7 car platforms

I don't think the extending the Notting Hill <<>> Paddington Circle platforms will be that difficult actually Citysig (not winding you up today) Blackfriars and Monument used to be similarly short and they managed it there. The two stations that train crews wanted done were Temple and Gloucester Road. At one time or other they had the roof off at the west end of both places and it would have been easy. Barbican too was wide open to the sky when the tunnel was re-alignerd in the 60's .But no, myopia crept in again.

Maybe I should have phrased my post differently. The direction I was heading from was that it would not be that difficult to make all platforms 7-car.

I was coming from the angle that Metronet will make a big thing over something small - in the hope that it looks like they're actually doing something. When in fact, what looks like a big project to "lengthen" platforms will actaully involve structural work at only a couple.

As for Hammersmith, there would be less problems there than Bayswater. At the former, there is plenty of booking-hall area space to extend the current running rails (and provide for 7-cars plus the sand drag). At the latter, extension requires a bit more work with the tunnels needing to be dug out.

They haven't proposed it, I merely suggested that would be a sensible/cheap course of action. They're bound to choose a cheap option, but whether or not sense comes into it is another matter.

The layout changes would fall under the "not cheap" catergory, and so I don't think they will be considered. In any case, the length of each train would be increased, and so less requirement to step-up the service. Therefore the layout would still be sufficient.

Somewhere or other (TV or Internet) I have seen a track based braking thing that elimnates need for sandrags etc. It seems to work on a similar basis to a treadle and is about 60ft long. The principle seems to be that the approaching train depresses the treadle part which brings some sort of plate into contact with the inside surface of the wheels and causes drag to slow the train down. The item I saw demonstrated this and it seems to be a marvellous thing in the it slowed a train travelling at 25mph down to 5 in the distance (60ft) without derailing it.

I wonder if it will be of any benefit where space is tight.

Such a device was used in hump marshalling yards on BR to reduce the speed of wagons being sorted.
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Ah yes I remember those. But this application I saw of it was as a replacement for sandrags with one of those 'sliding' headstop things to finsih the job.

I don't know why, but the example I thought of was certain fairground rides such as rollercoasters also use them ;D

As for getting rid of the equipment, most locations would indeed gain a car or so in length of track - some locations even more so. As an example of a location I visited recently, Stanmore would have room for around another 2-3 cars!

Oh wonderful - the poor denizens of the Hammersmith branch will now have their entire service suspended while the terminus throat is uprooted...

I had a look at the feasibility studies done for the 7 car platforms whilst they were at an early stage.

I remember the Baker St scheme for platforms 5/6 in particular.

At the time the Kings Cross eastbound platform tunnel had a strip cut from the crown after excavating down from Euston Road. The road was kept open for traffic with a temporary trestle bridge overhead and the plan was to use this for Baker St except over Marylebone Road. Here a section of brick tunnel at the western headwall was to be dug out and demolished and replaced with precast arches to match the platform tunnel diameter. Then there would be sufficient space for your platform extension and passengers would see the light of day.

The feasibility studies were done as an early costing exercise and I think the cheapo option of going for end door cut out at most stations was seriously considered.

Oh, the forward thinking of some in planning is wondrous to behold [seniorplanner not included]

Surely selective door opening could be used at stations such as Bayswater (if the S Stock have that capability -- i presume they will) but it would not be a good idea at Hammersmith as the drivers have to walk the length of the train on the platform dont they?
Im probably wrong lol.

Drivers changing ends at Hammersmith could use the connecting doors between cars to get to the front car, then the j door to access the cab.

yes tubeoperator92 plans wrere made to make another platform on the ncp car park as the land belongs to lul and to put a through walkway through the wall on platform 1 but of course due to it being listed they had to qush that idea as they cant put a hole in the wall ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Alchohol? Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The extenstion was designed originally for the 7 cars they have now. I dare say one or two platforms could stretch to 8-car lengths.

For various reasons, the north end of the line is graced with some very generous platforms - one or two are slightly longer than 8 cars. Do we then wonder why not all platforms are 10 cars in length? It has to stop somewhere or we'll have people walking from station to station (under normal circumstances I might add before the quick ones jump in.)