Possible station error?

[adigigo]

Hi everyone!

Been using the TFL API to pull some data and found a possible error.

In the piccadilly line heading to Heathrow, there are 2 branches - one to T4 and one to T5.

T4 → the tube goes from Hatton Cross to T4 directly.
T5 → the tube goes from Hatton Cross → T2&3 → T5

but in the TfL website (Piccadilly Underground line - Transport for London), the branch shows an intermediate stop at T2&3 in the first branch

I verified the same using CityMapper and on the Cockfosters - Heathrow T4 branch, T2&3 is not a stop point.

Could anyone please verify this?

Thanks!
Adarsh

[MScanlon]

Hi @adigigo this is incorrect, the Piccadilly line operates in a one way loop via T4 so will always operate Hatton Cross ->T4-T2&3-> Hatton Cross with service to T5 operating Hatton Cross->T2&3-T5 and from T5 T5->T2&3->Hatton Cross

[arturs]

That’s not an error - the Terminal 4 loop operates only in 1 direction. T2&3 is a stop on the T4 to Cockfosters route, but not a stop on the Cockfosters to T4 route.

This is shown as one-way arrows on the Tube map.

[adigigo]

Got it! That makes sense

Then when I switched directions from Cockfosters → T4, T2&3 is still shown as a stop

Any idea why?

[arturs]

I believe that the reason it is still included is to aid with journey planning, so that passengers going to T2&3 aren’t forced to take a T5 train by the journey planner.

Cockfosters to T4 trains terminate at terminal 4 and then start a new trip, so if T2&3 wasn’t included, then anyone using open data would be under the impression that one of these trains cannot get you to T2&3.

However, as passengers are able to stay onboard at T4 to continue on to T2&3, these trains are advertised with a destination of “T4 and T2&3” on departure screens, and T2&3 is included in the route so that journey planners also suggest boarding these trains.