There was also a clear preference for Option C, which suggested two new Overground stations; one at Hythe Road on the
West London line and one at Old Oak Common Lane on the North London line.
It would also be possible to connect with the
West London Line to Clapham junction, and therefore to Gatwick Airport, too.
* opening next year of two new stations on the
West London Line (at Imperial Wharf in Chelsea and Shepherds Bush), to complement existing stops at West Brompton and Kensington Olympia, with enhanced service between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction; and
The last time I went on the
West London line was like travelling in a cattle truck.
Here, amazingly enough, the Great Western Main Line passes in rapid succession under the
West London Line running from VVillesden Junction to Clapham Junction (and soon to get a new interchange station at Shepherd's Bush and later--when funds are forthcoming--to become part of a new Orbirail service), then over the London Underground Central Line, and then under London's forgotten orbital railway, the old North London Line.
Connecting the north and
west London Lines to Old Oak Common could open up HS2 to a large swathe of south-west and north-west London.
In December the SSRA invited existing and aspiring rail passenger franchise operators to submit proposals to run improved passenger rail services covering: Planning and implementing the Thameslink 2000 network of services North, South and through central London; improving London commuter services and easing capacity constraints; relieving regional capacity bottlenecks around Birmingham and Manchester; introducing new services around London making use of the East, North and
West London lines; serving the interests of Wales and the North-west more effectively; and recognising the value of inter urban trans-Pennine services.