The fight for a new rail route linking Hounslow with central London and north England has been taken up by Hounslow Council.
Civic Centre chiefs are petitioning for a link between Hounslow and the proposed Crossrail and HS2 hub at Old Oak Common, in Shepherd's Bush.
They claim the route would lead to a 'step change' in public transport provision and promote regeneration in the borough, particularly along the Golden Mile business district in Brentford.
In his report on the proposed link, Councillor Ed Mayne, cabinet member for community safety and regulatory services, writes: "The provision of a new rail service from Hounslow to Old Oak Common via Isleworth, Brentford and Syon Lane would allow for a step change in the provision of public transport options for borough residents, particularly in regards to ‘orbital’ journeys; those taken within outer London, rather than into central London. Currently public transport journey times for orbital trips are slower than trips taken by car."
An estimated four trains an hour could run between Hounslow and Old Oak Common, via Acton Central, using existing tracks, according to council proposals, with only relatively inexpensive signalling work required to make them a reality.
Work is already well underway on Crossrail, linking central London with Maidenhead to the west and Shenfield to the north-east.
Plans for the HS2 train line between London Euston and Birmingham, and eventually on to Leeds and Manchester, are currently being debated in parliament.
Those proposals include a new HS2 and Crossrail station at Old Oak Common, which it is claimed would reduce queues at Euston and help revive one of the capital's most deprived neighbourhoods.
However, they do not include London Overground connections to Richmond and Clapham Junction, as supported by Transport for London, or the rail link with Hounslow.
Hounslow councillors voted unanimously at Tuesday's borough council meeting to petition for these extensions to be included in the bill, on which a final decision by MPs is due in March next year.
Conservative councillor Sheila O'Reilly said: "This link would be very good for business, employment and leisure in the borough. If Brentford get into the Premiership, it would mean we could welcome all our northern and Midlands visitors to the station."
A Hammersmith & Fulham Council spokesman it was concerned about TfL’s plans for a west London connection encroaching on Wormwood Scrubs but would ‘wholeheartedly’ support an overground link to Hounslow which did not encroach on that open land.
Should HS2 be approved the scheduled opening date for phase one, from London to Birmingham, is 2026. The link to Hounslow could begin running at the same time, according to Hounslow Council.
