New use for charing cross

If only it could be built in time for the Olympics!!!

I have read that, and I think there was even a thread about this some time back.

I personally think its a good connection to be built, extending it to use the CX platforms - the key thing is though that the tunnelling costs will be prohibitive, and ultimately will be the projects downfall.

And you may not be able to naturally extend the DLR line from Bank, unless very sharp bends are taken or another branch is constructed in addition to the Tower Hill and Bank branches of the DLR - this is anecdotal I stress.

Another thing to consider is that those disused CX platforms are regularly used during disruption on the Jubilee Line. I'd guess several times a month easily. If that flexibility was removed, then whenever a service supsension happened, rather than suspending from Green Park to Waterloo, it will then be supsended Finchley Road to Waterloo, which is increasingly disruptive. If the Jubilee line gives up access to the CX platforms, then they will have to live with large scale service suspensions during incidents (like on the Picc), or invest in installing some simple crossover on that long stretch of line.

While it's good that TfL are considering new plans in the Central area (and not bombarding Stratford with more and more rail projects!), my only fear is that the DLR will not be able to cope with the potential patronage. This new route may well take off as the 'new Central line' (which in itself needs relieving, and thus is why this project is a good idea). This could conjure up a lot of passengers using the new branch. But I can see many people using this new extension, and I'm not sure that the DLR will be able to cope with demand, with its one 3 car train every few minutes (as I'm aware, Bank trains are crowded anyway. Yes, some people may instead go to CX now, but it's possible many new patrons may come instead).

I say bring in a new tube line as the 'second Central line' instead, rather than the DLR which, while previously successful, will never be able to have the capacity of an Underground train.

Apologies for being a cynic, but while the DLR is a cheap and cheerful solution, don't underestimate the capacity for customer growth either, especially when considering the East-West corridor.

Cheap and cheerful solutions may be the only ones we can actually afford.

Charing Cross Jubilee should be used by a new east-west line rather than the DLR which like all light-rail projects has proven himself in need to be helped by a quicker, higher capacity tube line.

I think it might be a good idea if there was a second route from Stratford, branch off at Canning down to Thamesmead, Woolwich and to New X, then back to Ch X

Connecting the GN&CR to the DLR and running DLR trains to Highgate would be quite impossible, for a number of reasons:

- the gradient needed to get from the level of the DLR to the level of the GN&CR would be nightmarish.
- the presence of various underground structures in the Bank area would preclude any tunnel boring.
- the loss of the GN&CR for FCC services to Welwyn Garden City would not be possible until after the GNR main line was connected to the Widened Lines via the new tunnel.

I would think though that any attempt to ease strain on the Central line is good. It appears to be full and busy 24/7. Living at ealing broadway i use it not only to commute but also to have a social life. Cross rail, DLR extension cannot come soon enough

But as TOK already stated, a Moorgate extension would be a very hard job to do. Kings Cross could be an idea though (would help the Central and Northern, anyway). Having said that, you might get there faster going to London Bridge via Bank Branch and getting a Jubilee to Canary Wharf?

If the tunnels are already dug, why didn't they continue the line extension in the first place? I know the plan was proposed back in the 70's, but the new extension doesn't seem to take any pressure off of other lines, IMO. A renewal of the "original" JLE sounds like a good idea to me. Besides, I thought there would be a conflict if the DLR extends to those platforms, while the Jubilee Line has complete access to the tunnels. Doesn't seem to make much sense.