Trains on time, but what about drivers?

New Tube and Overground stations and more bus routes are expected to help get things moving around Shepherds Bush, which is soon to become home to Britain’s second largest shopping centre.

A brand new Hammersmith & City line station – called Wood Lane – is the first to be built on an existing line for more than 70 years. Shepherds Bush station on the Central line is expected to re-open on October 5 after the controversial re-vamp of the 1900 original. And a new Overground station on the West London Line will open from Sunday 28 September. A new bus station is also expected to open in November.

Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council’s Leader, Stephen Greenhalgh, has welcomed the new public transport links but has also issued a warning to Transport for London (TfL) to do more for west London motorists.

TfL’s own research proves H&F already has the most clogged-up streets in London with a staggering 7.6 million hours lost in traffic every year.

The council Leader has warned that without urgent action, on issues like the phasing of traffic-lights and better north-south routes, drivers will be left further behind.

70,000 extra visitors are expected to flood into Shepherds Bush every week when the mega – Westfield London – shopping centre opens from October 30 and the council has challenged TfL to take action now before it’s too late.

Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, says: “We are very pleased that, with the council’s help, these important new public transport improvements have the green light to open. But TfL must not forget about west London’s drivers who seem to be constantly stuck on red. The council will continue to press TfL for urgent solutions.

“For example, the council is working up a scheme that will improve the traffic flow at the junction of Fulham Palace Road and Hammersmith Broadway and benefit all road users and we want to ensure that TfL provides the funds to deliver it.

“It has been a long and at times difficult journey to get these public transport links finished and we cannot allow TfL to take the same length of time to sort out our roads.”

Trains are providing the most significant boost to Hamersmith & Fulham’s creaking transport network with two new stations, and a refurbished one, opening in the next few weeks.

Wood Lane – Hammersmith & City Line
A brand new Hammersmith & City line station – called Wood Lane – will open from October 12 at the junction of Wood Lane and Ariel Way. The new station is the first to be built on an existing Underground line for more than 70 years. The new stop, between Shepherd’s Bush and Latimer Road, will serve the north-east entrance of the shopping complex.

To the south of the shopping centre – near Shepherds Bush Green – The Southern Interchange will form the main entrance to Westfield London. The modern transport hub will offer tube, bus, train, and taxi links.

Shepherds Bush – Central Line
Shepherds Bush station on the Central line will re-open on October 5 after the controversial re-vamp of the 1900 original. Council leaders and community groups questioned the timing and lack of consultation around the closure, in January. But now the station is set to re-open with upgraded security and information systems, as well as new ceiling, wall and floor surfaces. There is also a new double-height ticket hall, additional gates and better ticketing facilities.

Council bosses have welcomed the unveiling of the station but have also warned Transport for London (TfL) to provide step-free access to the station.

“TfL pledged to put step-free access into this station and, while we welcome the fact the station has re-opened, this will only be seen as a partial opening by those of us who still want to see step-free access at this station. We intend to hold them to their promise,” says Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council Leader.

Shepherds Bush – Overground
The new Overground station on the west London line will link the north and south of the borough by Overground for the first time. The new stop, between Willesden Junction and Kensington Olympia, on the north/south West London Line will open from Sunday 28 September.

The station is fully accessible, with a low height ticket office and two lifts either side of the footbridge to provide step-free access to the platform. From October, TfL will run new three-car trains before extending them to four-car trains from 2010. The station was built by Westfield under a planning agreement negotiated by H&F Council. It was nearly ready to open earlier this year but, at the eleventh hour, safety experts ruled that one of the platforms was 18 inches too narrow. The platform has now been widened.

As part of the transport improvements in the area, Shepherd’s Bush station on the Hammersmith & City line will be renamed Shepherd’s Bush Market. This is to avoid confusion between it and the Central line station.

Cllr Greenhalgh added: “Many residents have had to endure months of delays while the Central line station was closed and the frustration of seeing the Overground railway station at Shepherds delayed due to a blunder over platform size.

“But now we have light at the end of the tunnel. We will now see Shepherds Bush realise its full potential with one of the best shopping centres in Britain opening as well as some very welcome transport improvements.”

A new fleet of trains on the Hammersmith & City lines are also due to be operational from 2011. The new trains will feature walkways between carriages, air-conditioning, wider doorways and better information systems.

For more information on how you can get to Westfield London by public transport click on www.tfl.gov.uk/westfield

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