TfL West London Orbital plans face calls for Twickenham extension

Transport for London (TfL) is consulting residents on proposals for a new West London Orbital Overground service. The planned route would use existing and underused railway lines to link Hendon in north-west London with Hounslow in west London. The consultation period for these plans will conclude on 18 November.

Calls for Twickenham Extension

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Barnet Labour is urging residents to share their views on the proposed West London Orbital railway before the 18 November deadline.

Richmond Council has formally requested that TfL investigate extending the proposed West London Orbital service to Twickenham. Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, stated that while the council welcomes the principle of the West London Orbital, the current proposal does not extend far enough. He suggested that a two-station extension through Whitton and Twickenham would create a significant public transport interchange. Councillor Roberts expressed concern that if the opportunity to consider this extension is not taken now, it may not arise again.

Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Duncan had previously described the absence of Twickenham from the plans as a "missed opportunity" for the borough and South West London, calling for the "glaring oversight" to be rectified. Councillor Roberts added that the borough has seen no major new infrastructure in approximately 20 years, calling the situation a "disgrace".

TfL Response to Extension Request

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New stations proposed at Neasden and Harlesden as part of the scheme.

A spokesperson for TfL informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service that extending the West London Orbital to Twickenham is not feasible without significant consequences. According to TfL, adding more Overground trains between Hounslow and Twickenham would necessitate service reductions and longer journey times on other train services. Furthermore, major infrastructure works would be required at Twickenham station to enable trains to turn around without disrupting through services.

TfL stated that such an extension would not provide substantial journey time savings for passengers travelling to and from the Twickenham area. The transport body noted that passengers can already interchange at Richmond for London Overground Mildmay line services with comparable journey times, or change at Hounslow without moving platforms to connect with the proposed new Overground line.

Proposed Service Details

The West London Orbital is proposed as an 18.5km route connecting 10 existing and new Tube, Overground, and rail services, including the Elizabeth line. The plans include the introduction of four new stations at Neasden, Harlesden, Old Oak Common Lane, and Lionel Road. Additional platforms are also planned for Hendon and Brent Cross West stations. TfL is collaborating with partners to develop the case for the scheme, which would require further funding and approvals to proceed. Services could potentially begin in the mid-2030s if the project is approved and built.