The Anonymous Widower

Does London Need To Get A Grip On Rail Connectivity?

This article in the Standard has a title of Old Oak Common regeneration scheme ‘risks being London’s worst cock-up in 50 years’. This is the first three paragraphs.

Boris Johnson’s flagship regeneration scheme at Old Oak Common is in danger of turning into London’s “worst cock-up in 50 years”, a leading government adviser warned today.

Urban planner Sir Terry Farrell said the £10 billion development, the biggest in Britain, is heading for disaster because of the rush to finish Crossrail. 

He blamed politicians for ducking key decisions and said the Mayor was partly responsible for a shortsighted “pass the parcel” approach. Sir Terry said: “If a tenth of the energy he put into the Boris island airport idea had gone into Old Oak Common I feel sure it would have happened without a problem.”

Old Oak Common is going to be a major development of 25,000 homes and 55,000 jobs created over the next fifteen years. A major transport hub will be created at Old Oak Common station will be created, linking some or all of the following lines together.

• Bakerloo Line
• Central Line
• Crossrail
• Dudding Hill Line
• Great Western Main Line
• HS2
• North London Line
• Watford DC Line
• West Coast Main Line
• West London Line

This map shows the plans for Option C of TRfL’s Old Oak Common proposals.

Option C Proposal At Old Oak Common

I wrote about this option in Should An Overground Station Be Built At Hythe Road?

Terry Farrell has said that there is no space between the rail lines to put the piling to support the homes, offices and other developments that will built over the top.

I also believe that the walking routes between the various stations will be far to long and tortuous.

The developers, Transport for London and the rail companies involved all seem to be planning their own parts in isolation.

It seems to echo what I documented in Searching For What Is Going To Happen On The East London Line After The Thameslink Programme Opens, where I was trying to find out how Thameslink will improve my journeys from Dalston Junction using the East London Line.

My correspondence on that issue, would seem to indicate that Thameslink and Transport for London don’t talk to each other and calmly go their own ways.

Someone needs to get a grip on all these big projects at a high level.

March 4, 2016 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Crossrail, East London Line, High Speed Two, North London Line, Old Oak Common Station, Thameslink, Trains, West London Line