WLLG Activities April 2016 to present

WLL services during recent periods of disruption of Southern services
The Group has had some success here for WLL passengers, following London Overground's agreement to cover peak Southern shuttle services between Clapham Junction and Shepherd's Bush

WLLG Campaign to improve connections between WLL, HS2, the Elizabeth Line and other rail services at Old Oak Common

Following confirmation by Lord Ahmad to the House of Lords Grand Committee at the end of the HS2 Parliamentary Procedures that discussions would be continuing between the DfT and the Group on the Group’s proposals, the Group sent its 13-page letter seeking progress on these to the Secretaries of State for Transport and Communities, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and the Mayor of London. Click here for the letter [pdf]. The first four of these proposals are:-

1. a direct link between HS2 and the WLL (for alternative terminal(s) for HS2 trains in the event of planned or unplanned disruption at Euston, as well as HS2 links to places south of the Thames such as Croydon and Gatwick and possibly direct services on to HS1);

2. a raft of platforms above the HS2 station at Old Oak Common that would link the Chiltern, West Coast and Midland Main Lines and the North London Line with the WLL (to improve support for the Old Oak and Park Royal Mayoral Development Corporation area and provide a more proximate and clement interchange than at Hythe Road between up to 15 sets of rail services, thereby reducing pressure on other London terminals and the Underground between them and encouraging modal shift from the roads in London and the southern half of the country);

3. up to four new intermediate HS2 stations between London and Birmingham, each to be served by selected trains while still allowing non-stop services, with one providing HS2 interchange with the new East West Rail project; and...

4. a request to start work now on an eastern extension of HS2 from Old Oak Common to Baker Street, Euston Cross, Liverpool Street (for East Anglia), Silvertown (for Docklands, O2, ExCeL, and London City Airport), Ebbsfleet (for the new city and HS1) and a putative Thameside Airport. As this would probably take 25 years to complete, it would open by about 2040 to meet the future demands for High Speed Rail

The Group has also included as a fifth proposal, following the Grenfell Tower fire, its request for a new station at Westway Circus, not only to build on the success of Wood Lane station (Hammersmith & City Line), make new links between communities in its four quadrants and the new Imperial College West campus and nearby sites, but also to support those affected by the fire through new links for job opportunities and those displaced by the fire.

WLLG Response to Withdrawal of Monday-Friday GTR/Southern West London Line Trains: Fourth Progress Report - 16 August 2016

The Group reports on partial restoration of Monday-Friday Clapham Junction to Watford Junction services in morning and afternoon peaks. London Overground's extra trains have been withdrawn. A timetable of these changes is shown in our Fourth Report [pdf]

WLLG Response to Withdrawal of Monday-Friday GTR/Southern West London Line Trains: Third Progress Report - 21 July 2016

The Group reports on London Overground's continued efforts to cover some of the gaps in service due to withdrawal by Southern of WLL services. A timetable of planned additional LO services is given. Read the Third Report [pdf]

WLLG Response to Withdrawal of Monday-Friday GTR/Southern West London Line Trains: Second Progress Report - 11 July 2016

The Group reports on London Overground's efforts to cover some of the gaps in service due to withdrawal by Southern of WLL services. A timetable of planned additional LO services is given. Read the second Report [pdf]

WLLG Response to Withdrawal of Monday-Friday GTR/Southern West London Line Trains: First Progress Report 1-9 July 2016

The Group has written to Patrick McLoughlin, MP, Secretary of State for Transport (see below), and copied to all MPs and local authorities between Croydon and Milton Keynes, plus key contacts in the rail industry. Read the Report [pdf]

7 July 2016

WLLG voices concerns over revisedSouthern timetable

The Group writes to the Secretary of State, Department of Tranport over the loss of the East Croydon to Milton Keynes services, Monday to Friday. Read the Letter [pdf]. The announcement by Southern of a revision to all services following limited train crew availability is to be found on their website.

WLLG proposals for House of Lords HS2 Debate 14 April 2016

The Group has asked Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, in the debate in the House of Lords on 14 April 2016 to support the Group's proposals for improving HS2 and surrounding infrastructure – for the future long-term benefit of the country. Letter to Lord Ahmad [pdf]

Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum Keynote Seminar:
Next steps for the rail network in England: strategic priorities, high-speed rail and future of Network Rail

The Group is attending the meeting held at Royal Society, London SW1Y 5AG on Thursday, 3rd March 2016 and has submitted questions for Panel Members to answer. Read the Questions [pdf]

WLLG Petition in relation to HS2 (London - West Midlands) Bill

The Group has submitted a Petition in relation to the HS2 (London - West Midlands) Bill.
This is being challenged by DfT on the basis of locus standi.
The Group is presenting its rebuttal of this at the HS2 Select Committee on Wednesday 9th July 2014 and has submitted three supporting documents:
Document A
Document B
Document C

Latest Flyer

The Group's latest Flyer welcoming the new longer trains on the West london line and inviting passengers and others to support its Petition in relation to the HS2 (London - West Midlands) Bill.
Read the Flyer

The Group calls for HS2 to bring more benefits for more constituents across the country

Read the proposal issued as a briefing note to the Parliamentary Debate

Suggested Layout and Services for Old Oak Common

The Group's suggestions for layout and service provision at Old Oak Common for West London Line, North London Line, Great Western Main Line, Crossrail and HS1, plus West Coast Main Line and Midland Main line

Read the proposal

HS2 Phase One Environmental Statement Documentation response

The Group's response to the Envuronmental Statement
Read the response

London & South East Route Utilisation Strategy

WLL response - see 18 March 2011, see below

Old Oak Common, HS2, Crossrail, GWML, NLL and WLL Briefing Note

The Group submitted a briefing note to TfL, rail industry, central and local Government.
Read the Briefing Note

Response to HS2 Phase One Bill Environmental Statement

The Group has submitted a detailed response to the Statement.
Read the Response Letter

Read the general release on the response

Accompanying Diagrams - showing recommendations for HS2, Crossrail and Old Oak Common interchange

Proposal for new station at Westway Circus

WllG calls for new station at Westway Circus
Read the proposal

Earl's Court and West Kensington Opportunity Area redevelopment

The Group, in conjunction Earl's Court Society, is proposing that Network Rail and London Underground re-install track cross over between LUL and WLL to facilitate transport of materials to and from the redevlopment be made via rail instead of road.
Read the Statement.

Press Release

The Group proposes for a new West London Line station, Westway Circus, to be built below the roundabout at the junction of the A40(M) Westway and the A3220 (West Cross Route).
Read the press releasefor further details of this proposal, including the local and regional benefits.

Latest Flyer

The Group details the changes to the timetables of services provided by Southern and London Overground (from Sunday 9th December 2012).

NEW - Overground services at Clapham junction to/from Wandsworth Road, Clapham High St, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye and stations to Surrey Quays, Canada Water, Shoreditch High St, and Highbury & Islington

NEW Mon-Fri morning servcies from Clapham junction to Watford Junction and Shepherds Bush

NEW Mon-Fri morning service from East Crydon to Watford Junction

NEW Mon-Fri morning services from Watford Junction to Clapham Junction

No direct trains (Overground) from Clapham to Stratford after 19.16 - change at Willesden Junction

Some timings for other services have been changed and some connecting trains withdrawn

PLEASE check details before travelling, especially between Christmas Eve and Wednesday 2nd January 2013.
Click here to download the Flyer

Response to DfT Consultation on HS2

This document details the Groups response to the Consultation submitted on 29 July 2011.

Support for HS2 and proposal for new services and station improvements

This support for HS2 highlights the opportunities for (i) new interconnections and links, (ii) for the South Chilterns, (iii) for service links via Old Oak Common, and (iv) additional capacity, flexibility , visibility and accessibility for high speed networks if trains ran between HS2 and HS1
This proposal for new services to link HS2 to HS1 via Euston and via Crossrail 1 at Old Oak Common, and between HS2 and WLL

Response to Earl’s Court & West Kensington Opportunity Area SPD – March 2011

This response focusses principally upon our request that feasibility of a new interchange station between the West London, District and Piccadilly Lines in the NE Quadrant of the Opportunity Area is properly assessed, with careful account taken of (i) the continuing growth in rail demand (especially on the tube and WLL) throughout the expected development period of the OA to, say, 2050; and (ii) the sub-regional context of continuing investments in the WLL corridor, including the potential interchanges between the WLL and (a) both arms of Crossrail and (b) HS2

Another response to a Network Rail draft Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS)

London and SouthEastern

Responses to Network Rail's draft Route Utilisation Strategies (RUS's)

West Midlands and Chilterns
 

West Coast Main Line
 

Also, the Group’s other publications relating to RUS and local and regional developments:

Key Points to be addressed within WCML and London and SouthEast RUS and other strategy documents (January 2011)

Development Proposals for the West London Line 2009-2019 (June 2009)
 

West London Line Developments – 2008-2015 (May 2008)
 

 See also the Network Rail RUS web site (opens in a new window)

Earl's Court Festival 19^th June - 10^th July 2011

Travel to the Earl's Court Festival using the West London Line. See the Festival website for details and galleries of past Festivals.

See the Festival Report [PDF] for the 2010 Festival.

WLLG is not responsible for the Festival website or the report but expresses thanks the Earl's Court Festival for providing this information

Petition to House of Lords - Transport for London Bill [HL] 2010 - 2011 Session

The WLLG has submitted a Petition to the House of Lords objecting to Clause 4 “Restrictions on disposal of land” of the Bill.
Text of our petition [PDF].

Latest Flyer

The Group details the changes to the peak services between North, West and South London provided by Southern (from 24 May) and London Overground (from 1st June).
Click here to download the Flyer

Latest Flyer - Update 2009

The Group reviews the recent positive developments in service provision on the WLL. The flyer also includes details of the timetable changes effective from Monday 14th December, together with the special Christmas and New Year services by London Overground and Southern.Click here to download the Flyer

Latest Flyer - Progress

In the latest flyer, the WLLG welcomes the arrival of new Class 378 trains operated by London Overground. The flyer also contains details of the continued campaign activities by the Group to improve services and facilities.
Click here to download the Flyer

Development proposals

On the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the National Rail Platforms at West Brompton Station earlier this month, the Group issued proposals for developments to services and facilities on the West London Line up to 2019 to meet the rising levels of demand on the WLL, from the north as well as from the south.

The Group believes that undertaking these improvements now will allow the WLL to relieve pressures from the closing of platforms at Blackfriars and London Bridge, the redevelopment of Victoria tube station and other works at Euston. Moreover, a WLL/Crossrail interchange at Old Oak would provide a one-change-avoiding-London facility for travellers from Sussex, Gatwick, Surrey and South London - as well as the West Midlands, the North West and Scotland - to reach Heathrow Airport by rail, thereby both assisting the case and informing future decisions for HS2.
Click here to download the proposals

Background to these proposals may be found in the Group’s May 2008 publication,

‘West London Line Developments 2008-2015’,

This lists key developments in the extended West London Line corridor in chronological order, showing the continual growth in residential populations in the WLL stations’ catchments and the generators of other demands for WLL services

Flyers

Two new flyers have been issued concerning changes to services
Click here to download the Flyer for changes to the Peak-hour cross-Clapham Junction West London Line services between North, West and South London.

Click here to download the Flyer for changes to the direct Southern services in morning and evening peaks

Flyer

The latest Flyer provides details of some of the changes to services between the North, West and South London from Monday 20 April. London Overground trains will now run to and from Clapham Junction and Stratford, via Willesden Junction. Please note that, for the Southern services, further changes are planned from Monday 18th May.
Click here to download the Flyer

Flyer

The latest Flyer provides details of the improved services between the West London Line and South London in the morning peak and in evenings
Click here to download the Flyer

Flyer

This new Flyer provides details of the new direct services between Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Leighton Buzzard, Tring, Hemel Hempstead, and West and South London via the West London Line
Click here to download the Flyer

Press Release

WLLG was delighted to host Lord Adonis, the Minister for Rail, on a visit to the West London Line on 19 February and to brief him on the many issues being faced by its users.

During the visit, which was attended by the four local authorities served by the West London Line, the Minister rode in the cab of a Southern Class 377/2 from Wembley Central to Clapham Junction to appreciate the opportunity for a variety of infrastructure improvements, including the hazardous Platform 17 at Clapham Junction.

Click here to download the Press Release.

Newsletter

Our end of year Newsletter contains details of the new timetable and the restoration of services from Milton Keynes (scheduled to run from 26 January 2009), the withdrawal of the Cross-Country service via the West London line, the opening of new and refurbished Shepherd's Bush Stations, together with a summary of new activities .
Click here to download the latest Newsletter.

Flyer

This latest Flyer provides details of the improved morning peak cross-Clapham services.
Click here to download the latest WLLG Flyer.

Travel Opportunities via the opening of Shepherds Bush WLL

Welcoming the opening of the new station, this latest Flyer includes brief details of major new rail travel opportunities through the opening of the new station, PLUS a timetable of good news for the WLL passengers through to December 2010.

Click here to download the latest WLLG Flyer.

Newsletter

Welcoming the opening of the new Shepherd's Bush WLL station in October, the proposed restoration of the link to Milton Keynes by January, news about a new station at Imperial Wharf and maps of services and interconnections for passengers travelling to/from the north, the south and the south west, using the WLL and avoiding Zone 1, this latest Newsletter also includes brief details of new trains on London Overground, AND details of the Earls Court Festival (6th-20th July) including the Little Red Train running on Sunday 20th July in Brompton Cemetery.

Click here to download the latest WLLG Newsletter.

New Flyer updating Peak Hour timetable changes and latest news on Shepherds Bush Station opening

This flyer now includes details of how passengers at the new Mitcham Eastfields station can join the WLL services at Balham.
 

Click here for the April Flyer

Letter to Secretary of State for Transport

This letter expresses the Group's concerns over the proposed cessation of cross-Clapham services through: (i) unsatisfactory answers by the Rail Minister to Parliamentary questions; (ii) the lack of support from the DfT despite a 28% increase in passenger traffic in 18 months to November 2007;
(iii) heightened risk to passengers’ personal safety at Clapham Junction; (iv) undermining of transport links for two West London venues for the 2012 Olympics;
(v) conflicts of Government and GLA Transport, Climate Change and Visitor Policies; and (vi) a plea to retain the momentum to restore the service to Milton Keynes. The letter has had wide circulation, as shown. It includes also a table of new traffic generators in the West London corridor.

Click here to download the letter.

3 new Flyers detailing timetable changes

These highlight the improvements to the WLL services following timetable changes from Monday 10th December on Overground and Southern services.

• Extra morning peak service for Wembley Central
   

• Improved service between the WLL and South London stations in the morning and evening peaks, and
   

• Extra weekday morning services from Clapham Junction

Newsletter

Welcoming the start of TfL's new Overground network, the Newsletter details the progress and benefits to WLL passengers. Meanwhile, the cross-Clapham services are still at risk under the proposal only to run Milton Keynes or Watford -to-Clapham and the Newsletter reiterates how you can support the campaign to retain YOUR service.

Click here to download the latest WLLG Newsletter.

December 2008 Southern timetable proposals

A detailed response has been sent by the Group to Southern in connection with the company's stakeholder consultation on their timetabling proposals from December 2008. The group's response argues against the proposed downgrading of the WLL services between key traffic generators in this sub-regional corridor about to experience further employment growth, alongside the need to promote—rather than impede—convenient regional travel.

Click here to download the response.

WLLG has submitted comments on the draft South London Rail Utilisation Survey (RUS)

The detailed response to Network Rail as part of the South London RUS Consultation, argues our case on many key topics: e.g. retention of a regular Watford-Gatwick-Brighton service with ultimate extension north to Birmingham, increased passenger demand and expanding business developments including the impact of the Westfield regional shopping centre development at Shepherd's Bush, importance of maintaining and strengthening ease of access to Gatwick from the north and for access to/from the West Coast main line by avoiding Central London, safety concerns over Clapham Junction as the terminus for the WLL, etc.

Click here to download the response.

Improved peak services from 10th December 2007

See the WLLG Flyer summarising train times on the cross-Clapham services between the WLL and South London from Monday 10th December 2007

Click here to download the flyer.

Newsletter

Despite the increasing passenger demand for the cross-Clapham service, latest proposals from Southern and from Department of Transport (DfT) bring back the threat to the cross-Clapham WLL services from December 2008. In addition, from 10 December 2007, Southern also propose to terminate the fast 16:29 Watford-Brighton service at Clapham Junction, where it will return to Kensington Olympia.

Click here to download the latest WLLG Newsletter for details of these proposed changes and details of how you can express your views.

Extra weekday morning peak services operating from 21st May 2007

Southern are introducing extra train services in the weekday morning peak. These new services will give more journey options and should reduce overcrowding. The WLLG has produced two flyers giving details.

Click here to download details of the new 0747 service from East Croydon and intermediate South London stations to West Brompton and Kensington Olympia

Click here to download the details of the augmented weekday morning peak northbound service from Clapham Junction, West Brompton and Kensington Olympia [this version was updated 11 May]

"Railway Forum/"Modern Railways"
  Railway Industry Innovations Awards 2007

The WLLG is submitting as an entry to these awards its proposal for an innovative overground rail service between Heathrow Airport and Ebbsfleet International Passenger Station, via the West London Line, the South London Line, and the North Kent Line.
Click here to download the Submission document
 

March 2007 Newsletter

The latest issue contains details of:

• major improvements the Group has been able to secure to the WLL weekday morning peak service - from 21st May 2007
• further proposals from the Group for improvements to the service
• Update on Sherperd's Bush and imperial Wharf stations
• The new Transport for London Concession freplacing the SilverLink Metro service
• The Group's proposals for new services with local and international links
• Action by the Group over ticket pricing at West Brompton Station
• and more...

Copies have also been distributed at various stations
Click here to download the Newsletter

Zonal Fares at West Brompton from 2^nd Jan '07

New London zonal fares were introduced on 2^nd January 2007 on Silverlink and Southern services to and from West Brompton. WLLG has issued a pamphlet describing the benefits to passengers, where some fares are now reduced whilst others remain unchanged from 2006 fare structures. New fares between West Brompton and other key destinations are shown.
Click here to download the pamphlet

FASTTRACKIT

Travel locally or farther afield from your local station to or via Kensington Olympia and West Brompton stations avoiding inconvenient journey changes and more expensive fares via Central London. Here are two Posters produced by the Group.
Click here to download the details for Olympia
 
Click here to download the details for West Brompton

Direct Service to South London Stations

Travel direct on the West London Line to destinations in South London, including Balham for same-platform interchange to a range of other South London destinations as well as connections from and to stations on the Northern Line.

These journey opportunities introduced from 11th December 2006 are already benefiting many commuters, so please tell your friends and work colleagues the good news!
Click here to download the poster

13 Nov 06   

Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS)

Read the WLLG's letter of response to the Department of Transport (Rail) on the BML RUS Consultation document of September 2006
Click here to download the letter