Forum Topic

Greenford Branch Line

I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction for some basic history to how and why this line was ever built?  It certainly seems a strange (pointless?) route and not cheap given the viaduct and tunnel.  Was there perhaps some industrial use at the beginning?I also understand that come , CrossRail, it will merely shuttle between Greenford and West Ealing.  Will this be the shortest branch line in the country.  And will be it be viable?  I do use it fairly regularly, and very useful it is, but most passengers are from West Ealing and Greenford and not the intermediate stations?

Philip Coe ● 6327d3 Comments

Heathrow Express/FGW have bid for four trains an hour on the Heathrow Connect Service. If this goes ahead, the Greenford service will start/terminate at West Ealing and passengers will have to change. The Greenfords will probably use the disused Milk Terminal platforms. Once Crossrail begins, the Heathrow Connect services will no longer run as they will be replaced by Crossrail. Prior to work staring on the Heathrow Express, Greenford services would start/terminate at Ealing Broadway.Whether or not the Milk trains also used the Greenford branch, I'm not too sure.

Steven Cowburn ● 6327d

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenford_Branch_Linehas a concise description of the line.

Alan Brainsby ● 6326d

I hope the line stays - but it's hard to see how it's profitable. I like it - it allows me to travel from Castle Bar Park to Canary Wharf in an hour. The tracks will presumable stay as they are also used to carry a deal of freight from A to B.

Piero Vitelli ● 6325d