Forum Topic

Crossrail "Corridor  7"

There was a proposal to join our local train services to the Crossrail development by running trains from Paddington to Hounslow via Acton Town. As this would have meant a 14 minute trip from Brentford to Paddington, this looks very attractive and would surely benefit the Brentford area.There don't seem to be any updates on the Hounslow council website and a web search doesn't turn up any new information since the proposal was made in 2004.Does anyone know the current status?

Frank Scoggins ● 6369d5 Comments

If this ever was part of the Crossrail proposal, it hasn't survived. Loads of people would like to plug into a rapid transit system from West London not only to Paddington but across the City, but it probably ain't going to happen - just the single main route. It will be lucky if the Acton Main Line station clings on to its stop on the route.

Dan Filson ● 6368d

The idea of "Corridor 7" was that it seemed daft to spend all that money driving tunnels under Central London from the east, and then having more than half the trains in the peaks turning round at Paddington, instead of benefiting West London residents.  Corridor 6 to Richmond and Kingston had proved to be too expensive and subject to conflict with other lines.  I was involved in producing the Corridor 7 proposal for a branch to Hounslow via South Acton and Brentford, which we felt was relatively low-cost and would have fewer conflicts.  But I think the Crossrail people were nervous of yet another new branch proposal and in any case were desperate to find ways of reducing the total cost.  So it's dead in the water at present.It's just possible that it might re-surface at a later date, but I think that extension to Reading is now a more likely way of getting a better balance between east and west on Crossrail.

Richard Jennings ● 6368d

Most branch proposals, this being no exception, would inevitably carry fewer passengers than trains from Maidenhead (or Reading from which, as I believe, the Crossrail will eventually run) and reduce the track capacity for trains from Maidenhead. The key component of Crossrail is that trains don't terminate at Paddington but run through it across London. I cannot see a huge demand for trains from the City through Paddington to Hounslow. Not, never, a serious runner.

Dan Filson ● 6368d

DanRichard is correct.  Corridor 7 would have been a relatively low cost scheme and would have balanced the Crossrail network and provided huge benefits for Brentford and Hounslow residents in terms of travel options, speed and convenience.We were never favoured with a formal response from the Crossrail team but I believe their analysis showed it to a have a very high benefit:cost ratio in comparison with the scheme as a whole.  However, there were fears of creating “another District Line” i.e. too many branches to guarantee a reliable service with evenly-spaced trains through the central section.  As Richard says, there was also the cost element - no matter how strong the benefits, Crossrail struggled until 2008 to pull together the funding for the core scheme and Corridor 7 was seen at the time as a step too far.In summary, a very well researched piece of work, an excellent attempt to achieve between public transport for the borough, but there the matter ends for the foreseeable future.  Chris Calvi-FreemanHead of TransportLondon Borough of Hounslow

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6368d

Thank you Chris and to Richard and Dan for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

Frank Scoggins ● 6368d