Bakerloo Line at Paddington

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

But necessitates a change onto already packed (at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) H&C at Edgware Road. All circle trains terminate there from PAD

[Jason]

there were Network Rail bods giving directions and it's very well signposted if you're not familiar with the area.

They're spaced in pairs at about 4 interim points between the two stations. I've seen them during my morning and evening commute, I wonder if they're there all day. They might want to increase their profile though, a pair of pink foam hands saying 'here to help' gets lost in the general crowd of charity chuggers, striking medical staff etc along that route

[NickB]

The fact that every time I've passed them the 'hand' has been removed and stuffed under an armpit to facilitate easier head-down-phone-watching amuses me and contributes to that lack of visibility. I figured it as a sign that they weren't too busy.

[Adelante_CCT]

But necessitates a change onto already packed (at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) H&C at Edgware Road. All circle trains terminate there from PAD

??, I mean catch a circle or Hammersmith from P16 direct to Moorgate, nothing to do with changing at Edgware Road.

[ChrisB]

Sorry, I thought you meant use the Circle Eastbound platform.

I thought we were suggesting travel *avoiding* the H&C platforms?

[TaplowGreen]

there were Network Rail bods giving directions and it's very well signposted if you're not familiar with the area.

They're spaced in pairs at about 4 interim points between the two stations. I've seen them during my morning and evening commute, I wonder if they're there all day. They might want to increase their profile though, a pair of pink foam hands saying 'here to help' gets lost in the general crowd of charity chuggers, striking medical staff etc along that route

Only 2 days in I know but it seems that not so many people are taking the "get off at Edgware Road and walk" option in the evenings from what I can see......reckon more are getting onto the H & C/Circle at Baker St - good luck to them.

I noticed all the chuggers on Praed St last night and did more side stepping than during my entire 25 year rugby career......then again I was a hooker! 

Got on the Central Line (Ealing B) at 0735 this morning, changed at Bond Street onto the Jubilee and was at London Bridge for 0810 so not bad at all, probably only 5 mins later than the usual journey via Paddington.

[chrisr_75]

I noticed all the chuggers on Praed St last night and did more side stepping than during my entire 25 year rugby career......then again I was a hooker! 

Having witnessed the sights after cutting along Sussex Gardens on my way back to Paddington on foot from the west end, I can confirm that Praed St is the wrong street for you...!

[Electric train]

I noticed all the chuggers on Praed St last night and did more side stepping than during my entire 25 year rugby career......then again I was a hooker! 

It was always said by those in the know when I worked a Padd that Sussex Garden had more hookers than Parade Street .................. but I never did any research though 

Back to more serious points there is a pedestrian underpass under Edgware Rd / Marylebone Rd which should save the head ache of the road crossing

[onthecushions]

Something like this happened in 1996/7, when the Bakerloo was closed South of Piccadilly Circus for about 10 months, for work on the tunnel under the river.

What was evident was the need for the District to terminate at Baker Street rather than Edgware Road to create more capacity East of Paddington to the inner LT network, particularly as the SS trains are nearly empty for their last stop. That would need terminating platforms and some tunnelling of course but it would have also eased the junction conflicts. It would have been a better preliminary for Crossrail.

OTC

[SandTEngineer]

My past experience is that MET Line extensions from Baker Street to Aldgate are not so heavily used.  It would be better then to terminate more MET Line services at Baker Street and extend the Circle Line services from Edgware Road to Moorgate thus creating an overflowing 'Teacup' 

[onthecushions]

My past experience is that MET Line extensions from Baker Street to Aldgate are not so heavily used.  It would be better then to terminate more MET Line services at Baker Street and extend the Circle Line services from Edgware Road to Moorgate thus creating an overflowing 'Teacup' 

My impression also. I remember waiting at Moorgate for the 1 in 3 or 4 H&C's or Circles, while the nearly empty but capacious MET "A" stock made ritual but largely pointless station calls. I put it down to longer distance trains paying better even when not full.

I notice that we now have a "Zone 9". Can we expect our stations to Reading to be zoned?

OTC

[ChrisB]

My past experience is that MET Line extensions from Baker Street to Aldgate are not so heavily used.  It would be better then to terminate more MET Line services at Baker Street and extend the Circle Line services from Edgware Road to Moorgate thus creating an overflowing 'Teacup' 

You obviously don't regularly use that section? Daily - there are *many* using the MET extension from Baker Street through to Liverpool Street & Aldgate - push those onto the circle line trains totally defeats the idea of spreading the load!

[SandTEngineer]

My past experience is that MET Line extensions from Baker Street to Aldgate are not so heavily used.  It would be better then to terminate more MET Line services at Baker Street and extend the Circle Line services from Edgware Road to Moorgate thus creating an overflowing 'Teacup' 

You obviously don't regularly use that section? Daily - there are *many* using the MET extension from Baker Street through to Liverpool Street & Aldgate - push those onto the circle line trains totally defeats the idea of spreading the load!

I did use the past tense in my post.  Only ever travel that part in the 'off peak' these days. However, I didn't suggest a reduction in the total number of trains between Baker Street an Moorgate, just a reconfiguration of the originations.

[ChrisB]

And I was making the point that *many* on those trains travel onto Liverpool Street & Aldgate, which ios one reason they don't terminate (except during disruption) at Moorgate.

[NickB]

Fwiw I vastly preferred things when the Circle was a circle and given a choice between a long Met Line and increased frequency on the Circle I'd take the improved Circle.
I say this as someone who grew up on the Met Line and also spent many years commuting in from Pinner to Moorgate.
Baker Street is designed to allow maximum flow from the MetLine platforms to eastbound Circle and having to make the interchange is not arduous. In fact, because the number of through trains is low compared to the number of Baker Street terminations, and because when travelling west the variety of destinations is so varied, most commuters from the City will interchange at Baker Street anyway.
If terminating all trains at BS allowed the Circle to run enhanced numbers (because points switching is not needed?) then the overall capacity can be increased.
And before anyone thinks I'm down on the Met Line I think the same of the other track-sharers - district and H&C. Interchange for them too and get the Circle running better.

In my opinion anyway.