ADHS19 - Old Oak Common Rail to Rail Connectivity Modelling

1.1 The OPDC is working with West Coast Partnership Development (the future HS2 
operator), Network Rail, Department of Transport (DfT), HS2 Ltd, train operators, 
TfL and the London boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham to review and 
improve rail-to-rail connectivity around Old Oak Common Station.

1.2 As part of the rail-to rail connectivity workstream, a long list of 21 options were 
identified to enhance rail-to-rail connectivity at Old Oak Common Station. 
Qualitative scoring was undertaken to derive a draft short list of seven options 
which have been packaged into potential shorter and longer-term interventions.

1.3 The shortlisted options are at varying stages of development, and some have very 
dated cost estimates, therefore a programme of further study is required to develop 
a consistent understanding of costs and benefits of the options.

1.4 As part of this, strategic modelling, using Railplan, will be caried out to asses five of 
the shortlisted options. This modelling work will provide further insight into the 
feasibility of delivering these shortlisted options.

1.5 TfL are leading on commissioning this modelling work and have drafted a brief that 
outlines the requirements, which the OPDC have reviewed and inputted into.

1.6 This work will benefit the OPDC area through contributing to the delivery of high quality and well-connected public transport at Old Oak Common Station, which 
supports the new homes and jobs the OPDC is delivering through the regeneration 
of Old Oak. For this reason, the OPDC is supportive of enabling his strategic 
modelling and has agreed to provide a financial contribution towards this study. It is 
for this reason that it is proposed to contribute £40,000, from the Planning Policy 
budgets for 2025/26 and 2026/27, towards this work.

2.1 A consultant will be commissioned to deliver the strategic modelling of the 
shortlisted rail-to rail connectivity options. A full procurement exercise will be run by 
TfL, and this process is due to go live before the end of 2025. A consultant is 
expected to be commissioned and to start the modelling work in early 2026.

2.2 Once commissioned, the consultant will provide the modelling working group 
(which includes the OPDC’s Principal Transport Planner) with regular updates on 
the modelling work updates on the outcomes of the modelling. These meetings are 
expected to take place every 2 weeks for the duration of the study. Participation in 
these meetings will be the primary mechanism for ensuring OPDC’s interests are 
represented throughout the modelling progress.

2.3 It is anticipated that as part of this commission there will be a minimum of two 
workshops with technical stakeholders (including the OPDC) where the modelling 
results are presented and discussed with a wider group than those comprising the 
modelling working group.

2.4 The commissioned consultant will undertake strategic modelling, using Railplan, 
and will be expected to use the model outputs to identify a high-level cost estimate 
for each option. The following options will be assessed in the strategic model:

• Option 1a: Old Oak Common to North Acton pedestrian link – an East-West active travel bridge providing additional connectivity and access.
• Option 4: Old Oak Common Mildmay line station – a new station on the Mildmay line (formally North London Line), between Willesden Junction and Acton Central.
• Option 5c: Run some West London line services to Old Oak Common Lane station – this option involves a change to the service specification on the West London Line to operate some services from Clapham Junction or beyond to terminate at Old Oak Common Lane station (i.e. using existing freight lines to run between Shepherds Bush and Old Oak Common Lane). This will require a mixture of changes to the model coding for some services plus some additional West London line services. A train service specification will be provided.
• Option 6: Chiltern terminus at Old Oak Common – this option involves operating additional services on the Chiltern corridor from locations like High Wycombe to Old Oak Common, using the existing freight line between West Ruislip and Old Oak Common. The proposed location of the Chiltern platforms at Old Oak Common will be specified and appropriate walk links will need to be included in the model. There may be adjustments to other Chiltern services to/from Marylebone that need to be coded. A train service specification will be provided.
• Option 7: West London Orbital with platforms at Old Oak Common Lane – WLO scheme between Hounslow and Hendon with a station at Old Oak Common Lane.

3.1 The Old Oak Common rail-to-rail connectivity review is aiming to identify how best 
to address the issues and objectives set out in Figure 1(found in final pdf of decision). 

3.2 Through addressing the issues and objectives listed above, all organisations 
involved in this work are aiming to deliver more connected communities, manage 
the impacts of/ maximise the investment in HS2 and contribute to a well-connected 
public transport network within the OPDC area.

3.3 The objective of the proposed strategic modelling is to provide a consistent 
assessment of the shortlisted rail-to-rail connectivity options, and further assess 
the feasibility of taking this forward.

3.4 The expected outcome is more in depth understanding of the feasibility of 
delivering the shortlisted options and the ability to take more informed decisions on 
which options to proceed with. The results of this modelling will be written up in a 
report and will also be reported back to the Board, through a briefing.

4.1 The OPDC’s mission is to maximise the potential of the new Old Oak Common 
Station and deliver outstanding and innovative regeneration, positively impacting 
the lives and the environment for everyone in the community. Contributing 
financially towards this rail-to-rail connectivity modelling helps to achieve this 
mission through ensuring that the new Old Oak Common Station is meeting its 
potential to deliver high quality public transport connections, through enabling links 
to other rail stations in the surrounding area.

4.2 This proposal contributes to the OPDC’s value of collaboration and the OPDC’s 
pillars of delivery, community and innovation. It does this through financially 
supporting this rail-to-rail connectivity work and through participation with other key 
stakeholders to develop and test options for improving rail-to-rail connectivity at 
Old Oak Common Station – to ensure high quality public transport provision for the 
current and future Old Oak community.

5,1 This work will be overseen and governed by TfL. The OPDC would make a 
financial contribution towards the cost of the modelling work and would influence 
the outcomes of this modelling work and ensure success through regular 
participation in the working group being set up to inform and feed into this 
modelling commission. This working group would be attended by the OPDC’s 
Principal Transport Planner.

6.1 There are currently major gaps in connectivity, resilience and passenger 
experience that should be addressed to ensure Old Oak Common Station operates 
as an effective and integrated transport hub. There is a risk of this not being 
addressed if this rail-to-rail modelling does not proceed, due to TfL not being able 
to secure the funding for this.

6.2 Delays in securing the funding for this work will result in delays to a consult being 
procured and delays in workable rail-to-rail connectivity solutions being agreed.

6.3 Table 1, below, identifies potential risks and how they would be mitigated.

Table 1: Potential Risks and Mitigations

7.1 OPDC must have ‘due regard’ to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, 
harassment and victimisation as well as to the need to advance equality of 
opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected 
characteristic and those who do not.
 
7.2 One of the four external focused ambitions of the OPDC Equity, Diversity and 
Inclusion Strategy is to “Plan for a welcoming, accessible and inclusive place”. The 
work required through this commission will contribute to delivering this vision 
through contributing to establishing high quality rail-to-rail connections that support 
the regeneration of the OPDC area.

8.1 This work is being procured by TfL, through their procurement frameworks. As part 
of this, it is anticipated that consultants tendering for this work will also need to 
demonstrate a social value contribution.

Communications and engagement

9.1 At present all engagement and communication linked to this work is being carried 
out with key project stakeholders through the regular working group meetings that 
will be set up and the two workshops that the commissioned consultant will lead. 
Should any proposals be considered feasible to take forward and implement, it is 
anticipated that these proposals would be shared publicly.

10.1 No one involved in the preparation or clearance of this Form, or its substantive 
proposal, has any conflict of interest.

11.1 There is sufficient budget within Planning Policy as this has been forecasted to 
come in at P13 25/26. However, in case of delays this may spill into 26/27. 

12.1 No separate legal review is required as this decision is in line with OPDC’s 
governance policies and procedures, including its Scheme of Delegation and 
Contracts and Funding Code.

Table 2, below, sets out a summary of the key timeframes for the proposed study.