new WTT15 from 20 May

West Hampstead is currently a useful place to reverse late running trains. With regular timetabled use in the peak there will be less slack.

So with just two platforms in use the queue of Jubilee Line trains waiting to enter Stratford will lengthen? or shorten?

If it lengthens then despite the extra stations it might be faster to switch to the DLR at West Ham (or even Canning Town!) - I often did this in the days when the North London line paralleled the Jubilee although since the NLL only ran half hourly this only worked if one knew the train times.

I'm curious to know why platform 13 wont be used at busy times - the only advantage I can see is that passengers won't be walking the long distance from the concourse past the buffer stops towards the train on platform 13 only to have the doors close just when they are about to reach it - with the then unfortunate experience of having to walk all the way back again and then just as far again on the next platform (by when the next train may also have gone).

As for West Hampstead reversing, will the platform staff be able to detrain passengers quickly enough to allow the train to leave the station before the next train catches it up? I suppose that this is being done because with extra trains not now coming this is the only way to increase train frequencies between here and Stratford?

Simon

Chris, Thanks for the reply.

I am not sure... the message to my eyes suggests that only the two platforms will be used and there will be stepping back.

But it is of course possible that what was meant and my interpretation of what was said are different.

I hope that in due course we will find out!

What Stratford needs is a fourth platform, plus bi-directional approach tracks so that trains entering and leaving can always do so simultaneously. This would also mean that sometimes trains pass on the left and at other times they pass on the right. Trains *leaving* the station which are 'on the right' would switch to the left hand track after passing an arriving train.

Indeed, this would even be beneficial with just the present three platforms. I say this after noting how trains arriving at platform 15 and departing from platform 13 can only ever do this as single trains in motion whilst all other train movements can be accomplished with two trains in motion at the same time.

Simon

Essentially it's a rusty rail train but for the signalling system; it makes trips across a few unusual emergency reversal points to check the integrity of the red induction cable loops that you see situated between the running rails.

Yes. They actually get used fairly frequently.

Time will tell if the platform is physically closed off, but I can't see any reason to. Morden platform 2 isn't blocked off in the peaks, and there's always the possibility of the platform being used at short notice for any one of many reasons.

And of course with Fit For The Future, it's not like there's many staff around to be playing around with barriers!

I don't expect the platform will be physically barrier closed, it is just not timetabled to be used during the peaks. Yes the peaks are now only using 2 platforms at Stratford, and yes that is to allow management of the stepping back. A 3 platform stepping back would also increase costs even more, as it would require more train operators and give longer layover times at Stratford, and possibly an extra supervisor to manage the stepping back. (It is also the preferred option for Morden as well, stepping back on 2 of the 3 platforms.) I expect the detrainment at West Hampstead, as it is timetabled, will be platform staff assisted so it can be accomplished quickly. Perhaps worth mentioning that one of the constraints placed on the new timetable was to achieve longer peaks, without more trains and without any significant increase in driver hours (I believe this is of the order of 1%).
Worthy of note - and much more positive change in WTT 15 is the increase in the length of time during which both morning and evening peak service will run for.

Probably 315 which on the current timetable runs empty via Klondyke sidings before entering service at Neasden somewhere around ten past five.

There is a footbridge near the southern (western) end of the Jubilee platforms at Stratford, so if that happens they don't need to walk the length of two crowded platforms which will help a bit. Indeed it wouldn't surprise me if this is the main reason that bridge exists as a bridge primarily intended to be of benefit to passengers would also link to the adjacent DLR platforms as well.

Further up the thread shows this

During off peak periods and Saturdays and Sundays all trains will now generally operate to/from Stratford. Stepping back at Stratford will now take place every day via platforms 14 and 15 only from 07.19 until 22.57½ (Mondays to Fridays), from 08.011½ until 22.57½ (Saturdays) and from 09.44½ until 19.40¾ (Sundays). During these periods platform 13 will be closed.

The final sentence is fairly clear.

Hmm, was a lot easier when I was a Stratford/NOG driver 🙄