they choose a time of least customer patronage. Having said that, I'm a bit of a hypocrite as as I'm never anywhere near London during the festive season (too early to mention the C word yet IMHO ;D) so I'm not too bothered about it.
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Post by greatkingrat on Nov 17, 2010 22:18:09 GMT
The eastern section has already been closed for several months earlier this year, not to mention whole line closures virtually every Sunday. So why is this closure needed?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2010 22:34:26 GMT
Installation and testing of new signalling on freight loops, further installations on the running lines plus a whole host of other activities where it is easier to carry them out during a whole line blockade. If you take a look at the 'Rules of the Plan' via the Network Rail website you will see a whole shopping list!
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Post by norbitonflyer on Nov 17, 2010 23:19:39 GMT
it's got to be done sometime so they choose a time of least customer patronage. They always say that, but it's funny that the cheapest long distance fares are not available at the holiday periods "because of high demand for our services" ( having just discovered that there will be no trains at all to, from, or through Reading between Christmas and New Year, thereby wrecking our carefully laid arrangements for the various visits needed to keep the family happy) |
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Post by andypurk on Nov 17, 2010 23:35:26 GMT
it's got to be done sometime so they choose a time of least customer patronage. They always say that, but it's funny that the cheapest long distance fares are not available at the holiday periods "because of high demand for our services" But there IS less demand for the London commuter services during the Christmas - New Year period. Many lines only running a Saturday service, with maybe a few peak hour extras. This has been advertised for several months now, with diversions for the longer distance services around Reading and buses for the immediate area around Reading. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2010 23:35:40 GMT
They always say that, but it's funny that the cheapest long distance fares are not available at the holiday periods "because of high demand for our services" ( having just discovered that there will be no trains at all to, from, or through Reading between Christmas and New Year, thereby wrecking our carefully laid arrangements for the various visits needed to keep the family happy) It's always annoying when this happens to spoil plans. I can't rely on the railways to wreck the ominous presence of certain members of my family at that time of year unfortunately but I do understand your point. However bad it is though, the fact remains that if they did it during a normal working period they'd be hung out to dry even more. Damned if they do and damned if they don't. In the end if it needs doing (and this is cold comfort I admit) as much as it inconveniences you, it inconveniences a lot less people as a result. Which is preferrable? |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Nov 18, 2010 15:41:08 GMT
But there IS less demand for the London commuter services during the Christmas - New Year period. Granted - but that argument is not valid on long distance services This has been advertised for several months now, with............ replacement buses for the immediate area around Reading. That may be so, but most "normal" people (i.e. everyone in my family except possibly me) plan what they want to do first, and only then look at how to get there (usually by asking me to look up the train times). Indeed, the level of knowledge of things transport-related in my family will be apparent to most of you when I tell you that the first I knew of these plans was when I was asked, yesterday, to look up the times of trains out of Paddington on Boxing Day. Expecting a partially-sighted nonagenarian to negotiate unfamiliar stations to find rail-replacement buses is not a way to have a peaceful stress-free Christmas! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2010 18:55:06 GMT
Funny old world we live in..............
We use to run more trains at times like this, and even the work was normally held off for more apropriate times. But then that was when it was a railway and not a fun fair.
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Post by bicbasher on Nov 18, 2010 18:55:34 GMT
If I recall LO are not running services on Boxing Day, which includes the ELL which has had services on the line under LUL.
The southern section of the ELL will have 2tph from Southern though from Norwood Junction to New Cross Gate.
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Post by andypurk on Nov 18, 2010 20:46:06 GMT
But there IS less demand for the London commuter services during the Christmas - New Year period. Granted - but that argument is not valid on long distance services Actually, I think it is, there are still less people traveling long distance for the week between Christmas and New Year (certainly less than on a normal Friday/Sunday which are the busiest times). The difference is that passengers will generally be leisure travelers and book further in advance for this period, so the cheap tickets go more quickly than normal. Also, as fares are quota controlled, the train companies may well reduce the number of really cheap fares. The real busy period is the couple of days before Christmas; these are the days when I've seen boarding controls/compulsory reservations at Euston for the Virgin services. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2010 21:13:36 GMT
Also worth mentioning theres already been two blockade closures in 2008 and 2009 for about three months at a time between Gospel Oak and Richmond aswell as the east end on top of weekend shutdowns for a good three years, there hasn't been any noticeable improvement since these closures (well if you count adding a refreshment stop on the platform at Hampstead Heath as improvement then yes)
Maybe if the railway actually improved after these closures, the public would be more sympathetic.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2010 1:52:41 GMT
Also worth mentioning theres already been two blockade closures in 2008 and 2009 for about three months at a time between Gospel Oak and Richmond aswell as the east end on top of weekend shutdowns for a good three years, there hasn't been any noticeable improvement since these closures (well if you count adding a refreshment stop on the platform at Hampstead Heath as improvement then yes) Maybe if the railway actually improved after these closures, the public would be more sympathetic. As an employee of London Overground i havent seen anyting changed either  Perhaps the 4 car class 378 2009/10 build, was actually a 1975 3 car 313! What about all the stations i stopped at that now have lighting that is brighter then the Emirates Stadium was a infact a mirage! A train between Willesden junction to Stratford every 10 minutes in the peaks.Oh the irony. It would appear that Ajax the Warrior doesnt use the service as often as he thinks he does. Perhaps he is in a 1990s silverlink timewarp. Do the trains still go to North Woolwich? Come on Ajax as your name suggests be a warrior and see how things have improved. |
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Post by Chris M on Nov 19, 2010 1:59:07 GMT
I had my first ride on a 172 on Wednesday and I can say they have certainly changed the rush hour travellin gexperience on the Goblin for the better when compared to the 150s that FGW are now passing of as new trains in the Westcountry.
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Post by thirstquensher on Dec 27, 2010 22:42:24 GMT
I too balked at Ajax's comments. The line really has been transformed in every sense of the word over the past few months. Not only was the infrastructure radically overhauled during the last blockade closure, there have been significant works along the NLL whilst running since to prepare for the Highbury+Islington to Dalston Junction link.
It's easy to underestimate the amount of negotiation that has to take place to get such an intensive programme of works done when TfL and Network Rail are involved together - not just in infrastructure, but in rolling stock aswell - including the absorption of an ex-LUL line into the bargain.
I regularly use the LO NLL and I don't begrudge the closure at all. I'd rather works that need block closures are done that way rather than risk poor reliability just to spread them out.
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