tube changes add to chesham journey times

Indeed. Well the plan is to return them in 2013 - but I get the distinct feeling they won't be back until the full re-signalling, provided whoever does the planning for that remembers that they once existed.

I should imagine the peak hours of operation will pretty much mirror todays

The last SB train in the peak pattern ex C&L is the 9.20 Aldgate

The NB peak at present effectively ends at 20.00 Baker St NB, with the exception of 1 extra Aldgate - Rickmansworth, 20.22 ex Baker

I believe that on the day there will be opportunity to give feedback. I think for the large majority of customers, it will be a case of waiting to see if they notice the difference. Now for Sunday customers, they are unlikely to notice - except they will have a full service for once.

The main test is to see if it "works" as a service - however ideally it would have been better to have a whole weekend (or a week) plus everything that normally interacts with the service actually running.

Maybe, but have we not seen examples of local press publications getting hold of news of the new timetable (it escapes me where the news appeared first ).

Surely those who "care" about what service will operate will already know what is to change - and maybe know that 11th September is a test of the changes.

all services are self contained with the exception of the Baker St terminators which arrive from UXB and return to WAT (and vice versa)

Which is only almost half the timetable Not a good idea when you get trouble on one branch. There were reasons it was done, and it is hoped they will be overcome by 2013 ;D

Running them with 2 passengers on each one down the local lines is hardly efficient either ;D ;D
I can pretty much guarantee that not all trains will be running on the 11th as we can't even manage a full Sunday service (when there is no engineering work) due to a lack of train operators.

You've been in the game too long, MC; youre starting to use management reasons!

True, but it will not help the longivity of the rolling stock to be stop starting all the time rather than the lovely smooth runs on the fast sections. Remember when the all day service to Aldgate started....

Nobody can deny that the most recent timetables have probably seen the A-stocks off sooner than maybe they could have gone. However, their replacements are designed for such stop-start services in mind.

I'm afraid that WTT 331 will not punish the S-stock and bring about their early demise ;D

Having had a look at the times on Journey Planner, I can confirm that they do. Trains terminating at BK ST from UXB at xx13, xx28, xx43 and xx58 form WAF trains departing at xx22, xx37, xx52 and xx07. Likewise, trains terminating at BK ST from WAT at xx02, xx17, x32 and xx47 form UXB trains departing at xx11, xx26, xx41 and xx56. As Harsig has advised, 14 trains are required for the above service pattern.

Interestingly, I think I'm right in saying that the pattern of destinations for SB trains south of Harrow is going to be 2 x BK ST followed by 2 x ALD followed by 2 x BK ST, etc. I had thought it would be alternate but clearly such a pattern doesn't work from a timetabling perspective.

but those on the slow lines are much closer to and are located within greater london,adding to long journey times is unnecessary as has been mentioned these stations are quite during the off peak travel times.

with the recent decision to operate the chesham shuttle even just temporarily this demonstrates the a stocks continued usefulness in its namesake areas'. remarkably a fifty five year old design outperforming its "modern day" successor for purpose and flexibility.

SB morning Amersham and Chesham fast peaks, as per today, don't stop at Wembley Pk come Dec, so should imagine it will be very similar to today journey time wise, unless they are regulated anywhere else?

Ah yes mate but as a leisure traveller I wont benefit from the "fast" services at all as I will not be travelling in the AM/PM peak so for me I will be seeing a increase in journey times which I do think is a great shame.

MC - I can see your point and agree with you that it does not make sense that you should send empty trains running back and forth into the capital BUT as someone also pointed out - the stations that the Fast services do miss out are not used as much as some of the outers - they are also closer to Central London therefore do not take as long to get into the centre of town unlike stations such as Amersham, Chesham, C&L, Chorleywood & Ricky.

As I have said before, I honestly do believe that increasing journey times - whichever way you look at it is a step backwards. Surely any railway would aspire to run faster services? Indeed Tfl themselves are always very keen to publicise the planned journey time reductions on many lines once engineering works are complete - yet they are not so keen to publish the added journey times to a large amount of Met Line users.

As I say I can see both sides of the story, but I do think it is a shame that although I get to travel on these new, airy and very bright trains I will need to make myself that little more comfy when on board as it will take me longer to reach my destination.