TfL prioritises DLR extension and Northern line upgrade
Oct 5, 2020 14:14:13 GMT
John tuthill, M1104, and 1 more like this
Post by wirewiper on Oct 5, 2020 14:14:13 GMT
I agree with renaming the Northern line completely, especially since the line in its current form actually goes further south than it does north.
The CX branch will become the Hampstead & West End Line and the City branch will be the City & South London Line, it’ll be a fresh start for both new lines to make a clean break from the poor reputation the Northern Line has plus they will go back to their original names.
As for the DLR to Thamesmead, I completely agree that this should take priority over the Bakerloo extension (which I believe should just be extended to Camberwell, another area with poor rail links), Thamesmead is in far greater need of a rail link than Lewisham is, plus this should relieve the pressure off Abbey Wood.
The fact is the DLR is basically doing what the planners intended the Jubilee Line was supposed to do, give South East London a tube/metro service to the centre of London, CrossRail will also fulfil this role but also give Thamesmead a rail link, which in a parallel universe is the terminal for the Fleet/River line
I bet Hayes line users are happy that their rail service and their 2tph semi fast service to Charing Cross, is safe for at least for another couple of decades
In the event only the High Barnet branch was completed in 1940 before work stopped for the duration of the Second World War. A single line to Mill Hill East was also finished to serve a nearby military base. The rest was never resumed after the War; a partially-constructed extension from Edgware to Bushey Heath was also abandoned as the new Green Belt made it unviable. What had been planned as a new Depot for the extended line was repurposed as Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works.
The poor reputation of the Northern Line arose from poor maintenance and a shortage of spare train parts in the 1970s which led to extensive cancellations (at time up to one-third of trains were being cancelled each day). It didn't help that the Northern Line is the Underground's busiest and accounts for around 15% of all passenger journeys.
* the original Highgate Station is today's Archway. The station was renamed Archway (Highgate) on 11th June 1939, just before the opening of the extension to East Finchley on 3rd July 1939. The Highgate was dropped in 1947.