please empty your brain below
The first two services out of Chesham (about 05.20 and 05.50) are already eight car trains. And that very first train (the 05.20) goes round the curve between Rickmansworth and Croxley and goes direct to Watford! Yup.. first train of the day from Chesham goes to Watford...
Other lines seem to manage it - there's at least one Central line set with a redundant looking cab in the middle (well not quite the middle - I think it's the 5th carriage) presumably because they had one cab too many.
You'd need at least two trains, so that you had a spare, but then what would the second train do when it's not on the shuttle?
You'd also need to reconfigure underfloor equipment, and software, and so on, and do separate testing.
It's all possible, but the above adds major expense, beyond what can be justified for this particular branch.
Still, it keeps the taxis in Amersham in business with lots of vaguely tipsy Chesham-ites pouring out as they can't be bothered to wait and are happy to pay their tenner to get back home.
Or perhaps they needed a different solution - keep some old trains or (gasp) even run some standard overground style stock on it. After all, there's a mainline connection. Or if I was being really facetious I'd suggest a Class 139 :)
But then LU doesn't really like bespoke stuff!
So you plan to build two very expensive, unique trains to provide a service to a very small town?
keep some old trains
And spare parts and depot equipment to keep them running? And keep drivers and maintenance staff trained to work on them? It all adds up.
It's not that the alternatives are hard or impracticable (or even unaffordable), it's just that the planned solution of through trains has approximately zero cost implications, and no other option can compete with that.
NEW WORKING TIMETABLES 12 Dec 2010
Metropolitan Line
The Chesham-Chalfont & Latimer shuttle service is withdrawn.
Chesham services are now provided by the diversion of 2 of the 4 Amersham-Baker Street fast trains per hour. In consequence, Amersham services are reduced to 2tph and one less train is required for service.
During early morning and late evening periods when fast Amersham services operate at 2 tph, the 2tph Chesham service is provided by the diversion of 2 of the 6 Watford-Baker Street slow services per hour. In consequence services between Moor Park and Watford are reduced to 10/20 minute intervals and Chesham services will call at all stations.
significant alterations to the start and finish of services.
The last train to Chesham on Sundays will depart from Baker Street 13 minutes later at 23.24.
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