Residents Backing Brentford Link to Elizabeth Line

Council says reopening track to Southall key component of transport strategy

Brentford station

December 2, 2022

Brentford residents have welcomed plans that could see the area linked to the Elizabeth line if an old freight railway is opened up for public use. The proposal for a new railway have been positively received, especially if it opens up in time for hundreds of residents moving into new developments under construction.

Although questions remain about where funding will come from the project, at a recent council meeting it was confirmed it remains a 'key component' of the borough's transport strategy.

The Brentford to Southall branch line was last used by passengers 80 years ago in 1942. But proposals are in the works to re-open it for public use. The four-mile railway is used for freight, but if it is re-opened it could help support the local economy and improve transport connections for the town.

The idea is for a new station to be built on Transport Avenue, which would be within a short walk of the Sky Studios campus and Gillette films studios site. With this new station and route, the Great Western Road area of Brentford will have a direct link to the Great Western Mainline, as well as the Elizabeth line.

Locals in Brentford have welcomed the idea of a direct link to Southall. Sarah Bignell, who has lived in Brentford for three years, loved the idea of the new railway. She said: “At the moment we can get the Piccadilly, or we can get the bus to Ealing for the Elizabeth Line but by the time we’ve done that we probably just hop on the Central Line. My boyfriend lives in Hanwell and he uses the Elizabeth Line all the time so it would be great for us here.”

Rachel Aldworth, who lives on New Road near the old Brentford FC ground, said it would be “amazing” if the town could be linked to the new Tube line. Ms Aldworth, who has lived in the town for 30 years, said, “I used the Elizabeth line for the first time the other week, it would be great if we had a direct link. Right now we’ve got to get trains and buses, but a direct train to the Elizabeth line would be great.”

It takes Brentford residents 20 to 30 minutes by bus to get to Ealing Broadway, where residents can then hop on to the Central, District and Elizabeth lines. Locals also have the option of the Piccadilly line thanks to South Ealing and Northfields which are at the top of Brentford.

But, if residents need to get to Southall, either for work or to enjoy the restaurants the area is known for, they face a 30 to 40-minute journey using buses and trains. This new railway line would drastically shorten that travel time and provide a more direct railway route to the Elizabeth line.

A few doors down from Ms Aldworth on New Road, Sharon Wright already thinks the town is well-connected but admitted she would really appreciate a direct rail link to the Elizabeth line. She said, “There are really good bus routes and we usually use Brentford station to go into central but I work all over the place so it would be really handy to have that to get further East or even Heathrow Airport.”

Ms Wright, who has lived in Brentford for five years, thinks another railway line would help support more people moving into the town. She said: “With all the development going on in Brentford, once that’s done there will be more pressure on the public transport so it will have to keep up.”

In the next few years, at least 800 new homes will line the High Street as part of the Brentford Project development. The new scheme will also see hundreds of new shops open in the town, as well as a new cinema

But, Richard Cowan, who has lived in the town since 1988, doesn’t see the need for another railway line. He said, “Compared to other areas of London, we are well provided for. I suppose if these developments of flats are filled there will be more pressure on the Brentford line but I don’t see why we need a link to the Elizabeth line.

“I remember when there were just two trains per hour and they increased it to four which made things a lot easier. I’m not really sure we need another train, when I worked in the city people would arrive by boat that was a great way to travel, what about that?”

With more people set to move into Brentford over the next few years, it’s not transport that concerns Mr Cowan. He added, “We are more worried about overwhelming the infrastructure like schools, GPs and supermarkets. You can walk to the Morrisons, maybe Tesco in Osterley but for others, you need to drive or get the bus.”

Hounslow Council has said re-opening the line between Southall and Brentford is a “key component” in the transport strategy for the borough. Councillor Kathrine Dunne, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy, said, “Re-opening the Brentford to Southall rail line would provide a direct and convenient connection from Brentford to the Elizabeth line.

“This would support the provision of new jobs and housing in the Great West Corridor Opportunity Area, which is identified as a major growth area in the London Plan. The council is actively working with partners to develop the scheme, taking into account in the current economic climate to ensure a viable scheme can be delivered to complement the proposed new development.”

Megan Stanley - Local Democracy Reporter