Plans to build a new Thameslink station in Brent Cross have taken a step forward after the compulsory purchase order was formally signed.
The new station, Brent Cross West will be just to the south of the North Circular road, and about halfway between Hendon and Cricklewood stations, offering improved rail connections in an area that largely lacks them.
The new station is not entirely welcome though, as it also comes with a rail freight depot, which is opposed by the local community.
The station is also part of a wider regeneration of the area, which will see the famous shopping centre being doubled in size, plus around 7,400 additional homes being built on the land around the area, which is currently a mix of light industrial and residential.
Earlier this week, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire approved the compulsory purchase order for Brent Cross Thameslink scheme.
It’s currently expected that the station will have a peak service of eight trains per hour and an off-peak service of four trains per hour. That may be changed as the Thameslink operator franchise is up for renewal in 2021, and while the replacement operator will be required to serve the station, at this stage it’s too early to say how many trains will actually call there.
The plans will also see a new public bridge over the railway tracks to the south of the station, which will be useful as the railway is currently a solid barrier all the way from Cricklewood up to Staples Corner.
A footbridge across the tracks for the station entrance will also be kept open as a public highway.
The station is due to open in 2022, much earlier than the original intention of opening in 2031 following changes to the original plans for the area development.
Once open, there are tentative plans to reopen a nearby freight railway line to passenger services, creating a new link on the London Overground to Old Oak Common.
Bit pointless as so few trains stop at Hendon and Cricklewood as it is!
When Brent Cross Thameslink station is built and officially opened. Hendon and Cricklewood stations on the same line will possibly close down and the new station will be a out-of-interchange with Brent Cross Northern Line (London Underground) station and Brent Cross Shopping Centre close by to the new railway station on the Midland Main Line “Thameslink Line”.
It wont be an interchange with the Northern line, and they’ve said that as it’s too far from the other stations on the Thameslink line, they wont close down.
Ah right. In that case thanks for clarifying. At least it’s good news.
Andrew, stop speculating! Your saying one day that Greater Anglia are keeping the 317/5 and 321/4 Fleet, saying that Grand Central are to receive class 221’s from Cross Country and Northern Rail are to receive 377/7’s! Cricklewood will not close down as it is going through a refurbishment programme to upgrade facilities. GTR don’t plan to close it. Even in the Hendy Report last year it’s not even mentioned for closure.
Please learn your facts! It’s called lies, not non-fiction. Go read up on some reports from Network Rail
https://cdn.prgloo.com/media/download/0b15cab5ccbc4e96af6c9182b97b6ef0
There is train every 15 minutes in each direction most days from Hendon. Not great but ok.
The West London Alliance aim to open the Dudding Hill Line by 2023, so it is a concurrent project.
However, Capita will not allow integrated platforms for that line within its station.
This news at least counters the fears that the Brent Cross development would be dominated by road traffic . Although being so close to the North Circular raises the question as to whether this Station could be attractive for ” Park and ride” use and if so then a links between the station and North Circular would need to be included.
As for talk of closing Cricklewood Station then that location is an important place in its own right and it’s worth remembering that Thameslink is no different to Crossrail in being a main Line sized tube line which will soon carry far more passengers in a fleet of new trains through central London .
If plans to reintroduce passenger trains onto the Dudding Hill branch come to pass then new links around London wil be created .
Sorry but I have a feeling Hendon will close. There is no plans to upgrade it unlike Cricklewood – it does not have disabled access.
Secondly you always here on the train it has a short platform on an 8 carriage- again, no evidence it will be extended. Funnily enough apparantly Mill Hill and Cricklwood have short platforms but you never hear it,
I think the new development will be another blow to Hendon. Everything shifting south to Cricklwood and a newly carved out “Brent Cross (the shopping centre is in Hendon and the station Golders Green).
A London Overground Interchange is required here to connect the reopened Dudden Hill Line, with a new Service from at least West Hampstead but in lieu of the delayed Crossrail 2, all stations East of the Carlton Road Junction.
The route from Stratford at least to Dalston, looks to be at Capacity and a quicker alternative exists via the Stratford – Meridian Water Line, if a new High and Low Level Station is created in the Land set-aside for Crossrail 2 near Markfield Park.
If the Franchise hasn’t been awarded I see huge bids coming in to improve London Overground Services.
Perhaps a 378 could be fitted with Thameslink signal equipment and trials undertaken at Weekends