Progress made on plan to tackle overcrowding at busy station.

A pledge to dramatically improve conditions for passengers at one of the area’s busiest tube stations is starting to produce results.

Ever since the earliest plans for Brentford FC’s new 20,000 capacity stadium were first revealled, fears have been raised about the ability of local transport links to cope.

One of the tube stations to come in for the most criticism is Gunnersbury which sits between Turnham Green and Kew Gardens on the District Line and also links Richmond to London via the London Overground route.

Regular users know all-too well how crowded the platform and ticket hall gets especially at the two daily rush hours when hundreds of employees from the Chiswick Business Park are coming or going from work.

In response Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod brought various representatives of local organisations together to form the Gunnersbury Station Action Team.

At it’s most recent meeting this week representatives from Transport for London and Network Rail met with residents groups to discuss ways to ease the growing problem.

Amongst the suggestions made on the day, introducing clearer signage and reconfiguring the platform in the hope of reducing congestion on the staircase were highlighted as key items.

Network Rail also agreed to consult an architect to look at options for short and long term improvements to the station.

Speaking after the meeting Ms Mcleod said: “Gunnersbury Station needs to change. We need to take into account the increased population and growing workforce in Chiswick.

“Safe and effective transport links are absolutely essential for the area, which continues to grow.

“The Gunnersbury Station Action Team has already made progress by identifying what needs to change, and some early steps have been taken to start the ball rolling.

“There is more work to be done, but I believe we can deliver a better station for everyone in the future”.

Data released last year by the office of the rail regulator showed that 1,788,170 entries and exits were recorded at Gunnersbury in 2011/12 which was up 29% from the 1,388,366 recorded in 2010/11.