The Circle Line - soon to be a circle no longer

[RayL]

On December 13th, London Underground finally manage to get rid of something that they've hated for years - The Circle Line. On that day it becomes an end-to-end service, running between Hammersmith and Edgware Road.

It has always been one of London's glorious anachronisms - underground trains that, while looping around central London (in both directions), have to be synchronised with four other underground lines that converge and diverge over six flat junctions. The slightest problem on the network and the Contollers first instinct has been, it seems, to stop running the Circle. "Trouble on the Watford branch? Hmm - better cancel the Circle Line just in case. Who cares about the passengers? It's our convenience that matters". On the other hand, a Circle line has been running since 1884 so it can't be that difficult.

You'll still be able to travel in a loop around central London - but every time you reach Edgware Road you'll have to change trains. And if you want to transfer from Kings Cross to Paddington, be prepared to lug your suitcases the whole length of Paddington's Platform 12.

Ray L

[David Martin]

Doh!!