More Details of Crossrail Emerge
Question mark over funding but detailed planning continues
Although
question marks remain about Crossrail ever getting the £10 billion
funding which will allow it to proceed, detailed planning for the scheme
is continuing.
In its formal response to Crossrail�s recent Benchmark Scheme consultation,
Hounslow Council has given its support for the scheme but has urged Crossrail
to consider a number of issues and proposed improvements.
The Council has requested consideration to be given to providing an additional
entry point to the proposed Turnham Green interchange station, at Fishers
Lane. Given the length of the proposed Crossrail platforms, a Fishers
Lane entry would reduce the walking distance to the station for residents
of the Acton Green area and relieve some pressure on Turnham Green Terrace,
which could face even more congestion if the new station is built there.
The Council
is also urging Crossrail to lobby for the introduction of a Piccadilly
line service at Turnham Green. Hounslow�s head of transport Chris Calvi-Freeman
said, "there are encouraging signs that London Underground/Transport
for London is taking a fresh look at the option of adding Turnham Green
as a permanent Piccadilly Line stop."
The Council has also suggested that a shoppers� car-park could be situated
under Chiswick Common with access/egress at one end or the other, or both.
Chris Calvi-Freeman commented that the proposed station includes a large
void just below ground level that appeared ideal for use as a car park,
which would be welcomed by the local business community and would appear
to be able to be achieved at relatively small additional cost when the
station is constructed.
Hounslow Council has joined with Richmond in expressing concern about
the closure of the Richmond branch of the District Line. They have asked
to be assured that all Crossrail information and ticketing systems will
be fully compatible with the Underground network to allow passengers to
transfer to and from the Underground at Turnham Green without penalty.
The Council originally suggested that there should be a spur linking the
Crossrail network with the Hounslow Loop, to provide Crossrail services
to Brentford, Hounslow and Feltham. The Council has offered to provide
details of potential patronage and the effect of Crossrail on regeneration
and economic growth along the Hounslow loop.
Recent discussion has indicated that Crossrail would be prepared to undertake
a preliminary engineering assessment to establish the costs and technical
feasibility of a link between Turnham Green station and the Hounslow Loop
east of Brentford station This could be feasible by way of an underground
junction immediately west of the proposed Turnham Green platforms, with
tracks continuing in tunnelled form under the Richmond Line then passing
under Chiswick Business Park and linking to the freight spur northeast
of Gunnersbury Avenue. Such alignment offers the possibility of basing
a tunnel worksite at the back of Chiswick Business Park (prior to the
eventual development of buildings at that location) and the possible option
of removal of extracted materials by rail instead of road. Besides connecting
the Hounslow Loop to the Chiswick tunnel, this option would achieve a
station under Chiswick Business Park, where it would be of direct benefit
to many of the 10,000 people who will work at this location when the park
is completed.
Another option would be to create the necessary track connections at Old
Oak Common and run Crossrail trains to Hounslow/Feltham via the North
London Line, with additional stations at Chiswick Business Park and at
the proposed site of the new Brentford football stadium at Lionel Road.
This route could also serve the existing Acton Central station. This would
provide six trains per hour to Hounslow in addition to the proposed Heathrow
and Richmond services, utilising trains that would otherwise run no further
west than Paddington under Crossrail�s benchmark proposals.
There is a 24 hour seven day a week Crossrail helpline on 0845 602 3813
and an e-mail address helpdesk@crossrail.co.uk
as well as a web site www.crossrail.co.uk
which contains background information about the project.
January 29, 2004