Forum Topic

Local Plan Consultation - New rail routes ?

Consultation onhttp://www.hounslow.gov.uk/local_plan_consultation_low_res.pdfhas been opened for six weeks according tohttp://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/environment_and_planning/planning/planning_policy/localplan/planning_policy_options_localplan.htmI was interested in the medium term aspirations for rail improvements. The idea of a Hounslow to Brent Cross overground service and a tram/train link from the centre of Brentford to Southall were new to me. :Improving orbital and Overground rail connectionsPromotion of a new passenger service between Hounslow station and Brent Cross via Old Oak Common, calling at Isleworth, SyonLane and Brentford. This proposed scheme relates to a broader aspiration to improve orbital transport provision from Hounslow andis connected to the wider business case for High Speed 2 (HS2), though the connection could be implemented earlier. The schemewould connect the borough to the proposed transport interchange at Old Oak Common, which will include links to Crossrail.Promotion of a new passenger service between Brentford (Golden Mile) and Southall. This proposed scheme would provide directlinks between the employment corridor and Great Western Main Line and planned Crossrail station at Southall. Currently thereare few options to access the site from the north by sustainable means. It is also feasible that this could also be extended to feedBrentford Town Centre and the South West Trains line, possibly via an on street alignment (e.g. utilising tram/train tech).Improvements to Piccadilly line accessPromotion of Turnham Green station as a permanent stop on the Piccadilly line; this would improve public transport accessibility inChiswick as the present timetable only serves the station in the early morning and late evening. In addition, promotion of improvedpedestrian access to the employment corridor located on the Golden Mile, providing links to the Piccadilly line. Developmentproposals should contribute to potential pedestrian links in this area.

Tim Henderson ● 4430d4 Comments

Yes it was a double track line to the docks which had a marshalling yard and a locomotive stabling area. Connecting with the canal, London road and ThamesThere was also another Brentford station on the GWR.All that remains are the arches between the pet place and the Lock.To reconnect Brentford to Southall by rail would be very easy apart from a rail bridge over the A4 and a station which could fit into Commerce road very easily.As it's a single track it might be better to have a light rail link which can share the freight line but link in.Given all the DLR stuff that gets put up, taken down, moved and a lot of it in tight spaces this would be affordable. Assuming there would be a demand for a link between Southall and Brentford. I'm not sure there will be.

Raymond Havelock ● 4425d

Linking the Golden Mile to Crossrail and the Great Western Line seems very worthwhile to me and would surely displace some Piccadilly line traffic - judging by the shuttle buses serving Osterley currently.However, I think the current line serving the Transport Avenue aggregate and waste transfer station is only single track. Was it ever double track ?

Tim Henderson ● 4428d

There was a few years ago a suggestion of an extension of the Central Line from Ealing Broadway to , I think Twickenham running as a tube line through Northfields and Brentford and connecting areas not on the Underground network.The latest proposals are a bit woolly. There is no real link demographically or commercially between Brentford and Southall, Nor is there likely to be as Brentford is no longer an industrial core town and nor is Southall. Although both used to be rivals.The Piccadilly Line is already seriously overcrowded and the only solution for it is to go underground from Northfields and either add a spur line from Boston Manor to Brentford and Isleworth.But it cannot cope with a very small increase in capacity now and the only solution on the table is to remove 40% of all seating as with the new Circle and District Line trains. Not ideal if your journey is over 15 mins.Short term the solution could be eased overnight if the Heathrow Express franchise is altered and the fares brought into line with the tube.The 'Premium' service is the most expensive in the world rivalled by only the Gatwick and Stanstead Express. It is way under capacity.All the solutions are good ideas but very costly and probably won't happen this side of the half century.

Raymond Havelock ● 4428d

Interesting, good to see aspiration at least!

Iain Muir ● 4429d