Hounslow Loop Line

The Hounslow Loop Line is a railway line in southwest London, with services operated by South West Trains. It enables suburban trains to run on a circular route via Hounslow to and from Waterloo. The line is electrified at 750 V DC (third rail).

The Loop diverges from the direct line through Richmond at Barnes Junction. Just after Hounslow there is a triangular junction formed of "Hounslow Junction", "Whitton Junction" and "Feltham Junction". This junction allows the trains to return to London via Richmond. The other side of the triangle allows trains to continue to Feltham and Weybridge.

Train services

Since 2004, South West Trains have operated four trains per hour (tph) in each direction on the line, both peak and off-peak. Typically, two of those operate via Richmond on a loop to and from London Waterloo and two operate to and from Weybridge, via Addlestone, Staines and Feltham.

On Sundays the line has 1tph, with all trains running to and from Woking via Feltham.

Future

Hounslow Council is in the process of promoting Crossrail services between Hounslow and London Paddington [ [http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/crossrail.pdf http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/crossrail.pdf] - crossrail.pdf] . They propose that Crossrail trains terminating at London Paddington from the east should continue towards Old Oak Common, where they would join the North London Line via a new connecting line. They would then call at Acton Central and South Acton before running via an existing freight spur (Bollo Lane Junction to Old Kew Junction) to leave the North London Line and join the Hounslow Loop Line. Reversing sidings would be provided west of Hounslow to reduce dwell times at the platform, with the running lines on either side of them. Infrastructure adjustments and station modifications would be needed to allow for 12-car Crossrail operation, all which will probably be addressed in the Crossrail Bill. Hounslow - Brentford would benefit from 6tph in both directions, which would match the frequency of London Underground services in outer London. The proposals would also ease pressure on platform capacity at Waterloo station and on the Windsor Lines between Waterloo and Clapham Junction.

ee also

* Crossrail

References

Further reading

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External links

[http://www.crossrail.co.uk/ Crossrail]