The Anonymous Widower

Could Metropolitan Line Trains Run Between Uxbridge In The West And Barking/Upminster In The East?

I read somewhere in Wikipedia, that Transport for London (TfL) were thinking of extending Uxbridge Branch trains on the Metropolitan Line from Aldgate to Barking and/or Upminster stations.

Current Frequencies Between Wembley Park And Upminster Stations

These are the Off Peak frequencies on the various sections of the route in trains per hour (tph)

Wembley Park To Baker Street

• 2 tph – Amersham to Aldgate
• 2 tph – Chesham to Aldgate
• 8 tph – Uxbridge to Aldgate
• 4 tph – Watford to Baker Street

This gives a total of 16 tph

Baker Street To Liverpool Street

• 2 tph – Amersham to Aldgate
• 2 tph – Chesham to Aldgate
• 8 tph – Uxbridge to Aldgate
• 6 tph – Hammersmith to Barking
• 6 tph – Circle Line

This gives a total of 24 tph

Aldgate East to Barking

• 6 tph – Hammersmith to Barking
• 6 tph – Richmond to Upminster
• 6 tph-  Ealing Broadway to Upminster
• 3 tph – Wimbledon to Barking

This gives a total of 21 tph

Barking to Upminster

• 6 tph – Richmond to Upminster
• 6 tph – Ealing Broadway to Upminster

This gives a total of 12 tph

Current Frequencies Between Hammersmith And Baker Street

I’ll add this, in case I need it later.

• 6 tph – Hammersmith to Barking
• 6 tph – Circle Line

This gives a total of 12 tph

Current District Line Frequencies Between Hammersmith And Upminster

These are the Off Peak frequencies on the various sections of the route.

Hammersmith to South Kensington

• 6 tph – Richmond to Upminster
• 6 tph – Ealing Broadway to Upminster

This gives a total of 12 tph

South Kensington to Tower Hill

• 6 tph – Richmond to Upminster
• 6 tph – Ealing Broadway to Upminster
• 3 tph – Wimbledon to Barking
• 6 tph – Circle Line

This gives a total of 21 tph

Aldgate East to Barking

• 6 tph – Hammersmith to Barking
• 6 tph – Richmond to Upminster
• 6 tph-  Ealing Broadway to Upminster
• 3 tph – Wimbledon to Barking

This gives a total of 21 tph

Barking to Upminster

• 6 tph – Richmond to Upminster
• 6 tph – Ealing Broadway to Upminster

This gives a total of 12 tph

Four Lines Modification

The Four Line Modification is a project to upgrade the following lines.

• Circle Line
• District Line
• Hammersmith & City Line
• Metropolitan Line

New S7 and S8 Stock trains have been delivered and new track and drainage has been installed, but the biggest change will be in the new signalling. TfLsays this abut the new signalling.

Work to install a new signalling and control system began in summer 2016. This will eventually allow the trains to be driven automatically, with a train operator in the cab to open and close the doors. The train operator will be responsible for managing customer information and safety.

Similar technology introduced in recent years on the Jubilee and Northern lines improved performance. The new signalling system allows trains to be run closer together, meaning a more frequent service and shorter waiting times, allowing more people to be carried. This new technology will enable us to reduce delays and improve reliability.

If 32 tph can be run on sections of the four lines, it is an impressive upgrade of capacity.

Currently the frequencies are.

• Wembley Park to Baker Street – 16 tph
• Baker Street to Liverpool Street – 24 tph
• Aldgate East to Barking – 21 tph
• Barking to Upminster – 12 tph

For completeness these frequencies will be added.

Hammersmith to Baker Street – 12 tph

Note

1. The frequencies are all at least eight tph below the maximum future operating frequency.
2. The busiest section is between Baker Street and Liverpool Street stations.
3. The frequency on the two end sections of the Northern East-West section between Hammersmith and Upminster stations is only 12 tph.

It looks like TfL have scope to increase the capacity on the four lines.

Are The Circle/District Line Platforms At Edgware Road Station At Maximum Capacity?

Currently, the following services terminate at Edgware Road station.

• Six tph on the Circle Line.
• Six tph on the District Line from Wimbledon station.

As there are only two platforms to turn the twelve tph, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told me, that Edgware Road station was at maximum capacity.

If this is the case, then no more trains can be run on the Circle Line, without reducing the frequency to Wimbledon, unless the station were to be rebuilt.

This Google Map shows the station.

And this map from carto.metro.free.fr shows the lines through Edgware Road and Baker Street stations.

Edgware Road station lies in a cutting, in the midst of some very expensive real estate.

• It is not step-free.
• According to the carto.metro.free.fr map, there used to be or still is a siding or platform to the South of the current four platforms.
• The junctions to the West of the stations are complicated.
• As trains often wait for a few minutes in the station, I suspect it is not operationally efficient.

Could at some time in the future, the station be rebuilt?

• The East-West services might go straight through in two Northern platforms.
• The junction to the West of the station would be simplified, with no crossing of tracks.
• Three terminal platforms could be built for trains coming from the South, which would allow an increase in services.
• Hopefully, the East-West and terminating services could be separated and wouldn’t cross each other.
• Development of tower blocks over the top would provide some funds for the new station.

Would it be possible to increase Circle Line services to ten tph?

Frequencies along the route would be as follows.

• Baker Street to Liverpool Street – 28 tph
• Tower Hill to South Kensington – 25 tph
• High Street Kensington to Edgware Road – 16 tph

My scheduling nous says yes! I also feel, that using good project planning, the station could be built without disrupting services.

Baker Street Issues

Is Aldgate Station At Maximum Capacity?

Currently, the following services terminate at Aldgate station.

• 2 tph from Amersham
• 2 tph from Chesham
• 8 tph from Uxbridge

As there are only two platforms to turn the twelve tph, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told me, that Aldgate station was at maximum capacity.

This map from carto.metro.free.fr shows the lines at Aldgate station.

Note

1. The two platforms at Aldgate station are sandwiched between the two Circle Line tracks.
2. The platforms are curved, which makes step-free access difficult.

I suspect fitting in three straight platforms and full step-free access in the existing station will be very difficult.

This Google Map shows the general area around Aldgate station.

Certainly South of Aldgate High Street, there seems to be a site that could be ripe for development.

Are the District and Circle Lines underneath?

In a comment to this post, Melvyn says that the station could be redeveloped. He said this.

I did read a proposal to make Aldgate accessible linked to property development so this would mean a redesign of the station which could lead to removal of one of the terminal tracks.

I think I will conclude, that whatever happens at Aldgate station, there is no way, the station can handle more than twelve tph.

Could Extra Trains Be Turned At Barking?

This map from carto.metro.free.fr shows Barking station and the sidings to the East.

If the eight tph from Uxbridge turned back at Barking, that would mean that seventeen tph would need to be handled at the station.

I’m fairly certain, that this number of trains could be turned at Barking.

It is also worth noting in the map, the cross-platform interchange with c2c.

Could Extra Trains Be Turned At Upminster?

Upminster station has a depot with an impressive maze of sidings to the East.

As the station also has three platforms for District Line trains, I believe the station can handle more than the twelve tph, that it does now!

Increasing The Core Frequency

Suppose extra trains were to be run between Baker Street and Liverpool Street stations.

Ideally, eight extra tph would need to be run to use the maximum capacity of the route.

Where Would The Extra Trains Go In The West?

Extra trains could possibly be run to Hammersmith station, as the three-platform station can probably handle more trains than the twelve tph it does now.

If Edgware Road station is at maximum capacity, then no more Circle Line trains could be run.

But with a rebuild of Edgware Road station in the future, would allow perhaps up to an extra four tph on the Circle Line.

But there could be a few more Hammersmith & City Line services.

There would also be the possibility of more Metropolitan Line services to Amersham, Chesham Uxbridge and Watford stations.

Where Would The Extra Trains Go In The East?

Consider.

• There are four bay platforms at Moorgate station,but are they currently the wrong side of the important Liverpool Street station.
• Moorgate station is being rebuilt for Crossrail and this may open up possibilities for using the bay platforms.
• Aldgate station is at full capacity.
• Extra trains can’t take the Circle Line as Edgware Road station is at frill capacity.
• With a rebuild of Edgware Road station, it might be possible to add four tph to the Circle Line.

So I come to the conclusion, that some extra services must go on to Barking and/or Upminster.

A Possible Timetable

If I assume the extra eight tph go all the way between Wembley Park and Upminster, this gives the following frequencies along the line.

• Wembley Park to Baker Street – 24 tph
• Baker Street to Liverpool Street – 32 tph
• Aldgate East to Barking – 29 tph
• Barking to Upminster – 20 tph

The terminals of the various services could be shared between Aldgate and Upminster.

I also suspect, that the new signalling will allow twelve tph instead of the current eight tph to be terminated at Baker Street station.

Uxbridge To Barking/Upminster Timings

These are the timings for various section of the route.

• Uxbridge to Baker Street – 38 minutes
• Baker Street to Liverpool Street – 13 minutes
• Liverpool Street to Barking – 25 minutes
• Barking to Upminster – 18 minutes

This means that Uxbridge to Upminster could take 94 minutes, with Uxbridge to Barking taking 76 minutes.

These may translate into the following round-trips.

• Uxbridge and Upminster – Four hours, which would need 32 trains.
• Uxbridge and Barking – Three hours, which would need 24 trains.

The current service between Uxbridge and Aldgate has a round trip of two hours, which needs 16 trains.

It would appear that if Uxbridge services go to an alternative terminal, then Barking would be a better choice.

Conclusion

It looks like, that it is very likely, that Metropolitan Line trains will run as far as Barking and/or Upminster stations.

December 17, 2018 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Barking Station, District Line, Metropolitan Line, Upminster Station, Uxbridge Station