Plans for the proposed West London Orbital railway linking Hendon and Hounslow have taken a step forward after £6.65 million was secured to progress the next stage of planning.
West London Orbital map 2026 (c) TfL
If built, the West London Orbital could run up to six trains an hour and provide ten new interchanges with rail and Underground services, alongside four new stations. Plans currently include four new stations at Old Oak Common Lane, Neasden, Harlesden and Lionel Road, while some existing stations along the route would be upgraded to accommodate the new service.
The newly agreed funding will support the next phase of development work, including the design of stations and other infrastructure, operational modelling and preparation for a public consultation expected in 2026.
The project’s backers say the new rail link could support the construction of more than 25,000 homes and 11,500 jobs, while encouraging a shift away from car use by enabling an estimated 650,000 fewer car trips each year. The improved connectivity would also strengthen access to the future Old Oak Common transport hub, which will link HS2 with the Elizabeth line and other rail services.
The £6.65 million development funding will be shared between TfL and the participating local authorities – the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing and Hounslow – along with OPDC, which was created in 2015 to oversee regeneration around Old Oak and Park Royal.
TfL will provide half the funding across the 2025/26 to 2027/28 financial years, including £400,000 previously announced from the Mayor of London’s 2026/27 budget.
The funding will allow TfL, the boroughs, OPDC and Network Rail to refine the scheme ahead of consultation. Work will include finalising preferred options for stations, junctions, signalling and power supply, modelling how the service would operate alongside existing rail traffic, assessing environmental impacts and updating demand forecasts.
Following consultation and further design work, a decision is expected in late 2027 on whether to seek statutory approval for the railway through a Transport and Works Act Order, a key step towards building the line.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: ”I’m pleased and proud to bring partners together so we can deliver the missing link in public transport for the north and northwest part of the capital. Adding a new line to our fantastic London Overground network will help drive regeneration and economic growth not only along the new route but across our great city. I look forward to seeing the homes, jobs and opportunities unlocked by this innovative rail project as we continue building a better, greener, more prosperous London for everyone.”
If approved, the new route would eventually join the London Overground network and be named to reflect the communities and heritage along the line.
West London Orbital diagram 2026 (c) TfL