Long term strategy for London's railway unveiled

Ways to boost capacity and improve journeys identified

A new strategy by Network Rail has been unveiled, setting out the steps needed to cater for increasing demand for rail travel in and around London.



With the number of passengers travelling into London in the busiest hours set to grow by more than a third by 2031, Network Rail’s 'London and south east route utilisation strategy: draft for consultation' identifies ways to boost capacity, improve journeys and increase connectivity across the region.



The strategy builds on existing plans to increase capacity on the region’s railway, including Crossrail, Thameslink, electrification to Newbury and Oxford, the completion of the London Overground network as well as a major programme of train and platform lengthening on many routes into the capital.



Assuming these are implemented in full, the strategy concludes that overall peak capacity in the London suburban area will largely be able to cope with predicted passenger numbers in 2031, with the addition of some other key measures, including extra commuter services between the Thames Valley and Paddington.

Conventional enhancements on a small number of routes into London, such as train lengthening, timetable changes and infrastructure upgrades, become much more complex and costly within the lifetime of the strategy, so more extensive options may be needed.



The situation is most pressing on the Great Eastern and South West main lines, with commuters on some outer suburban services facing severe overcrowding.

The strategy is produced in partnership with the rail industry, the Department for Transport and Transport for London.



Paul Plummer, Network Rail’s director of planning and development said: "This strategy should act as the starting point for a wider discussion, looking beyond rail planning to housing policy, the ability of the railway to drive regeneration and changes to how we live, work and travel."


Further information:
Network Rail