Forum Topic

West London orbital rail link (see front page)

Great news right?Alternatively, be very afraid…..This could mean twice as many trains using the Churchfield Rd level crossing.Already the barriers are down circa 50% of the time.So this could mean either CR being made a no through road (including for pedestrians)orA big bridge over the top.

Lewis Barnett ● 1073d15 Comments

I don't think they will close both level crossings on Bollo Lane as that would isolate some buildings between the crossings and mean they could only be accessed via a private road through Chiswick Business Park.They may close the southern crossing for the track currently used by the Overground and retain the northern crossing for the track used by WLO.  The building between the crossings could still be accessed on public roads and a Bollo Lane bus route could continue to go through the Business Park (as long as the Business Park permit this... they stopped the buses using the Business Park during Covid).It is now moot about the road through the Business Park being a public highway.  Business Park owners won't permit this because it would devalue their asset.

Michael Robinson ● 3d

It'll be a problem if they close both the level crossings on Bollo Lane for there'll be no rear access to the Business Park for motor vehicles, including the 70 bus, or to the Pocket Homes building or to whatever they're going to build on the old Lamborghini garage.  And I can see the food delivery guys humping their cargo bikes over the footbridges to and from the industrial estate!If only they'd built a public road through the Business Park, this could have been avoided!

Peter Evans ● 3d

Adjustments to timing of level crossings is a fantasy given the additional trains. The proposals will be to close level crossings at Churchfield Rd and Bollo Lane with pedestrian/cycle bridges over the crossings.

Mike Robinson ● 5d

I don't understand how the pedestrian tunnel at Acton Central could be opened? On the park side, the exit would be in the private forecourt of The Sidings development.I do like the idea that the times the gates comes down are recalibrated - currently I'm often being caught there for 3+ minutes.

Carl Tamboli ● 6d

I think your expectation about upgraded signalling will not be met.How do you think creation of a public highway through Chiswick Business Park would be achieved? Ask the owners nicely if they would allow it? Compulsory purchase of land?

Mike Robinson ● 10d

and 6,000 workers who may prefer not to have the place they work choked with rat running traffic. The vast majority do not drive, having worked there the parking is extremely limited.

Tony Mansell ● 11d

I'd expect with upgraded signaling for the new services, the time the level crossings need to be down could be reduced and, in the case of Bollo Lane, possibly synchronised. I've always though it was a missed opportunity not to open the Business Park to through traffic, which it still could be.  That would take huge pressure off the narrow bit of Bollo Lane, the mini-roundabout by Chiswick Park Station, and the traffic light junction with Chiswick High Road.  Meanwhile the Business Park has its own grand traffic light controlled entrance which must mainly be used by a few BMWs going to and from the gym!

Peter Evans ● 16d

The scheme is back … new article on front pagehttps://www.actonw3.com/default.asp?section=community&link=https://neighbournet.com/server/common/conwestlondonorbital004.htmConsultation this summer - plan includes permanent closure of level crossings on Bollo Lane and a Churchfield Road

Paul Webster ● 17d

The use of Chiswick Park estate to avoid delays at Bollo lane crossing seems a very good idea, unfortunately the new service would be on the Kew lines i.e.the second level crossing so the problem would persist. A couple of footbridges would be a minimal requirement.As a user of these crossings for at least 25 years the closed to road traffic time was a lot shorter with a signaller in the box there.

Paul Griffin ● 1052d

Not only is the doorway at the east end of the tunnel still there, it still has the blue SUBWAY sign up - as you can see if you look down at it from the ramp up to the south platform entrance. It seems it wouldn't be difficult to recreate access to the  tunnel provided they haven't lost the right of way over the path in from the street.

Donald Power ● 1066d

One definitely possibility is that Churchfield Road is closed to through traffic. I really don't like the idea.

Maire Lowe ● 1066d

One solution, for both crossings would be to reduce the period of time the barriers are down for each train passing through.Considering, at AC the trains are only doing around 15 mph, the barriers could come down to (say) 30 seconds before, not the current 2-3 mins. Then there is no real problem even if the number of trains is doubled.

Lewis Barnett ● 1067d

The bigger problem would present itself on the Bollo Lane level crossing. This is across one of the few points of access to an area which has already seen significant building but is about to see a massive surge in the number of flats not just from the huge TfL project.Comfort should not be taken that these developments will be largely car free because they will still need deliveries, trades, taxis and get visitors. Therefore there is a big risk of significant queues along Bollo Lane each way.Not sure how you get round this. One suggestion would be to open access to the area through Chiswick Business Park but can't see the Chinese owners agreeing to this happening.

Mark Evans ● 1067d

The station tunnel originally served both the station AND pedestrians crossing the line. On the west side a second flight of steps led down to the tunnel from the doorway that is now a small cafe (the entire cafe is suspended above them, and a board blocks the view of them from the tunnel). Within the tunnel a line of bars along the middle separated rail passengers and the public part. At the east end the exit was a doorway at the end of the tunnel which is still there, and a gentle slope out to the street (it came out where the street entrance to the new flats is). At some point the tunnel walls were reinforced and thickened, thus narrowing it - that may be why the bars were removed and the change made. Since both platforms now have access from the street (they didn't used to), it would seem possible with some fairly small modifications to make the tunnel entirely for public use, if that was desired.

Donald Power ● 1072d

Could the station tunnel be opened for all pedestrians? I think major works have already been discounted..

Sara Nathan ● 1072d