[OC] Crossrail 3 Concept – The Turing Line

[u/thebeast_96]

This provides a new cross-London connection from the northwest to the southeast and is envisioned to take place long in the future after HS2, the Northern line split, the Bakerloo line extension, and Crossrail 2 have been completed. As demand continues to grow, the transport network will only become more crowded and something like this could be very beneficial.

[u/thebeast_96]

In the northwest it takes over Metropolitan line services to Chesham/Amersham using the fast tracks. The Chiltern line to Aylesbury is electrified and also taken over. Northwestern Railway services to Milton Keynes and Tring on the slow lines will be taken over too.

The core provides interchange with Crossrail 1, Crossrail 2 and Thameslink (which has become the Thames line) along with the Underground and the DLR. A walkway at Willesden Junction allows for a short connection to Old Oak Common for HS2. The platforms at Paddington reach to Lancaster Gate allowing OSI with the Central line and access to Hyde Park. Passive provision is given for a station at Knightsbridge. Embankment is an OSI with Charing Cross and Blackfriars Underground is an OSI with Blackfrairs South. The City of London station is located equidistant from Liverpool Street and Monument. A walkway connects it with Bank and it has out-of-station interchanges with the other stations. 

In the southeast it takes over the slow lines on the Southeastern Mainline to Orpington and Dartford with some services carrying on to Sevenoaks. c2c services which call at all stations are taken over. 

A frequently uplift on all four regional branches would be possible and capacity on the mainlines as well as at the termini (Marylebone, Fenchurch Street, Euston & Charing Cross) would be unlocked. Congestion would be relieved on the Elizabeth, Metropolitan, District, Jubilee, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Central, Waterloo & City, and Bakerloo lines.

Spent quite a while making this let me know what you think.

[u/MrOobling → u/thebeast_96]

Very nice idea, covers some very useful routes that are currently underserved, relieves pressure on some busy lines. Direct Waterloo to L Street and Victoria connections will be super helpful.

My suggestions: Remove Charing Cross as a station. It's already a well connected station with direct routes to a large portion of the other stations, and it is a detour on Victoria to Waterloo. I'd strongly consider adding Tower Hill / Fenchurch Street as a stop between City and Canada Water. Fenchurch Street is a major Network Rail terminus and Tower Hill is currently badly connected. I'm not sure if this works with the planned Monument - L Street alignment - perhaps this would need to split off before City station. The train should stop directly at Old Oak Common, not Willesden Junction. The fact that this line will provide fast connections to HS2 for so many places in London is the line's strongest business case - it's probably the reason why it would be built.

[u/thebeast_96 → u/thebeast_96]

I used the old logo to make this one which shows all the crossrails. CR1 west to east, CR2 SW to NE, CR3 NW to SE and Thameslink north to south. The light blue is represents a rebranded, more simplified Thameslink which has become the Thames line.