A public consultation has been launched on two proposed routes for a future rail line, Crossrail 2 which will run from north East to South West London.

Crossrail 2 was originally based on the Chelsea Hackney, or Chelney, line, the route of which has been protected since 2008 by a Government safeguarding direction. According to existing maps, this line would run from Victoria to Sloane Square, to a new station around Dovehouse Green in Kings Road then onto Parsons Green, where it would share tracks with the District Line and continue to Wimbledon.

However, neither of the routes now being proposed includes Fulham. Instead both routes, called the Metro and Regional options run south as far as a new Kings Road station, but would then cross the river to Clapham Junction.

As we reported in February this year, this is despite the fact that a report by London business organisation London First on the need for Crossrail 2 predicts that by 2031 there could be very severe crowding levels on a number of key tube routes, including Fulham to Earls Court on the District line. You can reads this full story here.

Launching the consultation, Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail say that with London’s population set to boom, plans are underway for a vital new high frequency, high capacity rail line - Crossrail 2 - to support this future growth.

Crossrail 1 is already set to provide a 10% increase to rail capacity in London, and Crossrail 2 would add to this. It would create a new high frequency, high capacity rail line with shorter journey times between south west and north east London. It would help to relieve congestion on busy main line routes into central London and on the Underground network, while allowing communities around London to benefit from the creation of new jobs and new homes.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “Crossrail is set to revolutionise travel in the capital, and with a predicted 10 million people expected to be living in London by 2031, pressing ahead with the next stage of the plan, Crossrail 2, is quite simply essential. In order to support this great capital’s bright future, we need to think ahead and not wait until our transport arteries are clogged up and restricting jobs and growth.

"That’s why I am sending out a rallying cry for the public’s support for this consultation – come and share your views so we can progress with Crossrail 2 as soon as possible.”

The consultation is seeking the views of people in London and the south east and runs till August 2. It aims to establish what level of support there is for the project and where the public and stakeholders would like Crossrail 2 to serve. The public are encouraged to respond and share their views at the website.

Crossrail 2 is a long term plan and will not be operational before 2030. TfL and Network Rail say that the proposed plans are only an indication of which stations could be located, and at this early stage, nothing has been finalised.

 

May 22, 2013