Acton-Northolt Line Status

[merseydrew]

Was on an LUL Central Line train between South Ruislip & North Acton today, much of the ANL is currently ripped up and there is much work being done.

Is the line being permanently closed? As far as I'm away the only regular traffic is 1x/week waste train.

 

[stuu]

Not officially closed. There are various worksites for HS2 along there at the moment. But I assume it will have to be put back in one piece. There is space reserved at OOC for a hypothetical Chiltern service to connect to HS2 so there may be a future use for the line

 

[nlt]

There used to be two tracks. One has been out of use for many years and it looks as though they've finally got round to removing it. I think the single track is still in use between South Ruislip and Greenford. Not sure about between Greenford and Acton. There's a speed restriction near Northolt on the Central Line because of HS2 works and a footbridge in the area has been closed.

 

[The Planner]

I think the single track is still in use between South Ruislip and Greenford.

It most certainly is, HS2 won't get their deliveries without it!

 

[12LDA28C]

There used to be two tracks. One has been out of use for many years and it looks as though they've finally got round to removing it. I think the single track is still in use between South Ruislip and Greenford. Not sure about between Greenford and Acton. There's a speed restriction near Northolt on the Central Line because of HS2 works and a footbridge in the area has been closed.

South Ruislip to Greenford is still open and regular freight uses the line, travelling via Castle Bar Park. I believe the triangle at Greenford is still in use but the line is closed south of Park Royal for OOC construction. As others have said though, the line will reopen eventually.

 

[merseydrew]

There used to be two tracks. One has been out of use for many years and it looks as though they've finally got round to removing it. I think the single track is still in use between South Ruislip and Greenford. Not sure about between Greenford and Acton. There's a speed restriction near Northolt on the Central Line because of HS2 works and a footbridge in the area has been closed.

I noticed that actually, 92 stock slowed right down past these works on ANL around Northolt

 

[RGM654]

South Ruislip to Greenford is still open and regular freight uses the line, travelling via Castle Bar Park. I believe the triangle at Greenford is still in use but the line is closed south of Park Royal for OOC construction. As others have said though, the line will reopen eventually.

Will a connection through to Paddington be restored? If so, what services will use it? If not, what will a line terminating somewhere around North Acton be used for?

 

[The Planner]

Will a connection through to Paddington be restored? If so, what services will use it? If not, what will a line terminating somewhere around North Acton be used for?

Trains from the Chilterns to OOC. It won't be connected back to Paddington.

 

[merseydrew]

Trains from the Chilterns to OOC. It won't be connected back to Paddington.

Would it be possible to connect the ANL to the West London Line? There is a connection between the WLL and Hitachi North Pole.

 

[The Planner]

Would it be possible to connect the ANL to the West London Line? There is a connection between the WLL and Hitachi North Pole.

Do you mean the line from Willesden down to Kew? The ANL is nowhere near the WLL. Also, why?

 

[12LDA28C]

Will a connection through to Paddington be restored? If so, what services will use it? If not, what will a line terminating somewhere around North Acton be used for?

This was answered in post #2. In theory, OOC interchange will feature a west end bay to accommodate trains to/from the Chilterns.

 

[parisien]

From what I've seen, there's quite a bit of work in progress, but I don't think the line is closed for good. The train of waste still passes, so it remains in use, even if very limited. Maybe they are just doing renovations on the infrastructure?

 

[Horizon22]

Trains from the Chilterns to OOC. It won't be connected back to Paddington.

Has that actually been committed though? I understand there was some very passive provision but nowhere near any form of confirmation.

 

[12LDA28C]

From what I've seen, there's quite a bit of work in progress, but I don't think the line is closed for good. The train of waste still passes, so it remains in use, even if very limited. Maybe they are just doing renovations on the infrastructure?

The waste train uses the part of the single line north of Greenford, towards South Ruislip. We are discussing the section a few miles south of Greenford (towards what used to be Old Oak Common West Junction) which is most certainly closed currently.

 

[merseydrew]

Do you mean the line from Willesden down to Kew? The ANL is nowhere near the WLL. Also, why?

The line from Willesden-Clapham Junction. Currently freight operations in West/North West London are severely congested, and a link between the Chiltern lines and the WLL would help alleviate this

 

[Horizon22]

The line from Willesden-Clapham Junction. Currently freight operations in West/North West London are severely congested, and a link between the Chiltern lines and the WLL would help alleviate this

This would not help congestion at all. Freight leaves the WLL at Acton Wells which is merely 0.2km from any theoretical route onto ex ANL towards Greenford. Or it leaves on the WCML which is before this junction. So freight would still run on the vast majority of the route. It could help reduce freight congestion on the GWML, but the logistics and land layout make it practically impossible.

At a cursory look at Google Maps shows the lines intersect at pretty much 90 degrees with no room for any sort of curve considering the gradient. Not to mention the junction for the Dudding Hill freight only line is right in the way.

 

[swt_passenger]

Would it be possible to connect the ANL to the West London Line? There is a connection between the WLL and Hitachi North Pole.

The WLL access to the western part of North Pole depot gets you near to various sidings on the south side of the GWML, but there’s no physical route from there onto the GWML. Then when the OOC GWML station is complete there’ll be a massive 8 platform station between North Pole depot and the proposed end of the ANL. It’s not a feasible route at all.

 

[WestAnglian]

I noticed that actually, 92 stock slowed right down past these works on ANL around Northolt

The track betwwen Ruislip and Greenford was used by a railtour the Saturday before last.

 

[The Planner]

Has that actually been committed though? I understand there was some very passive provision but nowhere near any form of confirmation.

Nope, but there is more chance of that than ever getting a connection on to the reliefs.

 

[merseydrew]

Which rail tour is this? Which stock is used

The track betwwen Ruislip and Greenford was used by a railtour the Saturday before last.

 

[12LDA28C]

Which rail tour is this? Which stock is used

This one, which used WCRC Mk2s.

Six Bells Junction

 

[cle]

As I recall, in a RUS type document, there was ambition for 2 bays (on a Crossrail island? northern most I think) - with 4tph going to each of High Wycombe, Banbury, Oxford and Aylesbury/MKC.

I'm sure those would change in time, but basically aiming for an hourly across the Chiltern network. I would think 2tph stopping to HW and 2tph to Oxford (semi until HW) would be better, and more of a regular user service.

 

[Class15]

Is this the line known as the ‘New North Main line’?

Hopefully the OOC plan comes to fruition.

 

[Horizon22]

As I recall, in a RUS type document, there was ambition for 2 bays (on a Crossrail island? northern most I think) - with 4tph going to each of High Wycombe, Banbury, Oxford and Aylesbury/MKC.

I'm sure those would change in time, but basically aiming for an hourly across the Chiltern network. I would think 2tph stopping to HW and 2tph to Oxford (semi until HW) would be better, and more of a regular user service.

They would be there own north-facing bays IIRC, sort of how the SWR platforms work at Reading (but with no connection to the GWML).

 

[12LDA28C]

Is this the line known as the ‘New North Main line’?

According to Wikipedia yes, but I've never heard it referred to as that by anyone. Perhaps it was known as that in steam days.

 

[cle]

They would be there own north-facing bays IIRC, sort of how the SWR platforms work at Reading (but with no connection to the GWML).

I didn’t think there were side platforms (on the GWML) at OOC, just lots of islands.

 

[Class15]

According to Wikipedia yes, but I've never heard it referred to as that by anyone. Perhaps it was known as that in steam days.

Thank you very much, you may well be right. That’s the name I’ve usually known it by (it sounds cooler than ANL haha) and I think it’s used in a few books I have.

 

[MarkyT]

Not officially closed. There are various worksites for HS2 along there at the moment. But I assume it will have to be put back in one piece. There is space reserved at OOC for a hypothetical Chiltern service to connect to HS2 so there may be a future use for the line

The original HS2 plan was to use the existing surface alignment along this section but they quickly switched to a new tunnel roughly beneath it instead. There are some vent shaft headhouses along the tunnel route and designers have been careful to keep these clear of the old trackbed. That has allowed them to use the alignment as a haul road for the shaft construction sites. Once complete, there should be no physical reason for not being able to reinstate track assuming there's a good use for it.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Trains from the Chilterns to OOC. It won't be connected back to Paddington.

Is there still the physical possibility of it being connected to the Elizabeth Line, for a new branch (perhaps extending some of the Paddington turnbacks to High Wycombe)?

 

[12LDA28C]

Is there still the physical possibility of it being connected to the Elizabeth Line, for a new branch (perhaps extending some of the Paddington turnbacks to High Wycombe)?

A small issue of a lack of OHLE on the Chilterns...