S stock and the Chesham shuttle

Then what was the last non A Stock apart from the D Stock tour? F or P Stock?

Didnt a C stock (possibly formed of 4 cars) run during steam on the Met? or at another time...

You just beat me to that ....one of my mates was the driver, he's often proudly proclaiming how he drove it on there !

I like the idea of retaining some "heritage" A Stock on the shuttle, but I suspect the retention of some double ended D stock makes more sence (perhaps using A then 4 cars of C stock until the D becomes available)

presumably the dual training of drivers can be limited to Rickmansworth depot just as dual training on the District is limited (for the most part) to Acton and Earl's depots. During the changeover all the drivers need to be trained on two stocks anyway !

Presumably it is part of the infraco's contract to provide trains for the Chesham branch, so they will need to pay whatever it takes, whether that's building 4 car S stocks, alterations at Chalfont & Latimer, or the cost of maintaining odd units of A or other older stock?

I think we can safely assume it will be whatever turns out to be the lowest cost option!

A couple of points about this...

1) I've noticed that just recently a couple of new buffer stop marker lights have appeared in the bay platform at Chalfont. These are approximately 1 track width to the car park side of the existing marker lights (so standing alone outside any track). Not sure if these are just being stored here, but they seem to be fixed into the ground.

Could that be a first phase of extending the platform as it would allow the platform to extended outwards making it wider at the Chesham end proving space for an extension - could be six cars, could be eight.

2) I doubt the Chesham shuttle would close for two reasons:

a) the line is pretty well used and, compared to some higher-graded NR routes, is positively brimming.

b) this would be completely against TfL policy. I can't see them argueing for increasing public transport use and advocating their taking over NR routes and then closing one of the peripheral London routes they're so keen on taking over. Bear in mind it was Ken Livingstone who actually saved the branch when LU tried to crop it back in the mid-80s.

Anyway, that's just my view. I think a lot of people consider closure is an option because of 1980's policy-making, but I really don't think it would be politically acceptable these days when everyone is talking about environmental taxes for road use etc.

(And don't laugh when they prove me wrong and I'm walking to Amersham to get my train...)

Which is why the only way to fix things is to build a flying junction at Chalfont, so that trains to Chesham do not conflict with trains from Amersham and Aylesbury. As mentioned elsewhere, one of Chiltern's franchise commitments is a "major upgrade" of the London-Aylesbury route, so I wouldn't be surprised if Chiltern gets fed up with the earbashing from Aylesbury line commuters and approaches TfL to sort things out.