TfL plans West London Orbital route and DLR extension

Transport for London (TfL) is consulting on a potential new London Overground route, the West London Orbital, which would run for 18.5km between Hendon and Hounslow. The consultation, which invites feedback on the proposal, is open until November 18. TfL stated that the new route would improve access to major transport hubs and support new homes and jobs.

The proposed West London Orbital would aim to run up to six trains per hour. Plans include four new stations at Neasden, Harlesden, Old Oak Common Lane, and Lionel Road, with additional infrastructure at existing stations. TfL believes the scheme could remove approximately 650,000 car journeys annually and support the delivery of around 25,000 homes and 11,500 jobs, with wider economic benefits estimated at £1.3 billion. A funding package of up to £6.65 million has been agreed for design, modelling, and public consultation work. A decision on seeking powers to build the scheme is expected in 2027, with construction potentially starting in the early 2030s and service commencement around 2035, subject to funding and approvals.

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DLR Extension to Thamesmead

TfL is also developing plans for an extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Thamesmead. This extension would serve the Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead redevelopment areas in east London and would require a new tunnel beneath the River Thames. TfL has indicated that this project could support up to 25,000 homes and 10,000 jobs. HM Treasury approved a loan for TfL and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to build the extension in the November 2025 budget. TfL is preparing a Transport and Works Act application. Construction could begin around 2029, with the extension opening in the early 2030s, subject to funding and approvals. The project is estimated to cost approximately £1.6 billion.

Bakerloo Line Extension and Other Projects

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Under proposals by TfL, a Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham is planned, with potential for further extension beyond. This primary extension could include new stations at Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate, and would involve replacing the line's current trains with modern ones. A second phase could extend the line from Lewisham through Catford, Sydenham, Beckenham, and Hayes, utilising existing National Rail routes. TfL has scheduled a public consultation on the Bakerloo line extension for December 2026 to February 2027.

High Speed 2 (HS2) services from Old Oak Common to Birmingham are currently scheduled to open between May 2036 and October 2039. The full extension to London Euston is anticipated between 2040 and 2043. Crossrail 2 remains on hold, with no current timetable for its restart. TfL is also seeking to take control of Great Northern inner suburban rail services, aiming for a handover by December 2027 to integrate them into the London Overground network. This devolution would bring services from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage under Overground control. Additionally, TfL is introducing 94 new trains for the Piccadilly line between December 2026 and June 2027 as part of a £3.4 billion programme, and is expanding its Superloop express bus network with new routes planned for 2027.