H&C Line closure: what did we gain?

Anorak's favourite railnews.com gives a breakdown today of what was achieved throughout what they amusingly term the "blockade" of the Hammersmith & Shitty Line last month. You will no doubt remember that one of our local lines was shut for weeks on end while TfL showed no sense of urgency or even very great regret about the inconvenience caused.

The closure didn't just incovenience locals it also had a severe financial impact on the numerous traders at Shepherd's Bush Market and shops nearby at a time when they could least afford it.

According to railnews.com, the main beneficiary was Paddington Station itself, Crossrail and the following H&C Line goodies:

550m of track was replaced on lines at Royal Oak whilst 4,200m of new low-loss conductor rail was installed. Platform lengthening took place at Westbourne Park, Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road to accommodate new longer S-Stock trains. These benefit from air-conditioning, walk-through carriages, wheelchair areas, wider doors and walkways, better audio and visual information systems, CCTV and energy efficient braking systems.

But even with Boris desperately backpedaling on his threat to stand down as the Tory (plus LibDem?) candidate for Mayor it's clear that actually Chancellor George Osborne's cuts might scupper the lot. In which case none of the above applies.