Hounslow Loop Line

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Hounslow Loop Line
Hounslow to Isleworth railway line - geograph.org.uk - 236080.jpg
The line between Hounslow and Isleworth
Overview
StatusOperational
Owner Network Rail
Locale Greater London
Termini London Waterloo
Stations7
Service
Type Commuter rail, Suburban rail
System National Rail
Operator(s) South Western Railway
Rolling stock
History
Opened1850
Technical
Number of tracks2
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 750 V DC third rail
Operating speed60 miles per hour (97 km/h)
Route map
Hounslow Loop Line.png
(Click to expand)

The Hounslow Loop Line is a railway line in southwest London which was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1850. It leaves the Waterloo to Reading Line at Barnes Junction and after some seven and a half miles rejoins it at a triangular junction between Whitton and Feltham. Barnes Railway Bridge carries the line over the River Thames. Passenger services, all operated by South Western Railway, either loop back to Waterloo by the junctions or continue southwest via Feltham. The line is electrified at 750 V DC (third rail). It provides access to the North London Line for freight services both passing through Clapham Junction to the north east and connecting to the rail network to the south west.

Contents

Passenger services and rolling stock

Most service to stations on the Hounslow Loop line are provided by trains operating between London Waterloo and Weybridge via Staines.

As of December 2023, the typical weekday and Saturday service is 2 trains per hour in each direction to and from Waterloo. Trains use the Waterloo to Reading Line between Waterloo and Barnes, take the loop between Barnes Bridge and Hounslow stations, and operate to and from Weybridge via Staines. [1] [2]

On Sunday mornings service is reduced to hourly.

At peak hours, some trains do not serve Staines and Weybridge, but rather travel in a loop to and from Waterloo via Hounslow and Richmond.

Services are generally operated by Class 707s, operating in 5 or 10-car configuration. These trains entered service in August 2017. [3] Class 450, Class 455 and Class 458 units also work the line. All units on the line are to be replaced by Class 701 Aventra units, with introduction planned for 2020. [4] [5]

Ridership

The line has seen a steep increase in ridership levels in recent years, corresponding with the doubling of train frequencies from 2 trains per hour in each direction to 4 (except on Sundays). The line's seven stations had combined passenger numbers of 5.565 million in 2007–08 (based on station exits), a 162% increase on the 2004–05 figure of 2.122 million. [6]

Recent changes

Most stations had platforms lengthened to allow the operation of 10 coach trains from May 2013. [7] Where this was not possible, selective door opening is used.

Platform 20 at Waterloo (within the former Waterloo International terminal) came into use in May 2014 to provide additional capacity. [8] [9]

Future developments

A proposal published in 2017 by the London Assembly and Transport for London envisages extending the London Overground network to run trains on the section of the Hounslow Loop Line between Brentford and Hounslow. [10] The scheme, known as the West London Orbital, would involve the re-opening of the Dudding Hill Line to passenger services and running trains from West Hampstead Thameslink and Hendon via the planned Old Oak Common Lane station. A new station may be constructed at Lionel Road, close to Kew Bridge. The plans are currently at public consultation stage with TfL. [11]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clapham Junction railway station</span> Major railway station in London, England

Clapham Junction railway station is a major railway station and transport hub near St John's Hill in southwest Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is 2 miles 57 chains from London Victoria and 3 miles 74 chains from London Waterloo; it is on both the South West Main Line and Brighton Main Line as well as numerous other routes and branch lines passing through or diverging from the main lines at this station. Despite its name, Clapham Junction is not located in Clapham, a district situated approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the southeast and is instead sited in Battersea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vauxhall station</span> London Underground and railway station

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queenstown Road railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnes railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hounslow railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Hounslow railway station, on the Hounslow Loop Line, is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in Greater London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South Western Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syon Lane railway station</span> National Rail station on the Hounslow Loop Line

Syon Lane railway station in Travelcard Zone 4 is on the Hounslow Loop Line and borders the Spring Grove and New Brentford neighbourhoods of the London Borough of Hounslow in west London. The office and light industrial zone to the north-east, the West Cross Centre, has among other businesses the headquarters and studios of broadcaster and entertainment multinational company Sky. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South Western Railway.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiswick railway station</span> British railway station

Chiswick railway station is a railway station within the Grove Park residential area of Chiswick in the London Borough of Hounslow. The station is on the Hounslow Loop Line, and all trains serving it are operated by South Western Railway. Journey time into London Waterloo is approximately 25 minutes and Clapham Junction 15 minutes. The station is in Travelcard Zone 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnes Bridge railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Barnes Bridge railway station, in Travelcard Zone 3, is on The Terrace, Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South Western Railway. It is on the Hounslow Loop Line, 12 km south west of London Waterloo.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staines railway station</span> Railway station in Surrey, England

Staines railway station is on the Waterloo to Reading line and is the junction station for the diverging Windsor line, in southern England to the west of London. It is 19 miles 2 chains (30.6 km) down the line from London Waterloo. It serves the town of Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staines–Windsor line</span> Suburban railway line in south-east England

The Staines–Windsor line is a 6 mi 46 ch (10.6 km) railway line in Berkshire and Surrey, England. It branches from the Waterloo–Reading line at Staines-upon-Thames and runs to its western terminus at Windsor via intermediate stations at Wraysbury, Sunnymeads and Datchet. All of the stations are managed by South Western Railway, which operates all passenger trains. Most services run between Windsor & Eton Riverside station and London Waterloo via Richmond and Clapham Junction.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chertsey branch line</span> Railway line in southern England

The Chertsey branch line is a 5-mile-40-chain (8.9 km) railway line in Surrey, England. It runs from the Waterloo–Reading line at Virginia Water station to a triangular junction with the South West Main Line near Weybridge. There are intermediate stations at Chertsey and Addlestone. All of the stations are managed by South Western Railway, which operates all passenger trains. Most services run between Weybridge and London Waterloo via Hounslow and Clapham Junction. For much of the day, passengers can change to faster services at Virginia Water and Weybridge to reach the capital more quickly.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor lines of the London and South Western Railway</span> Railways in south-west London, England

The Windsor lines of the London and South Western Railway ran from Waterloo to Windsor via Richmond, with a loop via Hounslow. They started as the Richmond Railway, a simple independent branch line, but they developed a distinct identity and had their own approach to Waterloo alongside the Main Lines, and a distinct section of Waterloo station. The Richmond Railway was extended to Windsor by the Windsor, Staines and South Western Railway; the company built a loop line via Hounslow in addition. Both independent companies were absorbed into the LSWR.

References

  1. "Hounslow Loop to London Waterloo" (PDF). South Western Railway. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Weybridge via Staines to London Waterloo" (PDF). South Western Railway. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "Class 707s enter service on Windsor routes". Global Rail News. 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  4. Armitage, Jim (14 February 2018). "Business focus: Why your box-fresh train is being replaced". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  5. Johnson, Marc (11 September 2017). "Waterloo dawn for South Western Railway". Rail Staff. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  6. "Estimates of station usage". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
  7. Longhurst, Chris (3 September 2014). "Hounslow Loop set for more trains and longer carriages by 2017". getwestlondon. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  8. "New platform and 60 extra carriages for Waterloo commuters". Department for Transport. gov.uk. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
  9. "Platform 20 at Waterloo finally opens (with five more to come)". urban75 forums. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  10. "Mayor's Transport Strategy 2018". London City Hall. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  11. "West London Orbital". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.

Further reading