Friends of the Rail Forum

Circle line changes shape and heads off to Hammersmith

Paul Waugh
Evening Standard
05.03.09

The Circle line is to be extended to Hammersmith for commuters on one of the Tube's most unreliable routes.

In the most radical change since the service was first created more than 120 years ago, trains will be redirected to create what Underground insiders are already calling the “Lasso line”.

From December, Circle line trains will start in Hammersmith, run along the current Hammersmith & City line to Edgware Road and then do a clockwise lap of the Circle line and head back to Hammersmith. They would then do the journey anti-clockwise.

At present the Hammersmith & City line has only seven trains an hour. Under the new service, there will be Tubes every four minutes.

Engineers believe the change will have a positive effect on the whole network, which is often jammed at peak times by the “backing up” of Circle line trains stuck in tunnels.

The 14-mile line, which was created in 1884, carries 75 million passengers a year but its circular pattern means it suffers from crippling delays when a train breaks down or is hit by a signal failure. Unlike other lines, it lacks a maintenance depot on its route.

Under the new plans, the service will double the number of trains running to Hammersmith. It will feed demand in west London, including the new station at Wood Lane near Westfield shopping centre. Residents in south-west London will benefit as the extra capacity will mean more District line trains from Wimbledon to the City.

The East End will also get more trains as the Hammersmith & City line will be extended to Barking and Plaistow rather than Aldgate at present.

The only downside is that there will no longer be an automatic through service between the west and north sides of the current Circle. Those passengers will have to change trains at Edgware Road, but Tube chiefs say scheduling will mean most travellers will be able to switch to a neighbouring platform instead of using footbridges. The plans have been designed to accommodate new faster and longer “S-stock” trains which come on stream next year and in 2013.

The changes have been confirmed in a Transport for London letter to Hammersmith and Fulham's Tory MP Greg Hands. Mr Hands said: “I am delighted. If the proposal delivers what it says, then it's only surprising that nobody has thought of this sooner.” Howard Collins, chief operating officer London Underground, said: “The changes to service patterns on the Circle line will come into effect in December 2009 and will improve the reliability of the line, enabling services to recover more quickly if there is a disruption.

“The added benefit will be the improved service on the Hammersmith & City line from Edgware Road round to Hammersmith, almost doubling the frequency on that route.”

Circle Line extended to the west

BBC
Page last updated at 14:09 GMT, Thursday, 5 March 2009

The London Underground's Circle Line is to be extended.

From December, the line will run to Hammersmith in west London using tracks it shares with District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.

London Underground (LU) said giving the Circle Line a fixed terminus would also help improve reliability and capacity.

It is the first phase of the Sub Surface lines upgrade, which will include a fleet of air conditioned trains and a new signalling system.

The new service will run from Hammersmith to Edgware Road station where it will join the Circle Line and make a single loop back to Edgware Road.

Improved service

It will then reverse and do the full circle anti-clockwise, returning to Hammersmith.

Howard Collins, of LU, said: "The Circle Line shares tracks with the District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines and if there are service problems the Circle Line inevitably becomes disrupted.

"The changes to service patterns on the Circle Line will improve the reliability of the line, enabling services to recover more quickly if there is a disruption.

"It will still be called the Circle Line and shown as a circle on the Tube map but with the additional extended service out to Hammersmith.

"The added benefit will be the improved service on the Hammersmith & City Line from Edgware Road round to Hammersmith, almost doubling the frequency on that route."

I rode the London Underground everyday for a whole year back in 90/91 and never had a single problem, the crowds excepted at certain times of the day. Also with the reasonably priced monthly pass you could get on any train and any bus to get anywhere in London. I wonder if the LU is still as good, and how it compares with the NYC system?

In my experience LU is still good, and getting better as new and renovated stock and infrastructure comes on line. A single ticket is quite expensive, but the daily Travelcard pass (or using an Oystercard) is very good value for money. Overcrowding is a bit of a problem. Back in my youth (I can just about remember that far back!) it was only really crowded during rush hours. Nowadays it's crowded pretty much all day, which is a testament to its popularity.