tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post6611775147970820059..comments2024-03-25T19:07:00.917+00:00Comments on Arthur Pewty's maggot sandwich: Railway pain.Hughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12188628589645074377noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31419460.post-72930651087400642922012-04-23T19:57:31.368+01:002012-04-23T19:57:31.368+01:00Hugh, could not let the latest Maggot Sandwich blo...Hugh, could not let the latest Maggot Sandwich blog go by without some comments about the rail situation. the reason the platforms on many Southeastern Trains stations are being extended is quite simple really, the railway is almost full to capacity, no room for more trains, so the only answer is to run longer trains in the same paths, something that is happening all over the country. The service levels are specified by the Department Of Transport and supplied by the train operators under the franchise agreements, hence we have the almost empty off peak every 10 minute service along the Greenwich line, this one being specified by the Mayor of London's office to give us a 'tube like frequency'. Enhancements or otherwise to services are decided years in advance and Network Rail decide what can be fitted into the timetables and what works may be needed to achieve the goals of the DfT or the train operators.<br />I do not know how the works to add two more through platforms to London Bridge will be managed, I would have thought that closing the station totally would be unneccesary and unthinkable politically, I agree with the chaos it would cause, although Hugh you could always change to the Northern line at Charing Cross or Waterloo East.Paulnoreply@blogger.com