The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has definitively ruled out connecting the proposed West London Orbital railway line to Heathrow Airport. This decision comes despite recent momentum for the project, with £400,000 allocated to develop a business case, potentially enabling construction to commence as early as next year.
Limited Benefits and Infrastructure Hurdles Cited
In response to questioning from London Assembly Member Thomas Turrell, Mayor Khan revealed that Transport for London's analysis concluded the benefits of extending the line to Heathrow would be "limited." He emphasised that the Elizabeth line already provides a faster connection to the airport for most areas. Furthermore, an extension would face significant infrastructure and operational challenges.
Sir Sadiq stated: "The Elizabeth line would provide a faster route to and from the airport for most areas. An extension of the West London Orbital would also have to contend with various infrastructure and operational constraints."
Focus on HS2 Connection at Old Oak Common
The core proposal for the West London Orbital involves converting underutilised freight tracks in West London to create a new London Overground route from Hounslow to Hendon and West Hampstead. A central element of the plan is the potential construction of a new station at Old Oak Common Lane.
This station is designed to provide a high-quality interchange with the future Old Oak Common Elizabeth line station, which will also serve HS2 services. City Hall argues that this connection will ensure good access to Heathrow Airport for communities along the West London Orbital corridor, negating the need for a direct, costly extension.
Innovative Financing to Fund the Project
Following a snub from Chancellor Rachel Reeves's November Budget, which did not include funding for the West London Orbital or the Bakerloo line extension, Mayor Khan has announced plans to utilise "innovative financing" to advance these projects. While details remain vague, this approach grants City Hall greater freedom to explore alternative funding mechanisms.
Khan explained: "What the government has said, which we welcome, is they are going to work with us on innovative financing in relation to the West London Orbital and Bakerloo extension. Why is that important? Because that fiscal devolution will allow us to consider other ways of funding infrastructure in London."
This model mirrors recent successful projects like the Northern line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station, which opened in 2021. That scheme was part-funded by property developers and relied on levies from local businesses and homeowners who benefited from the new transport link.
Economic Growth and Community Benefits
The £400,000 investment, confirmed in the City Hall draft budget released on January 15, will be contributed by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation. This funding is earmarked to significantly advance the design of new stations, track upgrades, and other critical infrastructure.
Officials state this will build a compelling evidence base to support discussions with the Government and other partners regarding full funding. If approved, the project is projected to generate thousands of new jobs and homes, delivering approximately £300 million in economic growth within its first decade of operation.
Bassam Mahfouz, Labour Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, suggested construction could start next year, with trains operational between Hounslow, Harlesden, and Hendon by the early 2030s. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The West London Orbital will be a real gamechanger. For the first time, it will properly connect communities right across West London with a key north-south route."
He added that by linking into HS2 and the Elizabeth line at Old Oak Common, the line will knit West London together, unlock new opportunities for jobs and housing, and make journeys quicker and more environmentally friendly.
