Brent Cross Light Rail
 

New rail line needed to tackle traffic at Brent Cross
http://www.railtechnologymagazine.co...e&KeyValue=857


quote
"25/01/2008
The huge planned Brent Cross development should include a light rail
line in order to reduce traffic growth, according to a new report
published by the London group of the Campaign for Better Transport.

Without the new line, the large residential and retail development
would have a massive traffic impact: an extra 133,000 people and
29,000 extra vehicles are expected to travel into the area each
weekday. There are 8,000 car parking spaces in the existing shopping
centre, 7,500 additional spaces planned in the new residential element
and an untold number in the commercial elements of the new scheme. The
highway network and road junctions in the area would have to be
enlarged to cope with the extra traffic.

But a new rail line would connect and improve access to the existing
Brent Cross tube station and a planned new Thameslink station, both
rather remotely sited on the edge of the development. It would provide
a public transport spine through the development from the existing
shopping centre to the new residential and commercial district on the
other side of the North Circular. It could then continue south to Park
Royal, linking large parts of Barnet, Brent and Ealing, using existing
underused railway lines and connecting the Northern, Central, Jubilee,
Piccadilly and Bakerloo Tube lines, the overground and Thameslink.

Norman Beddington, chair of Campaign for Better Transport’s London
group, said:

“Brent Cross is only one of 42 areas where the forecast growth in
London’s housing and employment is to be concentrated. There’s already
too much traffic. If they all increase traffic as Brent Cross will do,
we are in serious trouble. We really can’t go on planning these
developments as though no one had ever heard of global warming. We
must plan for alternatives to the car, hence our proposal for a new
Brent Cross rail line. This is intended to provoke debate.”

unquote


Is the underused line - the Dudding Hill Junction Line to Acton - Does
this see much traffic these days?

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

On Jan 25, 6:58 pm, Mwmbwls wrote:
New rail line needed to tackle traffic at Brent Crosshttp://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/dataview/News/News_Article.aspx...

quote
"25/01/2008
The huge planned Brent Cross development should include a light rail
line in order to reduce traffic growth, according to a new report
published by the London group of the Campaign for Better Transport.

Without the new line, the large residential and retail development
would have a massive traffic impact: an extra 133,000 people and
29,000 extra vehicles are expected to travel into the area each
weekday. There are 8,000 car parking spaces in the existing shopping
centre, 7,500 additional spaces planned in the new residential element
and an untold number in the commercial elements of the new scheme. The
highway network and road junctions in the area would have to be
enlarged to cope with the extra traffic.

But a new rail line would connect and improve access to the existing
Brent Cross tube station and a planned new Thameslink station, both
rather remotely sited on the edge of the development. It would provide
a public transport spine through the development from the existing
shopping centre to the new residential and commercial district on the
other side of the North Circular. It could then continue south to Park
Royal, linking large parts of Barnet, Brent and Ealing, using existing
underused railway lines and connecting the Northern, Central, Jubilee,
Piccadilly and Bakerloo Tube lines, the overground and Thameslink.

Norman Beddington, chair of Campaign for Better Transport's London
group, said:

"Brent Cross is only one of 42 areas where the forecast growth in
London's housing and employment is to be concentrated. There's already
too much traffic. If they all increase traffic as Brent Cross will do,
we are in serious trouble. We really can't go on planning these
developments as though no one had ever heard of global warming. We
must plan for alternatives to the car, hence our proposal for a new
Brent Cross rail line. This is intended to provoke debate."

unquote

Is the underused line - the Dudding Hill Junction Line to Acton - Does
this see much traffic these days?

No idea... But I think a better idea would be to go to Willesden Jn
instead of Harlesden...

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

On 25 Jan, 21:16, wrote:
On Jan 25, 6:58 pm, Mwmbwls wrote:



New rail line needed to tackle traffic at Brent Crosshttp://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/dataview/News/News_Article.aspx...

quote
"25/01/2008
The huge planned Brent Cross development should include a light rail
line in order to reduce traffic growth, according to a new report
published by the London group of the Campaign for Better Transport.

Without the new line, the large residential and retail development
would have a massive traffic impact: an extra 133,000 people and
29,000 extra vehicles are expected to travel into the area each
weekday. There are 8,000 car parking spaces in the existing shopping
centre, 7,500 additional spaces planned in the new residential element
and an untold number in the commercial elements of the new scheme. The
highway network and road junctions in the area would have to be
enlarged to cope with the extra traffic.

But a new rail line would connect and improve access to the existing
Brent Cross tube station and a planned new Thameslink station, both
rather remotely sited on the edge of the development. It would provide
a public transport spine through the development from the existing
shopping centre to the new residential and commercial district on the
other side of the North Circular. It could then continue south to Park
Royal, linking large parts of Barnet, Brent and Ealing, using existing
underused railway lines and connecting the Northern, Central, Jubilee,
Piccadilly and Bakerloo Tube lines, the overground and Thameslink.

Norman Beddington, chair of Campaign for Better Transport's London
group, said:

"Brent Cross is only one of 42 areas where the forecast growth in
London's housing and employment is to be concentrated. There's already
too much traffic. If they all increase traffic as Brent Cross will do,
we are in serious trouble. We really can't go on planning these
developments as though no one had ever heard of global warming. We
must plan for alternatives to the car, hence our proposal for a new
Brent Cross rail line. This is intended to provoke debate."

unquote

Is the underused line - the Dudding Hill Junction Line to Acton - Does
this see much traffic these days?

No idea... But I think a better idea would be to go to Willesden Jn
instead of Harlesden...


Though of course Willesden Junction is in Harlesden, just as Clapham
Junction is in Battersea - thus creating the somewhat odd situation
that the "two Junctions" West London Line service that links them
doesn't manage to accurately inform you of where it is going in either
direction.

Well, it amuses me.

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

On 25 Jan, 18:58, Mwmbwls wrote:
Is the underused line - the Dudding Hill Junction Line to Acton - Does
this see much traffic these days?

Yes it is, and it sees a few freight trains a day I think.

Worth looking at the accompanying PDF at the bottom of this page:
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/me...08/brent_cross

As rail fantasy, It's up there with the finest work of uk.t.l. It even
manages to include a North Acton triangle interchange station. I
especially like the half mile gap between Brent Cross shopping centre
and the Dudding Hill branch (including the crossing of the Midland
Mainline), where they can't even see a possible route. Also, top marks
for the pasted in Windows Live Local maps and satellite pictures.

They haven't included even the beginnings of a cost-benefit analysis,
which says a lot about how seriously it wishes to be taken. It's just
hot air.

U

--
http://londonconnections.blogspot.com/
A blog about transport projects in London

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

On 25 Jan, 22:41, Mr Thant
wrote:
On 25 Jan, 18:58, Mwmbwls wrote:

Is the underused line - the Dudding Hill Junction Line to Acton - Does
this see much traffic these days?

Yes it is, and it sees a few freight trains a day I think.

Worth looking at the accompanying PDF at the bottom of this page:
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/me...january_2008/b...

As rail fantasy, It's up there with the finest work of uk.t.l. It even
manages to include a North Acton triangle interchange station. I
especially like the half mile gap between Brent Cross shopping centre
and the Dudding Hill branch (including the crossing of the Midland
Mainline), where they can't even see a possible route. Also, top marks
for the pasted in Windows Live Local maps and satellite pictures.

They haven't included even the beginnings of a cost-benefit analysis,
which says a lot about how seriously it wishes to be taken. It's just
hot air.

U


I think the giveaway is the quote where the gent says "This is
intended to provoke debate."

I'm all for provoking debate, and he makes some very sound basic
points about transport issues at places like Brent Cross - however I'm
not convinced that this really is the best way to provoke debate,
given that it is just a fantasy that falls apart as soon as you give
it a little thought.

Is there really anything to gain by bandying around "plans" like this,
or does it merely add to peoples scepticism (or provide ammunition for
those who downright hostile) about public transport plans and planning?

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

On 25 Jan, 23:28, Mizter T wrote:
I think the giveaway is the quote where the gent says "This is
intended to provoke debate."

But oddly the PDF is peppered with all sorts of demands that parts of
the route be safeguarded.

I'm all for provoking debate, and he makes some very sound basic
points about transport issues at places like Brent Cross - however I'm
not convinced that this really is the best way to provoke debate,
given that it is just a fantasy that falls apart as soon as you give
it a little thought.

Yes. If they're serious about pressuring government into building this
stuff then the very least they need to do is demonstrate it's
affordable and useful and we'd be daft not to build it. Their proposal
manages to do everything but that.

U

--
http://londonconnections.blogspot.com/
A blog about transport projects in London

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

Mr Thant wrote:
Is the underused line - the Dudding Hill Junction Line to Acton - Does
this see much traffic these days?

Yes it is, and it sees a few freight trains a day I think.

Semaphore signals, links several main lines, through industrial and
heavily populated areas... The term criminal neglect comes to mind.

Passenger trains should run on it asap, with a guarantee to continue
them. Doesn't much matter where to or from - people will adjust their
commuting patterns to suit.

Worth looking at the accompanying PDF at the bottom of this page:
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/me...08/brent_cross

As rail fantasy, It's up there with the finest work of uk.t.l. It even
manages to include a North Acton triangle interchange station. I
especially like the half mile gap between Brent Cross shopping centre
and the Dudding Hill branch (including the crossing of the Midland
Mainline), where they can't even see a possible route.

And the idea of taking over one track and leaving the other for
freight is crazy. Two shared tracks are fine, given flexible enough
signalling and passenger trains that can match the freights' average
speed.

What you might call phase 1, some sort of people-mover between Brent
Cross Northern Line and (proposed) Brent Cross Thameslink, looks
achievable and could help reduce car journeys in the area. The
technology this would use is not what you'd want for Dudden Hill, though.

Colin McKensie

--
No-one has ever proved that cycle helmets make cycling any safer at
the population level, and anyway cycling is about as safe per mile as
walking.
Make an informed choice - visit www.cyclehelmets.org.

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

"Colin McKenzie" wrote in message
...

What you might call phase 1, some sort of people-mover between Brent Cross
Northern Line and (proposed) Brent Cross Thameslink, looks achievable and
could help reduce car journeys in the area.

Wider roads and bus lanes would also be achievable, and should be a lot
cheaper. I don't think a sparks effect would work over such a short
distance.

A few bus lanes on the North Circular either side of Henlys Corner would
help too. The three westbound lanes from the A1000 down to the Falloden Way
junction must be one of the most expensive car parks ever built.

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

On 25 Jan, 22:41, Mr Thant
wrote:
As rail fantasy, It's up there with the finest work of uk.t.l. It even

Not just rail fantasy - one of the documents says the A406 is of
motorway standard. It most certainly isn't. No hard shoulder , narrow
lanes, sharp curves (especially just before the met bridge at
neasden), crossroads, traffic lights and minor roads connecting
directly to it mean its far from being anything close to a motorway.

B2003

Brent Cross Light Rail
 

On 26 Jan, 14:37, Colin McKenzie wrote:
Passenger trains should run on it asap, with a guarantee to continue
them. Doesn't much matter where to or from - people will adjust their
commuting patterns to suit.

All of the lines it connects together interchange at West Hampstead,
and most of its potential catchment area is covered by existing
stations (Harlesden, Neasden, Cricklewood). And it's in the wrong
place to divert any more freight to it. I think the current situation
is fairly justifiable.

U

--
http://londonconnections.blogspot.com/
A blog about transport projects in London