please empty your brain below

The "more reliable service" argument is rather defeatist, isn't it? Instead of treating the cause (actually making the trains/signals/track better), they're just treating the symptoms (everything's still crappy, but it will be reorganised to appear to be slightly better).

Am I correct in thinking that the Circle line trains will be stopping at the current H&C platform at Paddington? If this is the case I can only see serious overcrowding issues. At the moment the (current) Circle line and H&C platforms are seriously busy and both suffer from poor passenger access. This is particularly servere for the H&C line where there is only a single set of stairs for the single middle platform. As it stands passengers in rush our need to wait at the top of the stairs to allow disembarking passengers into the station.

No question that I'm already dreading this "improvement". I

I travel through Edgware Road every day on my commute, and it's only bearable thanks to the chance to hop off a Wimbleware train at Bayswater and get a Circle through. On the days that the Circle's buggered I have to brave the chaos at ER or just abandon it and walk the last bit for 25 minutes.

Hang on this is really confusing. I think I see what you mean about Edgware Rd. now. So if you come into Paddington on a mainline train and you want to head east you have two circle line platforms. The old one and the H&C one. If you go to the H&C platform you are fine, if you go to the old one you need to change at Edgware Rd. because your circle line train will terminate. If you want to head down you need to go to the current platform and if you want to go to Hammersmith you need to go to the H&C platform. This is going to be absolute chaos. I see enough inexperienced tube users wandering around trying to work out where the H&C platform is at the moment, can't wait to see what happens in a month time where your circle line platform will depend on your destination. It's not like they are close together either.

Of course I could have this all wrong... I hope I have.

Frog - I'm afraid you're correct.
More blogging on the subject here.

From the look of new signs at Edgware Road it looks as if District Line trains will be confined to platform 3 and terminating Circle Line trains will reverse in platform 2. I suppose the idea being that E/B passengers can transfer cross-platform to the ex-Hammersmith Circle Line/Hammersmith & City Line trains on platform 1, and W/B passengers can either remain on their train if they want Paddington or the rest of the Hammersmith branch, or transfer cross-platform to platform 2 for the District Line to Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate and High Street Kensington. Where it falls down is when people with luggage want to travel from, say, Baker Street to Gloucester Road as they will always have to change trains by two staircases...

...ditto those travelling E/B from south of Edgware Road to Baker Street and beyond who make the 'mistake' of getting on the 'wrong' train at High Street Kensington, Notting Hill Gate, Baywaster and Paddington. Nor will it be obvious whether the train is a Circle or District as they should both be showing "Edgware Road" on the front. (Tip: if the train number on the front cab door is in the 2xx series, it's a Circle)

It's clockwise passengers requiring step-free access I feel sorry for. Like you say, Kim, they won't be able to tell which are Circle line trains (good) and which are District line trains (bad) until it's too late. And by then they'll be truly buggered, with no way across. Your 2xx trick is damned useful, but who'd know?

Yes, I suppose you can go anti-clockwise step-free by changing twice, once at Edgware Road from Hammersmith train to Wimbledon train, then again somewhere between Paddington(C) and Notting Hill Gate for a Circle Line. Not exactly convenient though.

To continue clockwise at Edgware Road step-free is entirely possible:

If you come in on Platform 2, cross to Platform 1.

If you come in on Platform 3, cross to Platform 4. Take the next train and change at Paddington (H&C). Cross the platform for an east-bound train of your choice.

(I said it was possible. I didn't say it was sensible!)

As for recognising District line or Circle line trains. I thought the Circle line trains have yellow handrails inside and District Green.

John: not on the Edgware Road to Earl's Court branch: there the District line uses the same C stock as the Circle line. I'm not entirely sure why, but I'd suggest those stations have shorter platforms.

For what it's worth, from 2015 or so all trains on the Metropolitan, Circle and District will be using the same stock (although with different numbers of cars, I believe).

Ah! Yes Paul, I forgot about the Wimbledon/Earls Court/Edgware Road service. As you say maybe the platforms are shorter on part of that route.
As for 2015, I shall miss the nice comfortable trains with luggage racks now in use on the Metropolitan Line.
A bit like the trains on the overground service Richmond/ Stratford, the old trains were comfortable and had front/back facing seats, with windows you could open. The new trains have more standing, sideways facing seats, and you are sealed in. No doubt dg will write more about the 2015 tube train changes when the time comes.

Euston Square station already has the new route maps up at the ticket barriers, with an explanatory note.

In one way, the Extended Circle (the sigma-line?) makes it much easier for people (like me) who come off a mainline train at Paddington and want to head east. At the moment, when I get off my train at Paddington, which underground station do I go to for the shortest wait? There's no way to tell what's best, other than get departure information up on my phone. After Dec 13th, it will be easy: head to Bishop's Road station if I'm going towards Baker St, Praed St station if I want Notting Hill Gate. Much easier than the current system. The only drawback is: it needs the map changing back to showing Bishop's Road and Praed St as separate stations again, to make it clear what to do.











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