Great Western Coffee Shop

I was not sure whether to put this in the Lighter Side or Smoke and Mirrors. Moderators please move if appropriate.

I was just wondering how the new T Cup Circle Line is running?

Lots of bemused tourists hanging around Edgware Road?

Haven't heard much on the radio. I don't watch tele news and no longer get a daily paper (Guardian), and haven't picked any recent posts on Coffee Shop so a bit out of touch.

It won't really effect me as I always use the H&C platforms if I want Eastbound on the top of teh Circle. Usually because the Taplow trains arrive in 13/14.

It should affect you for the better though, because now you'll have twice as many trains - and in both directions?

There were problems on Tuesday (15th) I believe, following a points failure at Edgware Rd only one centre platform was available so until end of service only the Circle ran between High Street Ken and Edgware Rd. At the same time there were signalling 'issues' at Mansion House or Tower Hill, with the terminating Districts, this also caused a bit of chaos.

However, posts in 'District Dave's' LU forum by Thursday were suggesting that the new setup has also led to quicker recovery from a 'security incident'.

Paul

I noticed a sign at Slough earlier (whilst passing through) about the new (not) circle line.. And it said to go up and over the bridge on your arrival platform to access the H&C line platform.. I didn't realise that every train arriving at Paddington from Slough would squeeze onto platform 13 or 14 even if they do try to get more trains in there than the other 12 Paddington platforms ;)  :)

I don't quite get your post Jo?
The footbridge links all platforms.

Well yes I did wonder that Ollie. But if you're on a two or three car train for example that is lucky enough to be allowed into one of the other platforms, the overbridge is quite a long way behind you.. Whereas in platform 13 and 14 it is right there as you get off the train.. I just imagine it could be very confusing..

Also, since you can get to Edgware road and change there for the circle line via the old and usual route.. wouldn't it be good to advertise that too?

I would expect the notice is there for two purposes. It is obviously the best way to go for the eastbound circle beyond Kings Cross, as no change is required. Going via the Praed St (District/Circle) platforms is going to need a change, and the frequency is no better.

But also, assuming that's the way you hope to travel, it is reminding people that they don't need to exit the gateline at the east end of the suburban platforms, and then re-enter the same gateline via the footbridge. I've heard this can lead to Oyster charging errors.

Paul

Thanks Paul7755.. I think I must have been having a confused yesterday morning :).. Although since I've commuted into London for years and it confused me... Maybe then, the other way round, less regular travellers might work it out first time  ;D ;D

When I went up to London last, 19 Dec, I noticed that Tiverton Parkway station had TfL posters up informing potential passengers of the changes to the Circle Line, and would also assume that if a station such as Tiverton has them, all (or at least most) FGW stations with London trains has them.

Shame the Train Managers don't seem to know! (I will admit that on this particular day, the Train Manager did also have to contend with the fact that the train was late running due to the signal problems at Bridgwater so will let them off, kind of!) A few passengers asked the Train Manager the best way to get to King's Cross station (for a Luton airport connection if I recall correctly), and they did direct them to the Circle Line but then told them to use the 'old' Circle Line platforms...

Like I said, the Train Manager was under a bit of strain with the circumstances so I shall let them off if it was just because they forgot...

(The actual point of this post has escaped me - please forgive me, I seem to do that a lot...)

To be honest, when I used to commute on the circle line from Paddington to Great Portland street every day, the majority of the time it would be on the first train out of Paddington which was usually district line and then change at Edgware road.. So not much difference really.. At least anyone that ends up in the wrong place (district line platform) can still get where they want to go fairly easily..

Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, RichieG - despite the confusion!  ;) :D ;D

I think directing them to the old circle line platforms is the best policy.  If you are going to Kings Cross there is one escalator down then level access to the platform.  If you catch a circle line train it will be a cross platform interchange at Edgware Road.  However if you send them to the Hammersmith and City line platforms then they will have to struggle up and down the steps with suitcases etc.

Which they woukld have to do if they ended up on an Edgware Road train (i.e. off the Wimbledon Branch) - so iof you send them that way, how do you tell them which train to get on to???

Get the wrong train and you have to go UP and DOWN a flight of stairs, whereas it's a ramp & DOWN a flight at Paddington.

Which is a bwetter bet then?

Just get a cricle line.  They still show either Circle Line or Edgware Road train as the destination at Paddington.  At least they did last week - have not needed to use them for the last 7 days.  So just catch the Circle line then no stairs to walk up and down.

The C stock has had new destination blinds fitted, so when approaching Edgware Rd through the Praed St platform a District line train should still show Edgware Rd, a Circle should show:

 'Circle Line
to Edgware Rd'

over two rows.  The other options to be seen on the appropriate parts of the route should be

 'Circle Line
via  Aldgate'

or

  'Circle Line
to Hammersmith'

Paul

I still think the T-cup is better for London. Not only will it iron out delays, it has doubled the service out to Shepherd's Bush (for Westfield) and Hammersmith.