Watford via the north curve

Superteacher is correct. It happens "as and when required". There was a similar problem at Watford South Junction on Sunday 19 August, when northbound Watford trains ran first via Rickmansworth, from 08.30 to 10.00.

Did the train stop at Moor Park on the way?

Had an odd one last night - 2312 Aldgate-Amersham took wrong stick (I guess) after Moor Park around midnight and turfed out 200+ at Croxley (enough to cause crowding issues on the bridge/stairs). Train went on to Watford and then returned, collected everyone again and then continued to Amersham via North Curve. Unfortunately, I wanted the Chesham train that went by the correct route whilst I was waylayed.

The usual term. is Tip Out. ;D

LU prefer to say detrained.

No obvious reason why, but after taking the wrong stick it probably caused the control to panic.

You may be right, but LU take it very seriously why the train operator took the wrong stick.

The driver will know the route and should be able to work out if the wrong route has been set. The signals will also indicate the route. At Watford South Jn, the Watford branch has a route indicator, 3 white lights at a 45 deg angle about the signal head. These, one must assume were lit and the T/op missed this. The Amersham route would have has a proceed aspect only.

It is not easy to see which direction the points are set, but that's what signals are for!

harrowman: I don't think I even implied that LUL didn't take it seriously, but my (outside and completed limited) understanding of processes in this circumstance, is that it's not the controller that's responsible for the investigation - just for making sure the server returns to normal.

In fact, all I was commenting on was the likely reason for the Tip Out, and that the fact that the controllers are unlikely to be panicking.

Okay, thanks for the answers

Do they? When did they start doing that then? The S/Op has no train descriptions (which he hasn't had for about 8 weeks) and the T/Op has a moment of madness thinking about his next trip to Watford but inadvertently takes the signal this time (or something stupid like that). More of a simple human error and inconvenience to the passengers (unless either member of staff is intoxicated) recorded - yes, serious disciplinary action - I don't think so!

There would be no problem running the last Amersham into the platform at Watford as there is a Watford service following.

Stick is a colloquialism for signal, and "taking a wrong stick" is slang for what I think should be "accepting a wrong signal"?

I used to use the outer section of the Met and don't recall ever travelling on, or indeed spotting this curve - (although I did spend a fair bit of time fast asleep). Anyway it got me thinking and I wonder if it creates a neat solution to some current "issues". For instance how to continue to provide sensible services to Chesham and Watford Met especially once the Croxley link opens, and whether it might provide a base for some of the heritage fleet to actually be put into regular (albeit very light) use. I always find it rather sad to see heritage transport largely consigned to static display in a museum.

I don't know the technical complexities, but wonder if it would still be possible after the Met line is extended to Watford Junction, to also retain access to Watford Met - mainly for use as a safe(ish) overnight stabling location for S8 stock, and also retain one of the terminal platforms primarily to introduce a couple of morning peak hour fast services into Baker Street or Aldgate (using S8 stock) and with a couple of evening peak hour services booked to return in the evening again simply to stable overnight.

It would be interesting to see the hour by hour footfall data at Watford Met, but I suspect that just a handfull of trains could accomodate the majority of passengers using the station. However it would be interesting to see whether Watford Met could also be set up to house some of the heritage fleet. But rather than treat them as museum pieces to bring out every 50 years or so, it would be great if at least some heritage units could be maintained and used in public service to provide a full day heritage shuttle between Chesham and Watford Met.

It would be nice to rotate between heritage tube and sub surface heritage units to operate an all day two train shuttle service from Watford Met to Chesham with an S7/8 in reserve to cover any failures. Away from the peaks, I doubt it would matter to the passengers if you operated a mix of 7 and 8 coach stock, and they would probably enjoy travelling on a random choice of C stock, A stock, 38 etc - as it would be a bit like travelling on the Island Line.

Again it would be interesting to see the hour by hour footfall data for Chesham where again I suspect that by offering just two or three peak hour fast services into/from Baker Street or Aldgate would meet the bulk of current commuting passengers, and for the rest of the day, the Heritage shuttle would provide non-commuters with a reasonable link to the mainline service.

alpinejohn

Last time I looked at the proposals Watford (Metropolitan) will be used as a stabling location for Met units. I believe the argument against keeping Watford (Metropolitan) open is that it will cost too much to keep it operational for the few passengers who would use it after the Croxley link is open. I doubt Chesham passengers would like to see their (slow) through trains to London cut for a shuttle to Watford (Metropolitan). However, if this shuttle did connect with fast Chiltern services, off peak journey times for Chesham passengers to/from London would improve significantly.