EDGWARE Road will now be the last stop for Circle Line commuters in plans to drop London Underground s most literal route. Trains on what is one of the city s oldest tube lines currently travel a circular path – looping from east to west. But under Transp

EDGWARE Road will now be the last stop for Circle Line commuters in plans to drop London Underground's most literal route.

Trains on what is one of the city's oldest tube lines currently travel a circular path - looping from east to west.

But under Transport for London upgrade proposals, trains will no longer complete their traditional loop and instead will turn back at Edgware Road, travelling anti-clockwise to Hammersmith on an extension of the line.

The planned changes to the Circle are already inspiring a variety of new nicknames including "tadpole" - suggesting the extended part looks like a tail - "teacup" and "yo-yo".

TfL says that the upgrade will reduce disruption on the line - notorious for its severe delays.

According to TfL, the regular hold-ups are due to the line's continuous nature because the lack of a start and a terminus means trains are backed up along the track.

The extension will be launched on December 13.

London Underground's chief operating officer Howard Collins said: "The new service will improve the reliability of the line - enabling services to recover more quickly if there is a disruption.

"The added benefit will be the improved service on the Hammersmith and City Line from Edgware Road round to Hammersmith, significantly increasing frequency on that route."

London Assembly member Murad Qureshi, who lives close to Edgware Road station, said: "It won't be the Circle Line anymore so to speak - that's the only downer.

"But it will make improvements on the Hammersmith and City and Circle Lines.

"There's always been confusion about which platform to get the different trains at Edgware Road.

"So as long as the changes are clearly marked it will mean a better service."

Labour councillor Barbara Grahame said: "From the Church Street perspective, linking us onto a better network is brilliant.

"It will link our bit of Edgware Road better into the London network which we've wanted for some time.

"But the other Bakerloo Edgware Road station also desperately needs an upgrade.