Why don't we have an outer circle line on the underground?

Question

A serious question from me for a change!

Answer 1

We don't have an "outer Circle" any more because all the parts of it that DID exist many years ago have been taken over by other lines, and it was too 'cumbersome' to run properly anyway. It originally ran from Mansion House more or less round what is now the Circle line but from High Street Ken went into Earls Court and then on to places like Richmond and even Windsor!

When things becames a bit more organised in 1933, the old Outer circle was scrubbed, and was left was made into what we now call The Circle Line. At that time it became known as the "Inner Circle" to avoid confusion with the old bits of the "Outer". Over the passage of time, as there was only ONE circle (albeit running in both directions) the "Inner Circle" was renamed as "The Circle Line" and has remained so ever since, although its days as we know it are numbered. (Oh yes they ARE!)

As to the nonsense about one of the directions being called the Outer CIRCLE and the other direction the INNER, sorry, that's complete rubbish. It's ALL the Circle line, but for operating convenience on the part of the Underground, the Clockwise circle is know as the Outer RAIL, and the Anti-clockwise which is geographically inside the outer one is known as the Inner RAIL.

Both Inner and Outer run as seperate entities for most of the day, only going "off-line" to get from or to the depots and stabling points. (Some 'Stabling points' are just dead-end sidings, being the railway term for not much more than off-road parking!)

The Circle is planned to "die" in a few years time when new trains are delivered which will fit all Met, District, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines, so a different type of service will be able to be provided, mainly because in the event of even the slightest spot of trouble anywhere over which it runs, the poor old Circle is the first to suffer, as most passengers will know to their cost!

Answer 2

There is a train (not the underground though) that does go round  the south of London in a circle.

Goes from Waterloo to Vauxhall, Queenstown Road, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Town, Putney, Barnes, Mortlake, North Sheen, Richmond, St Margarets, Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston, Norbiton, New Malden, Raynes Park, Wimbledon, Earlsfield, Clapham Junction, Vauxhall and back to Waterloo.

The train also goes around in the opposite direction and is opperated by South West Trains.

Answer 3

One planned for 2010

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-centre/i...

Answer 4

lmao, no idea, should we have???

Answer 5

There will be in a few years time - it will be called the Overground (as it runs on the surface for most of its length).

The first phase to link the North London line (Silverlink Metro) and East London Line (London Underground) is under construction (started a couple of months ago)

The full circle is due for completion (subject to approval) in 2012

Answer 6

The underground lines were developed by rival companies helping commuters travel from the new suburbs into central London, so most of them are on radial rather than orbital routes.

The Circle line was developed to join up the major rail terminals - like the ones on the traditional Monopoly Board.

London's suburbs developed as the population grew and transport links improved. In parts of London there are extended 'Tube' lines, which are part of the underground network even though they run above ground outside central London. It's much more expensive and difficult to build lines underground, so the suburban sections are above ground.

In other areas, there are suburban rail lines, part of the National Rail network. There is effectively an outer London ring but it is a rail line rather than an underground line. This is the North London line which, despite its name goes all the way from South West London at Richmond round through west London (Isleworth) and north west London (Willesden) to North London (Camden) and on round through East London (Stratford).

There are now plans to join the North London line to the East London tube line by extending the latter to Highbury as part of the transport improvements for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer 7

That answer is known only to the inner circle!

Answer 8

Good idea, would save you having to come all the way into central London and heading back out again. Unfortunatly it would cost many thousands of arms and legs! Cost at this time is prohibitive, so you won't see it for a while ;)

Lets get them to fix up the existing lines on the underground first!

As I say though I like the idea!

Answer 9

.....because we haven't got an inner square line on the overground .......

Answer 10

You do.

Answer 11

The Inner Circle runs anti-clockwise,

the Outer Circle runs clockwise, both making up the

Circle line.

Answer 12

Cost!

At 2-3 billion a station who's going to pay?

Unless you want to pay £5 for a zone 1 ticket?

But their is Crossrail (coming soon, well 2015)