Forum Topic

Crammed public transport round Brentford

There have been numerous new developments along the Chiswick – Ealing – Brentford – Isleworth – Hounslow stretch of west London. A quick tour round the area shows that we’ve seen some fairly substantial new communities grow with a few still to be completed:- the Ferry Lanes development in Brentford – must be about 300+ dwellings- the Holland Gardens development in Brentford – 200-300 dwellings?- Great West Quarter – planned to be 900 dwellings- The Island & Brentford Lock – 300 dwellings- Blenheim Centre in Hounslow – looks like another 300 dwellings- Great West Gate in Osterly – 150 dwellings?Plus many, many more smaller developments – from a few flats (such as on Windmill Road near the Globe pub) to bigger developments of 50-100 flats such as on the London Road between Isleworth and Hounslow.How many more people? Perhaps over 3000 new houses and flats (although to be fair, mainly flats). Average say of 2 people per dwelling – so 6000+ new residents.On top of that the proposals for all new developments in Brentford over the next 5+ years show another 2000 dwellings.Here I need to declare a bias – I’m one of new comers living in one of the new developments. So I’ve absolutely nothing against new people coming to these districts to add to the communities, putting money into local businesses (we hope) and adding to our neighbourhood. (Ok - this is not about people spending their time & money outside Brentford, this is about the transport.)My concern is that this huge number of new people need to moved about. The vast majority will work and many will work outside our area. For example, say its only 20% that work in the centre of London. That’s perhaps over 1500 extra people to be shunted back and forth on the tube or rail. Where is the commensurate increase in travel capacity?Has this been raised before on the forum? Have we any way of trying to get something done to improve the situation?

Alan Clark ● 6313d11 Comments

All good points, as a Brentford resident that travels into the City each day, the SW trains service is really not what it is claimed to be.Why oh why did they axe the fast trains from/to Reading through Brentford? These were always packed and therefore utilised.When are SW trains going to spend money on the service rather than just hike the prices all the time?With many more people potentially using the area they will surely have to invest some actual monies into keeping the ticket office open longer than 10 minutes each day (that's what it feels like) and the Weybridge trains that are almost always 4 carriages at rush hour have got to be increased to 8 as standard, that won't cost them that much really?Am I being pessemistic in beliveing that the transport situation for the increased population of Brentford will really not increase in reality? Will these alleged extra funds be syphoned off into road works to justify the higher budgets or into stupid traffic calming schemes that benefit no resident in reality.Sorry but Brentford has gone downhill in the last 3 years, regardless of what propaganda is stuffed through my letterbox.More buses, better drivers (not the mad accelerating and late braking ones that are very dangerous)and SW trains have got to actually do something to improve passengers lives not simply milk them for more and more money every year.

Niel Gavin ● 6258d

There used to be fast trains to Waterloo but they stopped them a few years back. Don't know why.

Margaret Wittich ● 6262d

I would like to know more about how the addtional burden on local transport in Brenford is going to be catered for. What are the latest plans for the tube network to come to Brentford?Why does it still take 34 mins to get to Waterloo by train? If I lived in Richmond I could do the journey in almost half the time (19 mins)on the same rail network. How does this stack up viz-a-viz the number of commuters from both these areas?

Susan Jane Garden ● 6263d

"it appears that the west-bound 8 carriage trains stand with the last carriage on the railway bridge with no platform."That's odd, as Network Rail claim that both platforms are 165 m in length, which should be just enough for 8 carriages. I suspect it may be the signal position that is the problem.Some trains like the Electrostars on Southern have a more flexible system, relying on GPS to detect which station it's at, so that it can open the right number of doors.  (Doesn't work at Victoria, though, as the roof blocks the GPS signal!)

Richard Jennings ● 6309d

I often suffer from the message "Passengers for Isleworth must occupy the first four carriages of the train" and it appears that the west-bound 8 carriage trains stand with the last carriage on the railway bridge with no platform.Unfortunately it seems that the trains operate in 4 carriage units, so although carriages 5, 6 and 7 are against the platform their doors cannot be opened when the train stops.I've always felt that it must be simpler to change the train door controls so that the carriages can be operated individually than build longer platforms - though as the peak trains are very crowded it is probably right to move to longer trains in the future.

Tim Henderson ● 6310d

"It would means changes to many stations (some like Syon Lane) are only 4 carriages long."All stations on the Hounslow Loop, including Syon Lane, are long enough for 8 carriages.  Though in my (fairly infrequent) use of that line, I've often found that SWT run 4-carriage trains when the number of passengers would justify 8.

Richard Jennings ● 6310d

Chris - as always a good and detailed reply. And thanks for taking interest & making the effort.I'm pleased about the buses - but for routes into London these are not so relevent.It is also good to see plans for improvements to the rail services. It does seem, however, that the changes to a 12 carriage train is not likely in the near futre. It would means changes to many stations (some like Syon Lane) are only 4 carriages long. There are, what 8-10 stations to upgrade. And presumably there is additional rolling stock to order. This makes me think this is more than 5 years away - or am I being pessimistic?

Alan Clark ● 6311d

AlanAs Adam has stated, significant s106 contributions have been secured from the major developments along this corridor, for improvements to public transport.  Many of the bus services have been improved in recent years, with higher frequencies and longer spans of operation.  Some of these improvements have been achieved through use of s106 funds, and further improvements are being negotiated, including conversion of route H91 to double decker buses later this year and hopefully a further frequency increase in a year or two.  Route 195 was recently extended form Ealing Hospital to Brentford County Court and route E2 will be converted to double decker buses later this year.  Route 27 will be extended to Chiswick Business Park.Using TfL funding, the Borough has improved the A315 highway between Isleworth station and the Hammersmith borough boundary.  This includes extensive resurfacing over recent years, and new bus and cycling lanes, designed to increase the attractiveness and efficiency of the bus services and encourage more people use a bus or cycle to get to work.  A substantial improvement at the junction of Ealing Road and High Street was recently approved by the Area Committee and will be implemented in the spring.  Further improvements to the road network are under design.Meanwhile, the South West Trains service has been progressively improved in recent years, with a reliable clock-faced timetable and new and longer trains.  Platforms will be extended to accommodate 12 car trains.  The tube system is being upgraded, with new District line trains approved and new signalling systems designed to allow more tube services to operate faster and more reliably.The above is just a general summary or many initiatives being taken by LB Hounslow, TfL and other agencies, funded by developers and ratepayers, and designed to expand the capacity of the transport network in line with the anticipated increase in demand from the new developments you have mentioned.Chris Calvi-FreemanHead of TransportLondon Borough of Hounslow

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6311d

and more schools, both primary and secondary

Kath Richardson ● 6312d

More doctors are needed too,more police(we'll never get them).

Keith Iddon ● 6313d

Well a fair chunk of the money from S106 contributions when such large developments are granted planning permission goes towards transport improvements.

Adam Beamish ● 6313d