More trains to stop at Shepherds Bush
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
12/02/2009
Rail passengers are promised longer trains and more frequent services after work began on a £326million upgrade of the local network.
Borough residents using the West London line will benefit from an increased service next year, with four trains an hour all day, every day between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction.
The investment will improve the service, which runs through the new Shepherds Bush rail station at the new Westfield shopping centre.
Half of these trains each hour will continue through to Stratford from May 2010, allowing better connections to the main 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Park.
H&F councillor Nicholas Botterill said: “Residents have had to put up with cattle-class trains for too long and rush-hour crowding is expected to increase, especially on lines into London.
“The announcement of extra Overground trains will be very welcome for local rail passengers and the increased capacity cannot come too soon.”
Network Rail engineers will upgrade more than 200 signals, renew four-and-a-half miles of track and 69 sets of points, lengthen 30 platforms – including Willesden Junction – and improve seven stations across the capital’s four Overground lines by 2012.
At the same time, Transport for London (TfL) is upgrading CCTV, PA, lighting and passenger information screens, providing new signs, undertaking general refurbishment and installing new lifts at some locations.
London Overground will run up to eight trains an hour during peak times on parts of the network when the upgrade is complete, double the current number and with a more reliable timetable for those trains.
New and longer platforms at some stations will allow more carriages per train, which will increase capacity and reduce overcrowding.
TfL London Rail’s managing director Ian Brown said a total of £1.4billion was being invested in London Overground.
He added: “A fleet of 32 new trains will enter service from 2009 with more capacity, air conditioning and real time information.”
