Forum Topic

How to cycle to Acton Mainline (Elizabeth line station)?

HelloCan anyone recommend a quiet cycle route from Chiswick High Road (starting by police station) to Acton Mainline station to get on the Elizabeth line?Citymapper quiet route takes me through two parks which is nice during the day but not much good for a winter evening commute.

Sarah Smith ● 1581d15 Comments

It's a really good question and I was meaning to give it a test run soon.Southfield Park is illuminated at night around the perimeter so you might still feel able to use that and the northern end had been widened which makes it both safer and easier to ride through. Acton Park is not well lit and is locked at night.The avoid the parks you would need to go via Acton Lane and then take Birkbeck Road up to Churchfield Road then go on Goldsmith Road. I haven't done this bit of the trip yet but I assume you wind through the residential streets between the railway line and Horn Lane until you get to Emanuel Avenue which comes out onto Horn Lane near the station.Heading to Acton Mainline from Chiswick is uphill (mainly gently) most of the way so be prepared for a quite tiring ride if you don't have gears.

Mark Evans ● 1581d

There's quite a few options I've taken on this route and the one-way streets mean you'll not be taking quite the same way back. The new cycle route takes you though the parks up Perryn to the bike path along the A40 and there you can then cut down Friary to the station.  If you want to avoid the parks, you might want to cut through to the Vale via the path at the top of Rugby Rd, then take E Acton Lane and Churchfield to the bottom of Perryn, then as before. The way back is nearly the reverse but takes you down Warple Way and Canham to the path to Rugby Rd.

Tom Pike ● 1581d

Of course either way you'd start off taking Fishers Lane and then Rusthall north, and then turn either left on Speldhurst for the Parks route or right for the Rugby Rd path.

Tom Pike ● 1581d

I'd tend to avoid the Rugby Road route as it is a bit isolated at night and Canham Road is very potholed and poorly lit. If you wanted to use Rugby Road and you are starting at the police station the route Tom suggested is quite circuitous and Fishers Lane is one way at the start. I'd just head up Windmill Road, cross Chiswick Back Common near the tube station and up the Avenue.

Mark Evans ● 1581d

Worth double checking if bicycles are allowed on the Lizzey Line at the times you are planning to travel.Good luck on the uphill trip to Acton..and enjoy whizzing back home!

Jim Lawes ● 1581d

If I was starting at the police station I’d be inclined to wheel my bike across the zebra crossing and cut through the alleyway near Tesco as it can be tricky crossing the High Road on a bike at this point. There isn’t much difference between going by Fishers Lane or the Avenue from here if you are going through Southfield Park. There is a lot of cycle traffic through the park in the evening (mainly delivery riders) so it does feel relatively safe. One option would be to take the Avenue route then Southfield, turning into Alexandra Road then Hatfield Road where there is an entrance to the park. You can then cross the northern end of the park next to the industrial estate. If you are not using Acton Park then use Birbeck Road then Goldsmith Road
Bear left into Goldsmith Avenue
Left into Baldwyn Avenue
Left into Grafton Road
Right into Messaline Avenue
Left into Emanuel Road If you lose your bearings just head towards the tall tower! Other than Birbeck Road these roads are two way so you can just retrace your steps on the return. I believe there is CCTV monitored cycle parking at the station.

Andrew OSullivan ● 1581d

You're right about the bottom of Fisher's Lane and Bond Street/Chiswick Common Rd  is best if you're starting at the Police Station. It's the same distance via Fishers Lane/Rusthall or TGT/Avenue but the former is quieter.

Tom Pike ● 1581d

Maybe worth mentioning that I think Acton Main Line will have 4 Elizabeth line trains per hour in each direction while Ealing Broadway will have 12 per hour in each direction.

Michael Robinson ● 1581d

from where I am in Grove Park, Ealing Broadway is 3.3 miles, while Acton ML is 3.2, so not much in at all. The cycle path along the 406 isn't actually too bad  a ride. Looks like folding bikes OK at any time.

James Tickell ● 1581d

We are getting into very fine detail here but I think it is a bit misleading to describe the Fishers Lane/Rusthall route as quieter. South Parade can be very busy and you have to execute a right turn sometimes with an impatient 94 driver behind you. The Avenue may have more vehicles than Rusthall/St Albans but you get a clear run whereas you can expect at some point on the other route to be held by by a delivery driver refusing to give way.Although the regularity from Acton Mainline is less, whichever route you choose you should be able to do it in around 15 minutes and it is a reasonable expectation that the Elizabeth line will stick to its published timetable so you can use a travel app to avoid a wait.

Mark Evans ● 1581d

It's good to see a discussion on this forum amongst cyclists without the antis sticking their oar in. Oh wait!

David Burke ● 1581d

Unless you have to cycle from your destination station, wouldnt it be better to leave the bike, get tube to ealing broadway and then head east. I think some trains are non stop to paddington. It may seem a bit long but could be quicker.

Stephen Gould ● 1581d

Hi Mark. The Chiswick to Acton cycle route actually swings left at the zebra crossing at the north end of Fishers Lane and runs as a shared use path to the new bike zebra on South Parade then onto Rusthall where Ealing have built out the kerb to make it safer. So no need to use South Parade at all if you’d rather not.

Edward Seaton ● 1581d

Thanks - seems like a few options to try. It's always a bit frustrating when safe routes rely on parks!I have a Brompton so should be able to take it on board all the time folded.It will be most useful for me once it is running through to Whitechapel and Custom House directly but good to get prepared and scout out the routes now!

Sarah Smith ● 1581d

Edward, I don't think anyone capable of cycling all the way to Acton Mainline station would use the designated 'East Acton to Chiswick Cycleway' at this point. This would mean cycling across the park while weaving through pedestrians and dogs and negotiating a complex exit by South Parade. Easier to stay on the road even if the right turn off South Parade can occasionally be a bit hairy. All this is a bit marginal though, if I was further west on Chiswick High Road and needed to get to Acton Mainline I'd go via Fishers Lane/ Rusthall or St Alban's.

Mark Evans ● 1581d