I had a cross-London transfer last Monday, Paddington to Liverpool Street. I decided to use the Circle Line because I had over an hour to make my connection and it's easier and less stuffy than the Bakerloo/Central.
Arrived at the platform to find the next train is 15 minutes away. OK, waited. 2 minutes before it arrived the destination changed to Moorgate, and I have to wait another 15 minutes.
Eventually it arrives, I get on and it sits for a couple of minutes before departing. At barely more than walking pace. Waited for several minutes at Edgeware Road before departing, again travelling very slowly. We sat for a full 5 minutes at Baker Street. By this time I was getting anxious I'd miss my connection and there were some annoying 20 somethings behaving like 12 years old throwing plastic bottles around, so I bailed out. Southbound Bakerloo not even showing any trains due on the platform just "Trains to Elephant & Castle", so went for the Jubilee and changed to the Central.
I got to Liverpool Street with 15 minutes to spare.
But I can't understand why the dwell times were so long on the Circle, and the trains driven so slowly when there can't have been any congestion due to the very long gaps between trains. I'm convinced I'd have missed my Liv St connection if I had stuck with the Circle (and it was an AP, so I didn't want the hassle of being on the wrong train, as well as it being late enough anyway).
It wasn't slow in the morning going the other way (and the frequency was much higher too). Why so slow in the evenings?
Arrived at the platform to find the next train is 15 minutes away. OK, waited. 2 minutes before it arrived the destination changed to Moorgate, and I have to wait another 15 minutes.
Eventually it arrives, I get on and it sits for a couple of minutes before departing. At barely more than walking pace. Waited for several minutes at Edgeware Road before departing, again travelling very slowly. We sat for a full 5 minutes at Baker Street. By this time I was getting anxious I'd miss my connection and there were some annoying 20 somethings behaving like 12 years old throwing plastic bottles around, so I bailed out. Southbound Bakerloo not even showing any trains due on the platform just "Trains to Elephant & Castle", so went for the Jubilee and changed to the Central.
I got to Liverpool Street with 15 minutes to spare.
But I can't understand why the dwell times were so long on the Circle, and the trains driven so slowly when there can't have been any congestion due to the very long gaps between trains. I'm convinced I'd have missed my Liv St connection if I had stuck with the Circle (and it was an AP, so I didn't want the hassle of being on the wrong train, as well as it being late enough anyway).
It wasn't slow in the morning going the other way (and the frequency was much higher too). Why so slow in the evenings?