Heathrow/Piccadilly line to London Overground interchange improvements

[tasky]

This video by Geoff Marshall got me thinking

He gets from Heathrow to Upminster for £1.50 by avoiding zone 1.

To do this you have to do a slightly laborious interchange between the Piccadilly line and the Overground

He takes the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Acton Town, where he changes to a District Line train to Earl's Court. Then he changes to another branch of the District line, which he gets to West Brompton for change to the Overground. And then he can obviously go all around London within entering zone 1.

It's all a bit of fun, but a proper interchange between the Overground and the western Piccadilly Line would be really useful for passengers travelling to Heathrow.

Currently a trip to Heathrow from zone 2 (where people actually live) generally involves going into the centre and out, so a relatively small change could take a bit of pressure off the overloaded Tube lines in the middle of town, and shorten journeys.

It seems like you could probably do this with a new station just south of South Acton, where the Piccadilly Line tracks cross the overground.

Anyone have any idea if this would be plausible?

Map below

 

[Ianno87]

Oak Oak Common station could eventually do basically the same thing anyway, changing between an Overground station (if that does get built on the North/West London Lines) and the Elizabeth Line.

Would be a darn sight quicker than via South Acton too between North London Line and Heathrow.

 

[tasky]

Oak Oak Common station could eventually do basically the same thing anyway, changing between an Overground station (if that does get built on the North/West London Lines) and the Elizabeth Line.

Would be a darn sight quicker than via South Acton too between North London Line and Heathrow.

That will be good - I think current plans are for an out-of-station interchange to Old Oak Common Lane (Overground) rather than in the station so not quite as convenient, particularly for people with luggage for the airport. But does much the same thing and as you say, on a faster route.

 

[MarkyT]

Here's my idea for an interchange.


Gunnersbury existing station relocated north of Chiswick High Road with separate platforms for District and Overground. Street access at either end of new platforms including pedestrian link over new road to Chiswick Park station which appears likely to be reallocated to the Piccadilly Line as part of plan to take over Ealing Broadway branch. Red line is the new road, avoiding level crossings on Bollo Lane, which can be closed to through vehicular traffic, with local buses rerouted via new road. Piccadilly trains to make additional stop at Chiswick Park for interchange and the Chiswick area instead of proposals for them to stop at Turnham Green. Interchange between Picc and OG via on short out of station interchange along new road, could perhaps include canopy covering pavements in area that could also function as bus waiting shelters.

 

[tasky]

Here's my idea for an interchange.
View attachment 55511

Gunnersbury existing station relocated north of Chiswick High Road with separate platforms for District and Overground. Street access at either end of new platforms including pedestrian link over new road to Chiswick Park station which appears likely to be reallocated to the Piccadilly Line as part of plan to take over Ealing Broadway branch. Red line is the new road, avoiding level crossings on Bollo Lane, which can be closed to through vehicular traffic, with local buses rerouted via new road. Piccadilly trains to make additional stop at Chiswick Park for interchange and the Chiswick area instead of proposals for them to stop at Turnham Green. Interchange between Picc and OG via on short out of station interchange along new road, could perhaps include canopy covering pavements in area that could also function as bus waiting shelters.

This is great, and sorting the level crossings is a bonus too

I think aside from the Heathrow benefits, better connectivity for the not-insignificant number of people who live on the west of the Piccadilly Line is also a very sensible idea

 

[Ianno87]

This is great, and sorting the level crossings is a bonus too

I think aside from the Heathrow benefits, better connectivity for the not-insignificant number of people who live on the west of the Piccadilly Line is also a very sensible idea

Most of the western Picc people won't be content to have their Zone 1 bound journeys slowed down with an extra stop.

 

[MarkyT]

Most of the western Picc people won't be content to have their Zone 1 bound journeys slowed down with an extra stop.

I guess the rationale behind the proposed extra Turnham Green (or my Chiswick Park alternative) stop would be better performance of the next generation rolling stock. It might be possible to accommodate an extra stop without increasing overall Heathrow-Zone 1 journey time.

 

[ijmad]

Gunnersbury Triangle is a nature reserve. It cannot be built upon.

I have a interesting thought though.

The rumours are that the Piccadilly Line will be taking over the Ealing Broadway branch at some point in the next few years. When this happens, there will be four tracks west of Turnham Green but only two will be needed to carry the full Piccadilly Line service. All District Line trains will be going to Richmond. Chiswick Park station will either end up serving the Piccadilly Line, or have new platforms built on the Richmond branch (which runs near it but not currently through it), or both.

So how about using that opportunity and extra space from pulling up two of the tracks to create a station on the bridge over Stanhope Way at the back of the business park?

Here: https://goo.gl/maps/CWKD8jf3YuF2

Gunnersbury is already inadequate for the volumes it receives and this could be a good option for many commuters.

There's space for Overground platforms just west of the level crossing .on Bollo Lane too, and interchange would be easy enough. Might even be an opportunity to get rid of the level crossing.

Here: https://goo.gl/maps/S2b8DwM1KhT2

 

[MarkyT]

Gunnersbury Triangle is a nature reserve. It cannot be built upon.

I understand that and wouldn't intend to build on the triangle land itself, just a narrow strip either side of each existing rail alignment for platforms, probably mostly or entirely within existing rail boundaries. There is already a footbridge and path being constructed crossing the triangle through the reserve for access between the office developments and Chiswick Park station (opening by the end of 2018). Building the road I have shown would no doubt be more problematic I agree, but that isn't critical to creating the interchange.

...there will be four tracks west of Turnham Green but only two will be needed to carry the full Piccadilly Line service. All District Line trains will be going to Richmond. Chiswick Park station will either end up serving the Piccadilly Line, or have new platforms built on the Richmond branch (which runs near it but not currently through it), or both.
So how about using that opportunity and extra space from pulling up two of the tracks to create a station on the bridge over Stanhope Way at the back of the business park?
...
Gunnersbury is already inadequate for the volumes it receives and this could be a good option for many commuters.
There's space for Overground platforms just west of the level crossing .on Bollo Lane too, and interchange would be easy enough. Might even be an opportunity to get rid of the level crossing.

For the District, new Chiswick Park platfroms would likely be very close to where I showed them for my interchange. These would be too close to Gunnersbury really for both stations to survive (little more than 200m between platform ends). Better to build a second access to the new station at the west not far from the existing Gunnersbury station entrance but on the opposite side of Chiswick High Road (A315). This would allow the existing Gunnersbury station to close entirely, assuming the OG platfroms were also rebuilt as I have shown. Your proposed site would be very close to South Acton station.
Some retention of 4 tracks might be prudent for access to the District depot that will remain at Ealing Common.

 

[ijmad]

For the District, new Chiswick Park platfroms would likely be very close to where I showed them for my interchange. These would be too close to Gunnersby really for both stations to survive (little more than 200m between platform ends). Better to build a second access to the new station at the west not far from the existing Gunnersby station entrance but on the opposite side of Chiswick High Road (A315). This would allow the existing Gunnersby station to close entirely, assuming the OG platfroms were also rebuilt as I have shown. Your proposed site would be very close to South Acton station.
Some retention of 4 tracks might be prudent for access to the District depot that will remain at Ealing Common.

Yeah these are good points. I had been wondering where new platforms on the Richmond branch for Chiswick Park might go, in my head I'd always assumed around here but space might be tight.

 

[sprunt]

I realise it wouldn't be attractive to Heathrow passengers with luggage, but is Chiswick Park-South Acton an OSI?

 

[Mag_seven]

He takes the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Acton Town, where he changes to a District Line train to Earl's Court. Then he changes to another branch of the District line, which he gets to West Brompton for change to the Overground

Not quite - he changes at Turnham Green and goes to Gunnersbury and picks up the Overground from there.

 

[ijmad]

Not quite - he changes at Turnham Green and goes to Gunnersbury and picks up the Overground from there.

I wonder which is faster. Another way to do it would be to change at Acton Town, go to Ealing Broadway, get on the Central Line and pick up the Overground at Shepherds Bush.

All avoid Zone 1.