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Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 16 Jul 2011 21:51
by 61653
Geo Ghost wrote:Ploes wrote:so it must have a normal platform height.
Doubt it. Part of the Bakerloo line shares with London Overground. You have to step down into the train or step up out of it.
This is of course, assuming you are referring to the height of the trains doors and not the platform itself.
But on the District line between Richmond & Gunnersbury the District line stock is used alongside 378s, and is a similar height- the Bakerloo line uses deep-level stock hence the step down. It used to be Metropolitan line, which didn't have this problem. Again, joined-up thinking, anyone?

Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 16 Jul 2011 22:25
by Geo Ghost
Ah I see. I was under the impression that LU stock was pretty much all the same kind of height from wheel-base to the door.
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 00:06
by JamieLei
Geo Ghost wrote:Ah I see. I was under the impression that LU stock was pretty much all the same kind of height from wheel-base to the door.
Sub-surface stock use normal platform heights, deep tunnel lines use a rather reduced set. The problem arises when you have the two calling at the same platform, ie: the shared Pic/Met section, and the Pic/District interchange platforms (ie: Hammersmith). Can't find a good pic at quick notice, but hopefully this illustrates the difference in door height
Edit: Wait a minute?! £150 million to upgrade a rather rural line (compared to the Birmingham Snow Hill lines at least) with a non-standard electrification system with old trains from over 30 years ago!? Testicles to that. Since it costs about £1.5 million per brand new coach of a Class 172, you could buy 100 new coaches with that. Buy 20 new 3-car sets, capacity problem solved at half the price, and lovely new trains on the line instead of those old clapped-out ex-London things.
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 00:45
by oberhümer
JamieLei wrote:[...] upgrade a rather rural line (compared to the Birmingham Snow Hill lines at least) with a non-standard electrification system with old trains from over 30 years ago!?
Ah well,
it's been done before... And in that case, they were even older.
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 01:20
by 61653
Here we go: Piccadilly line train on the shared Met section to Uxbridge:
http://citytransport.info/Digi/P1120783P1120803a.jpg
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 04:18
by JamieLei
oberhümer wrote:JamieLei wrote:[...] upgrade a rather rural line (compared to the Birmingham Snow Hill lines at least) with a non-standard electrification system with old trains from over 30 years ago!?
Ah well,
it's been done before... And in that case, they were even older.
I knew someone would throw that up. But that was for a specific reason (tunnel clearance issues).
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 08:38
by Badger
JamieLei wrote:oberhümer wrote:JamieLei wrote:[...] upgrade a rather rural line (compared to the Birmingham Snow Hill lines at least) with a non-standard electrification system with old trains from over 30 years ago!?
Ah well,
it's been done before... And in that case, they were even older.
I knew someone would throw that up. But that was for a specific reason (tunnel clearance issues).
Between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St John's Road to be precise. I travelled that route less than a month ago and the units are in good shape, comfortable and clean.
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 10:23
by Ploes
JamieLei wrote:I knew someone would throw that up. But that was for a specific reason (tunnel clearance issues).
That also only required conversion from 4 to 3 rail, not from 4 to side collector, and it was the 60s before new installations of 3rd rail was frowned upon!
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 11:03
by Geo Ghost
JamieLei wrote:
Good grief. All the times I've been to London and on the Underground... I never noticed how much of a difference in size there was between stock.
Learn something new every day

Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 14:16
by Ploes
Geo Ghost wrote:Good grief. All the times I've been to London and on the Underground... I never noticed how much of a difference in size there was between stock.
Learn something new every day

Unless your out on the surface or cut and cover lines you would never notice.
As Jamie said: Pic/Met section and Pic/District are points you can easily notice the difference.
Also you have Met/Jubilee running side by side with Chiltern trains flying past non stop on their own lines south of Harrow.

- P1170675a.jpg (204.3 KiB) Viewed 1283 times
Have a Class 165 next to A Stock.

- 582a.jpg (194.06 KiB) Viewed 1282 times
And a Class 390 next to 1972 Stock
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 14:54
by Dave
Was gonna say actually - Chiltern share the tracks as the image shows. Pendo looks a bit out of place there haha.
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 17 Jul 2011 17:22
by Ploes
Dave W wrote:Was gonna say actually - Chiltern share the tracks as the image shows. Pendo looks a bit out of place there haha.
Chiltern only share with the Met Amersham to Harrow on the Hill, not the Jubbly.
South of Harrow on the Hill the Chiltern are on their own line again.
Re: "3rd rail no longer feasible"
Posted: 19 Jul 2011 23:08
by Born Acorn
Apparently third railing Wrexham-Bidston is prohibitively expensive, so they were going to look at OHL instead, but that would mean Merseyrail's next gen trains having both shoes and pantos.
This was 2006, mind.