please empty your brain below
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Oddly too the guard hopped off and went across to wave some electronic gizmo at something on the wall, as if he was checking in to prove the train had been here.
This proved that he was on the platform - its the same for security guards to prove that they have patrolled a particular location.
I'm sure the Great Northern Electrics went to Moorgate at weekends when first introduced, then switched to Kings Cross at weekends during the 1980s, from a passengers point of view its only inconvenient if you specifically need Kings Cross, once Crossrail opens Moorgate will be the better destination for many passengers anyway.
| 14.12.15 - 7:27 a.m. | #
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Your readers may appreciate this, still extant at Essex Road:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33109/5991075192#
Noting particularly the connection to the City Widened Lines at Moorgate (lost eight years ago this weekend)
A wolf | 14.12.15 - 8:08 a.m. | #
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Marvellous. Throughly enjoyed that excursion.
The c2c diversion to Stratford. I think there's more to it than shopping. Fairly soon, West Ham will be playing there. I understand there's a lot of West Ham fans living in c2c-land, so this service will be good for them too.
IslandDweller | 14.12.15 - 8:09 a.m. | #
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On the Southend changes, while I was waiting for a train at Liverpool Street last week, I got talking to a bloke who was moaning like crazy about the fact he now had to get his train from there rather than Fenchurch Street. The train was late, which didn't help his mood either. On an entirely scientific survey of one person, it's not an entirely popular move.
Baldassaro | 14.12.15 - 8:16 a.m. | #
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When I went on the Emerson Park line soon after it was taken over, the train not only had a (not really a) First Class section, but a toilet! Probably the most luxurious provision TfL have ever run, and in the most pointless imaginable place...
swirlythingy | Homepage | 14.12.15 - 9:35 a.m. | #
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Thanks DG once again for visiting another selection of places I am curious about, and for your reporting of these places, which has flair. I wish the travel journalists for newspapers (typically paid and/or given freebies) were as good at it.
The guard checking in on the Emerson platform may be a token nod towards the claim that "all Overground stations are staffed".
Malcolm | 14.12.15 - 9:53 a.m. | #
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A historical note: trains from the Great Northern suburban service have always served Moorgate in rush hours(well, always since 1865). Until 1976 this was via Kings Cross (York Road) and Farringdon, then it switched to being via Drayton Park. Apart from getting businessmen to the city, there has never been enough space for them all to terminate at Kings Cross.
But until recently, weekends have been another matter altogether.
Malcolm | 14.12.15 - 10:02 a.m. | #
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Re the c2c diversion - I seem to recall this was done before but with trains via Stratford still terminating at Fenchurch Street having traversed the old Bow section from Gas Factory Junction. It's a pity they're not going that way now as I've not yet travelled on that section of track.
Rob Healy | 14.12.15 - 10:04 a.m. | #
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It's worth noting that yesterday's Great Northern service was much worse than halved. There should have been *four* trains per hour between Highbury & Islington and Essex Road. But they completely cancelled all trains on the Hertford loop leaving only a single Welwyn train per hour running through to Moorgate. (There were massive disruptions elsewhere on the network yesterday too.)
Adam Bowie | Homepage | 14.12.15 - 10:08 a.m. | #
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The Moorgate line was certainly open on Sundays in the early 1980s, as I remember using it. But even in Underground days Essex Road was closed at weekends.
I would guess travel via Romford and Liverpool Street/Moorgate would have been quicker, but would not have taken in the novelty of Barking to Stratford.
Other timetable changes include Frome's first direct train to London for many years, and a curious double-loop service on Sunday afternoons from Waterloo to Kingston via Brentford.
This seems to be part of SWT's much-advertised extra 57000 seats: what they don't say is that they are mainly done by doubling up quiet trains at weekends. The rush hour is as rammed as ever.
timbo | 14.12.15 - 10:13 a.m. | #
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Despite having travelled on every bus route in Havering I have yet to do the Romford - Upminster rail line. One day I'll get round to it.
Surely the C2C change also applies on Saturdays or are you simply focusing on Sunday changes?
TSGN's farcical performance with the Moorgate line does not inspire confidence. Restoring the weekend Moorgate service is a great idea but what prospect a future more frequent service and new trains if they can't run a Sunday service?
PC | 14.12.15 - 11:07 a.m. | #
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Timbo and others -- I also used the Moorgate/Highbury trains to Hertfordshire in the late 1970s/early 1980s on Sundays. My soon-to-be in-laws lived in Hatfield and I lived in Brixton - a simple cross-platform change at Highbury. Later, after a move to Lewisham, we caught the train from the start of the line at Moorgate.
Alan Burkitt-Gray | 14.12.15 - 11:18 a.m. | #
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How about sarf ov da rivva? I've heard some of the rail companies operating there will be running buses on a lot of their routes between Christmas and New Year.
For that matter, what are the ordinary buses doing?
Bronchitikat | Homepage | 14.12.15 - 11:55 a.m. | #
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'... embraced by the tangerine tentacles of the Overground.'
Absolutely classic !
Gerry | 14.12.15 - 12:32 p.m. | #
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@timbo
Re Frome, it's not quite the first direct train to London. FGW have been running one a day for some time - 06:05 Frome to Paddington and 18:05 Paddington to Frome.
It is however the first I think from Waterloo. However SWT should be congratulated for the changes they have made. They are linking two previously unconnected stations (and routes), Yeovil Junction & Yeovil Pen Mill with several daily services as well as some direct services via previous FGW only stations, ones where FGW have shown a complete lack of interest in improving services, despite bad overcrowding on their route (Cardiff to Portsmouth).
Jon Combe | 14.12.15 - 12:41 p.m. | #
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@Jon Combe
I would rather SWT got their act together on their home territory before try to muscle in on a competitor's domain. But of course where you have a monopoly there is little incentive to do anything more than the bare minimum, as nothing you do can improve or detract from your 100% market share.
As I understand it most of the new workings are existing empty runs that were routed that way for "route knowledge" purposes (so drivers could sign as knowing the route should it be needed as a diversion when the direct route via Tisbury was blocked). Hence the rather skewed timings, with no morning services over the new route. At least it's a more sociable time than the once-a-night service GWR offers. (Arrive in Frome at supper time, and leave again before dawn)
timbo | 14.12.15 - 12:53 p.m. | #
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Should I be worried about myself that I find DG's posts on places like Northolt Park and Essex Road more interesting than those on Rome or Arsenal.
whiff | 14.12.15 - 4:28 p.m. | #
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Ah! Essex Road station. I remember it well in the early fifties when going walkabout whilst my mother visited my great aunt who lived nearby.
I remember the distinctive damp smell in those cavernous station which appeared all the more so as off-peak services were run by a two car train, a quarter of which was taken up by a motor and switchgear compartment. They used to add or remove, carriages at Drayton Park before and after the peaks. You can still (or could last year) see the site of the car sheds at Drayton Park, even down to the inspection pits.
Baldrick | 14.12.15 - 4:31 p.m. | #
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Essex Road has the creepiest emergency staircase of the entirety of subterranean London Transport.
Are trains running on the c2c route between Fenchurch Street and Stratford in the foreseeable future? I heard they put on services at Christmas time, but this and last Christmas have seen precisely zero...
the orange one | 14.12.15 - 5:08 p.m. | #
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I am emboldened by some of the previous comments to go off-message. In the old days on a single track railway the guard would descend to deliver a satchel to the guard waiting to use the line in the other direction; much cheaper and safer than a signal. Only the guard with the satchel could use the line.
Christopher Bellew | Homepage | 14.12.15 - 5:38 p.m. | #
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A very small detail in passenger mile terms, but this is not quite "full UK details" as Northern Ireland Railways does its own thing.
Chris | 14.12.15 - 10:43 p.m. | #
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@Christopher Bellew
The satchel was actually a pouch containing the actual "token" which was the permit to use the line. Google "Abermule 1921" to find out what could happen if you didn't check the contents of the satchel.
timbo | 15.12.15 - 11:03 a.m. | #
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Having grown up in Garston, I have a weird sentimentality for all things Abbey Flyer related, so it's oddly comforting to know the 321 lives on. Indeed, given the utter shambles that is the London Midland 319 fleet, I suspect many would want it back!
Phil | 18.12.15 - 7:33 p.m. | #
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It is, surely better to have the romford to upminster line on the tube map than the bloody cable car!
| 18.12.15 - 10:18 p.m. | #
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