AN OUTSIDE VIEW

I have had comments on my alternative proposal. These are Where is the link to Shenfield? Where is the relief of the Central Line from Essex to Oxford St? Where is the link to Heathrow? Where is the link to Maidenhead? Where is the link to The Royal Docks and Abbey Wood? My alternative proposal does not address these but (1) Shenfield is not an important destination. Chelmsford might be. (2) People should be encouraged to use the airport on their side of the capital. (3) Passengers would continue to have to change at Stratford. This is not ideal but changes are acceptable if the design of the interchange is satisfactory. (4) Maidenhead is not an important destination. It is not a hub and has a population of 60,000. Reading is a worthwhile destination but would involve major infrastructure works. High Wycombe would be better than Maidenhead as it has almost three times the population, and this would make use of the redundant GW line as far as Ruislip. (5) The Royal Docks and Abbey Wood ...

Ladbroke Grove Tube Station Originally uploaded by raworth . The long branch of the Metropolitan Line from Paddington to Hammersmith via Ladbroke Grove could form the basis of an alternative Crossrail. In this option, the line from Paddington to Stratford would follow the same route as the present proposal. but it would be constructed to tube standards instead of full-size main line dimensions. At Stratford, the line would join up to the Jubilee Line. The service would run from Hammersmith to Stanmore ie Hammersmith - Paddington - Bond Street - Liverpool Street - Stratford - Canary Wharf - Waterloo - Bond Street - Baker Street - Wembley Park - Stanmore, so the route would be like the Greek letter alpha, crossing over itself at Bond Street. This would have all the advantages of the Crossrail, and none of the disadvantages, at lower cost, and existing proven types of stock could be used. It would also allow more frequent services on the Paddington to Hammersmith route, at present restri...