What Is Happening At Acton Central Station?
On my way home today, I stopped off at Acton Central station to have a look.
This Google Map shows the station.
Note the level crossing and the partially demolished station building behind the hoarding.
The station could have a few problems in the future and may need partial rebuilding.
- The level crossing handles four trains per hour (tph) in both directions and there are plans to increase this frequency by two tph.
- The station is the changeover point between third-rail and overhead electrification.
- There is no step-free access between the two platforms.
But the biggest cause of future problems could be the West London Orbital Railway.
- This route will call at Acton Central station and it will have two services, each with four tph in both directions, giving a total of fourteen tph in each direction through the station.
- It is also likely that some passengers will want to change direction, so they will have to use the subway.
- The number of trains and passengers, may mean that a second entrance is needed on the Richmond-bound platform.
Could the work at Acton Central station be part of a solution?
Conclusion
It looks like it could be a second entrance is being created.
This might also make it easier for some passengers to change platforms and shut the level crossing.