Central line to be extended?????

Cue ...music from the X-files....

Maybe you right this topic probably does belong in the X files. But as they said in the X files "the truth is out there"

When this new runway is opened stansted will be able to handle boeing 747's and this means more routes and more passengers.

The opposition to the tube would be huge as the train companies and coach companies would loose revenues.

I dread to think what state the '92 stock would be in by the time it reached Stansted. I imagine bits of it would be alongside the M11 - there would be a set of bogies rolling into the platforms with some poor tourists clinging onto them with their suitcases! ;D ;D ;D

Think of it from the passengers' viewpoint: Stansted to City in 92 TS with rubbishy longitudinal seating and an annoying voice announcing each station. No-one would try it more than once.

Tube stock - even the 38 TS - is just not suitable for long distances.

This is one of the least believable rumours I've heard. For a start just how do you think they could keep the construction of a new runway secret? It would be a major construction project - and with all those planes flying overhead you couldn't stop people seeing it. There would be literally thousands of journalists who would see exactly what is going on, and that's not counting the ordinary passengers, the construction workers, contractors, sub-contractors, sub-sub contractors, airport staff (if it is like Bristol airport, there will be temps and students working in the shops), airline staff, local residents. Perhaps a handful would have an interest in keeping it secret - it just couldn't happen.

Also take a look at this map to see the distances involved. The red placemarks are Liverpool Street and Epping tube stations. The aeroplane is placed on the existing national rail station at Stansted (it would make sense for any possible tube station to be similarly sited). For comparison the pink placemarks represent Baker Street and Amersham tube stations (maroon ones aren't available).

Very approximately extending the Central Line to Stansted would be the same distance again as from Liverpool Street to Epping. I travel out to Debden frequently and that is plenty long enough on a tube train. Don't forget that it would require a massive increase in stock and drivers (where is the money going to come from?). It wouldn't make operational sense to combine it with the already existing longest line, not that the population density is there to support a metro service even if it did.

The only conceivable reason to spend all the money on another link out there is if the existing one couldn't handle the load, and even then longer trains and/or more frequent trains would be cheaper.

I see Chris M has already voiced my thoughts.

I vote we all check out Google maps to see if we can see a hidden runway. I'll give a prize to anyone who can.

Stansted will become bigger.The new A120 has been built between braintree and stansted.This will be further extended by 2012 between braintree and the A12 at colchester.This is being done to improve the links between folkestone and stansted for freight.Also it is proposed to build a further 60,000 homes along the new A120.The railway between liverpool street and braintree is to be extended from braintree to stansted through Rayne and Dunmow.A loop is apparently to be built at black notley so that trains will be able to pass each other from stansted.
The level of investment is staggering so believe the extra runway will be built if not so already.
Not to mention the new horse racing course at Great Leighs next to Braintree due to open next year.
I think the distances involved make extending the central line almost impossible but stansted is becoming very important so maybe that is why these rumours persist.

This idea has been knocking around for a bit.This is because of the number of commuters living in braintre and the need for more trains running from braintree.Braintree again is expanding at such a fast rate. the A131 has just been redeveloped between braintree and chelmsford.This is for the increase in traffic when the new race course opens.
Like I saidthe amount of investment in the area is amazing and whether you believe it or not, this is all being driven by the (proposed) expansion of stansted.
I think the central line will not be extended, but you know what, it would not suprise me in the slightest if it was.We would be the last to know as always.

Just as a quick comparison/guide.... how long has it taken for Crossrail to nearly come to fruition... and government are still wrangling about investment/financial input from London businesses

Considering there's a reasonably fast route into Liverpool Street already (as already mentioned) there is NO way that the red line would increase in size - the returns would be far too low (if they would exist at all). It would make far better economic sense to expand the existing suburban service.

The only way I could ever see TfL/LU running a service to Stansted would be by taking over the Stansted Express, making it part of the future London Overground services. As far as I am aware the existing plans only seem to encompass the present North London Line and the East London Line... unless the ELL is to be re-routed north eastwards and none of us know about it yet

I admire your persistence in defending this apparent rumour, but I don't buy a word of it I'm afraid matey.

How much do you think a runway would cost? Who would have paid for it? Sorry but that's a load of twaddle - and a good mate of mine, who incidentally works at Stansted, can 110% guarantee that no such runway exists

Of course big planes can land there - it is the UK's officially designated hijack airport after all................the only reason they don't routinely use it is a lack of suitable infrastructure. If you need further proof that big planes are already capable of using Stansted, look out for the freight planes - that's where my good mate comes in; he loads 'em up.

The whole Stansted thing is just like the Crossrail debacle - let the Government get involved and see what happens

Anyway, do a Google search for "Stansted expansion" - you will find plenty of info on the opposition and refusal of planning permissions for extra runways, etc. It will be years - probably decades even - before you'll really see anything happen at Stansted. Remember, you read it here first ;D ;D ;D

"Crossrail 2" appears to be dead - they've gone back to calling it the Chelsea-Hackney but the only concrete part of the route appears to be Victoria-KX-Dalston, but there don't seem to be even the haziest plans beyond that. Going to Stansted makes sense, though it'd be via the Lea Valley - I can't imagine building a new line through the countryside as part of such a project would stand up to any cost-benefit scrutiny.

I have a gut feeling the Epping/Ongar Branch historians amongst us will view this conjecture with approval.

Fact: The Ongar branch was originally constructed with dual tracking in mind, and foreseen to extend towards Braintree.
OK, albeit before 4 rail LUT electrification and service by tube train stock

Suncloud at Post #6 above, and Chris M at post #9 above raise realistic alternative views.

IMHO further discussion would raise more political than practical points, hence I'm being brief for respect of this Forum's "netiquette".

It could happen.

It could be as revolutionary as recent French, Japanese and Chinese Railway developments.

But it won't be. Our politicians lack the balls and the motive to put the "Great" back into Great Britain.

Publicly.



cheers all,
OngarPark'N'Ride

Just a few problems, what happens when your semi-fast catches up with the all stations train in front of it? Secondly, going by your service plans Debden and Theyden Bois wouldn't get any trains!

Keep away from Timeshare salesmen. They like people like you ;D