Forum Topic

TfL Progresses West London Orbital Line Feasibility

https://www.financial-news.co.uk/tfl-progresses-west-london-orbital-line-feasibility/"The West London Orbital (WLO) is poised to bridge a significant gap in London’s transport network.This 18km line will connect Hounslow to Hendon and West Hampstead across four boroughs.A feasibility design stage, led by TfL and Mott MacDonald, has been successfully concluded.Challenges include funding uncertainties and infrastructure complexities on existing tracks.New stations are planned, enhancing connectivity and addressing future public transport demands........ "

Tim Henderson ● 42d5 Comments

If (big if...) the West London Orbital progresses then expect the closure of level crossings to motor traffic at Churchfield Rd Acton and Bollo Lane Chiswick.With the existing Overground service plus an additional 4 trains an hour in each direction for WLO, the level crossings would no longer be viable for motor traffic.  They would be down for so long that only a small number of vehicles could get past they would be as good as closed anyway.  So expect them to be closed completely.For Bollo Lane, I'd expect the southern level crossing (currently used for Overground) to be closed while the northern level crossing (currently used for freight and would be used by WLO) to remain open to maintain access for the bus route using the back entrance of Chiswick business park.Planning documents I saw from a few years ago did include walking/cycling bridges.  Costs to maintain motor vehicle access would be too much for a project budget which has no guarantee of being funded anyway.

Michael Robinson ● 24d

First reported as a feasibility by the then LRT in 1987.Was seen as a cheap improvement using existing infrastructure. But during that era ( The Kings Cross Fire ) the run down was so significant that it got shelved.Costs now are eye watering but with massive overdesnification in London has to happen.Ironically Livingstone,s early TfL and initiatives led to a train to Norwich stopping at Brentford some years back now. It used the connection lines at Kew Junction and was a very fast route to North and North East London. But only one train a day and quite how or when to get back was rather vague. It did not attract any usage to make it a fully sustainable service. Apart from the high fares it probably would fare better now.

Raymond Havelock ● 26d

Interesting to see a link being made between the state takeover of South Western Railway and the West London Orbital. It would obviously make implementation of the new service much easier if both sections of the line were run by the same organisation.

Kenneth Seally ● 27d

Seems there have been plenty of feasibility studies coming out recently, such as the Northern Line extension to Clapham Junction. As ever it will be interesting to see where the transport authorities priorities lie.

Simon Hayes ● 41d

Is it fair to say that, without the necessary funding in place, a 2030 start date for construction is just wishful thinking?

Kenneth Seally ● 41d