"The Next Station is Shepherd's Bush"

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Passengers "delighted", shopkeepers hope business will pick up

Shepherd’s Bush Central line station has re-opened after an eight month closure.

Workmen could be seen on the platform early this morning (Sunday 5th October), polishing the mirrors before the station re-opened quietly at lunchtime.

The old green tiles on the platform walls have been replaced by sparkling blue, white and black ones, the benches are gleaming and the staircase is now bright and well-lit. The only slight disappointment is the escalators, which look dusty and paint-spattered. Upstairs, the ticket hall is bright and spacious.

The handful of passengers alighting at the new station on Sunday gave it the thumbs-up, although many said they were unaware it would be opening today.

“I love it, it’s marvellous,” said Mrs Saxby. It’s so light, bright and airy. It was miserable before. I didn’t know it would be open today. I read it would be in the middle of October.”

Edgar Remedios, who has lived in Shepherd’s Bush since 1972, said he was “very impressed”. “It’s more spacious and the windows look very artistic. They give a nice view onto Shepherd’s Bush. I didn’t know it would be opening today. I was on a bus and I thought I’d get off and take a chance.” He said he had been using the 94 bus to get to work during the closure. “It’s been okay,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the change.”

Another Shepherd’s Bush resident, who declined to give her name, said: “I’m delighted it’s open. It’s cleaner and brighter. It will be easier to travel around now, it gives us more choice. I didn’t know it would be opening today but I was in Notting Hill and I saw a poster there.”

During the eight-month closure, commuters have had to use replacement bus services to catch the Central line from White City or Holland Park, adding at least half an hour to journey times. 

Controversy has also surrounded the closure, with the uncovering of documents suggesting the station did not have to close completely after all, and the news that the station might not be fitted with a lift.

Transport for London say they are still trying to find a solution to the issue of step-free access. “The issue is not going to be buried,” a TfL spokesperson told ShepherdsBushW12.com.

Shopkeepers on Shepherd’s Bush Green say they have seen a steep decline in trade since the Tube station closed on 2 February and say they are hoping the re-opening will help revive their flagging businesses.

“It’s been bad, like a ghost town. There’s been no passenger flow,” said the owner of the Yogi Smurti newsagent, Mr Patel. “First the Tube station closed, then Wood Lane and that made things worse. Then a temporary bus stop appeared in front of my shop. That helped a little.”

Patel said he wasn’t sure how much of a difference the station-opening would make. “People will have changed their habits,” he said. “It’s debatable whether trade will pick up now. We’ve lost about 30 per cent of our income; it was 50 per cent until the bus stop came. I’ve had to extend my overdraft.”

An employee at Londis, which is right next to the station, told a similar story: “Over the last eight months, we’ve lost £3,000 a day,” said Amin. “When they were working on the footpath right in front of the shop, our takings went down another £500 a day. Hopefully when the shopping centre opens, it will bring in more business.”

Both shops said they had applied for a reduction in their business rates to compensate them for their losses but said they were still waiting to hear whether they would receive anything.

Yasmine Estaphanos

5 October 2008