TfL advances West London Orbital rail plans

Transport for London has enlisted a consortium of three firms to progress the proposed West London Orbital railway project. The major initiative aims to create an 18.5 kilometre London Overground route connecting Hounslow in the south to Hendon in the north.

Engineering firm WSP will act as lead consultant for the scheme, drawing on preliminary technical studies conducted since 2019 alongside the West London Alliance. Costain will deliver engineering and construction planning expertise, focusing on building constructability into the framework at an early stage. Architecture practice Fereday Pollard will lead on station designs to reflect the character of individual areas while maintaining a consistent route identity.

The proposed alignment would utilize existing railway infrastructure, including freight corridors, to link communities across west and north west London. The service would integrate with current transport networks by providing interchanges with the Elizabeth line, Thameslink, London Underground, National Rail, and future high speed services. Proposed stops feature four new stations at Neasden, Harlesden, Old Oak Common Lane, and Lionel Road, alongside upgrades to existing stops.

Dan Bishop, managing director for rail at WSP UK and Ireland, said the appointment reflects the company's longstanding involvement in developing the scheme. Chris Pollard, managing director at Fereday Pollard, said the project will be transformational for communities across west and north west London. Alistair Geddes, rail sector director at Costain, said the firm will contribute engineering expertise to build resilience into the design.

The work programme will encompass detailed timetable planning, demand forecasting, business case development, and funding strategy formulation. Transport for London is currently conducting its first public consultation on the proposal. The consultation runs until November 18, 2026, with community feedback helping to inform the future development of the project.