Edgware Road to Wimbledon

Yes that would have required a branch at Earls Ct to link Fulham Broadway etc onto the Piccadilly. The District might have run Uxbridge-Tower and Richmond-Upminster & Ealing - Upminster (giving Turnham Green moaners residents an extra 6tph). Casualties: slower journeys for Uxbridge folk and no Wimblewares

Did you mean Wembley Park N/B? If two southbound trains were to leave simultaneously towards the same destination, there would be a bit of a crunching sound of two A-stocks becoming one ;D



If the fast is either due through Wembley first in the timetable or is some way ahead of a late-running local, then it will be signalled through Wembley Park. There are a surprising number of southbound fast trains in the current timetable, which are given additional running time from Harrow to Wembley and this can quite often mean a fast arrives at the home signals some 3 minutes early. The signalling does restrict fast trains being brought into Wembley if a train on platform 5 already has the starter cleared.

I don't know if this is a stupid suggestion or not, but at Acton Town you could (and as has happened in the past in my experience) have two Heathrow branch trains leaving from the local and fast WB platforms, and I suppose you could have an ex-Rayners and ex-Heathrow in the EB which would mean one left before the other.

If only! They are often to be found sitting in the E/B local platform holding up the District!

If only!

Trains are routed in the best interests of the overall service by the Service Operator, even if the timetable is different.
If one then sits down in the platform, saying owing to a crew relief problem, then this is an issue for the Duty Manager (Trains). The easiest way round it is to "stock and crew" reform the train, so that the one without a Train Operator is now in the Fast platform.

It is quite common to send Heathrow trains via the Local lines, both timetabled and ad-hoc..

It is also possible for a train to leave the westbound platform(s) first, then be held at the Advance Starter for the other to pass, if headed to Ealing Common.

And I've seen it happen...

Very rarely used as a test track. There are a few timetabled trains though each day to run via the EBLL. Its mainly used when trains come back from Heathrow in the wrong order.

It's not as common as on the westbound, as it has to be done in Push Button mode, at Northfields and Acton Town.

Aspect that is not quite right. Both lines ask for priority over the other. Many people take no notice and carry on doing the best for all the passengers. What you may well experience is that trains on the WBFL have their route called before those on the Local when the Programme Machine is in First Come First Served (90% of the time). This is simply as trains top at Chiswick Park on the Local, but not the Fast!


The Piccadilly Line DMT is not remotely concerned if one of his trains is sitting down in the local and only delaying District Line trains.


With the note that I truely hate to quibble with your emminent self Upfast.

It is extreemly difficult to justify to our passengers why, the Piccadilly Line train we have been running next to is put in the local when the fast is empty, only for another to go past into the fast and sometimes yet another comes by into the local .... and then sits down !!! The District Controllers are often pulling their hair out at the "antics" at Acton Town !! Plus i notice Acton Town tip out's (e/b) invariably get dumped in the local, blocking the District .. coincidence ... i doubt it ! However I would conceed my personal experiences have been better in the last month or two, thankfully I mostly do Richmond and Wimbledon runs !![/quote]

Well. Regarding the westbound, there are many more Piccadilly line trains than District. If there is blocking back, then the Local will be used.

Regarding the eastbound, the Local platform is used when you can't get the Picc into the fast due to a train sitting down there. Either way the District will be stuck, be it at Ealing Common or behind. Sometimes, when there are sit downs, or you know that the Picc train that could be put into the Local will not move due to say, no crew relief, the District controller "will moan". So either way, you can't win!

As to the District Controllers pulling their hair out. They might look at getting their own house in order first!

Anyway, Aspect. I still don't think I have seen you come up and visit to see and understand how the equipment works. Maybe this could help with an explanation to the passengers. Happy Bunny of this parish has been up to have a look!

Also, just to add that diverting a train isn't quite as quick or simple as pressing one button. Programme Machines need to be put into Push Button mode, numbers have to be cancelled off and extra trained. So it's not done just willy nilly!

...as long as the staff are trained on both lines, they keep the trains etc! Why not leave it as it is! I think the Northern line works well, with ATO it will hopefully run more frequently. The line is split off peak and is re combined in the peak.

There is an extra platform just for Districts at Acton - the old South Acton branch platform!

Unfortunatly it's a bit short for a six car D stock train

How would you get the 313/378 there?

Because it would create more capacity and less delays... And it'x exactly in the peak that the line is most prone to delays.
I think those are pretty good reasons to do it. Of course ATO and resignalling can help with this as well, but if problems persist I think splitting would be a good option, or should at least be considered.