Lambeth Overground Stations Study Contents
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Feasibility Study for New Stations and Station Improvements on the Overground in Lambeth Final Report 4.0 Monday, 07 July 2014 Prepared for: LB Lambeth Prepared by: Steer Davies Gleave 28-32 Upper Ground London, SE1 9PD +44 (0)20 7910 5000 www.steerdaviesgleave.com 2 Lambeth Overground Stations Study Contents 3 4 Contents 1. Introduction and Scope 2. Strategic Transport Context ■ The study area and related projects ■ Current travel patterns ■ Policy considerations ■ Rail demand ■ Operational considerations 3. Existing Railway Stations ■ Current demand ■ Constraints and issues ■ Opportunities 4. New Stations ■ Brixton Overground Station ■ Loughborough Overground Junction 5. Funding Opportunities ■ Sources of Funding 6. Conclusions and Recommendations ■ Potential Investment Programme 5 6 1 1 2 3 4 5 Lambeth Overground Stations Study Section 1: Introduction 7 1 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction Introduction Steer Davies Gleave was commissioned by LB Lambeth in January 2014 to undertake a feasibility study for new stations and station improvements on the London Overground services in the London Borough of Lambeth. The primary aim of the study is to assess and The primary aim of the study is: review the case for building new stations at Brixton and Loughborough Junction and consider opportunities to improve Clapham High Street and Wandsworth Road stations and the existing Brixton and Loughborough Junction stations. to develop a case for building new stations at Study Scope Brixton and Loughborough Junction; The outputs of our study were to: Set out the strategic transport context – the public transport connections to Loughborough Junction, Brixton, Clapham High Street and and Wandsworth Road and the opportunities for strategic interchange at Loughborough Junction and Brixton. Evaluate passenger demand, identifying existing and potential travel patterns through Brixton and Loughborough Junction, and the consider opportunities potential to displace journeys to less overcrowded parts of the transport network. to improve Clapham High Street, Identify issues that need to be addressed at the existing four stations such as access to existing platforms, entrance security, Wandsworth Road , facilities and management and platform length to accommodate programmed lengthening of trains. Brixton and Identify options for improving the existing stations at Brixton and Loughborough Junction, in particular to provide step free access. Loughborough Junction stations. Identify options to provide access to the London Overground on the high level viaduct at Loughborough Junction and Brixton. Set out operational issues for the London Overground of stopping services at Brixton and Loughborough Junction, including impact of additional stations on line capacity and journey times. Outline the costs of upgrading the station and the potential economic and regeneration benefits to Brixton and Loughborough Junction. Identify potential funding streams for the delivery of the station upgrades. Identify the wider regeneration benefits of a new station at Brixton and opportunities for synergy with other emerging development schemes in the town centre adjacent to the station. Set out phasing options and identify potential synergies between elements of the station upgrade. Outline options for, and viability of, rebuilding a section of the viaduct in Brixton to remove the curve and gradient in order to fully comply with train operational requirements. Identify examples of similar stations, preferably in London, where platforms have been constructed on operational track at a similar height to Brixton and how these were delivered Identify if alterations to the running tracks may make the provision of new stations more viable . Understand the impacts of proposals on adjacent stations . 8 1 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction Background The London Borough of In London, railway stations are at the core of our communities. Millions of people depend on these stations everyday and many more Lambeth believes are affected by their impacts on our streets and public spaces. Good stations improve accessibility and generate social , economic and Brixton should play a environmental benefits. A poor quality environment in and around a railway station can discourage investment and affect perceptions more strategic role as a of a town or city as a whole, even undermining the effect of improvements in the centre and other areas away from the immediate transport interchange station vicinity. for London and has ambitious plans for the regeneration of central Generally, the four stations in the study area are well used, but below the standards of other commuter hubs in London and what’s Brixton. come to be expected from a modern railway. Station usage between 2011/12 and 2011/2010 was higher than the UK and London averages at all four stations except Brixton Station. The challenge is how to leverage funding in to these four stations to improve LB Lambeth has a long- passenger facilities, particularly at Brixton and Loughborough Junction, where the level of facilities does not appear to align with the standing aspiration for a new station on the level of passenger use or local aspirations. Overground line. Overground services were extended in 2012, from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction via the South London Line, including two station stops in LB Lambeth: Wandsworth Road and Clapham High Street. The Overground also passes through Brixton and Loughborough Junction but there are no station stops at these locations. The opening of the Overground has resulted in very high growth in passenger numbers using Wandsworth Road and Clapham High Street. As a result of this, investment at these stations is needed in order to service five carriage trains in 2015 providing a 25% increase in capacity to meet demand along the route. LB Lambeth has ambitious plans for the regeneration of Brixton. The station site is at the core of the main regeneration area in the town centre and the Council has had a long-standing aspiration for a new station on the Overground line. LB Lambeth believes that Brixton should be playing a much more important role as a strategic transport interchange for London. There has been a number of previous studies, notably in 2003 for the Strategic Rail Authority and in 2008 for LB Lambeth and 2009 for Transport for London, which have reviewed the case for a new station at Brixton, looking at a number of different locations between Brixton and Loughborough Junction stations. These studies concluded that the capital costs of a new station would outweigh any passenger benefits derived. The challenge for improving services or infrastructure on the national rail network is translating their aspirations in to what benefits are delivered, or risks mitigated or avoided for the rail network in order to secure industry buy-in and demonstrate a business case for public sector investment. 9 10 1 1 2 3 4 5 Lambeth Overground Stations Study Section 2: Strategic Transport Context 11 1 1 2 3 4 5 Strategic Transport Context Strategic Connections A new station at Brixton or Loughborough Junction would provide new, more direct travel options from south Old Oak Common (potential) London to key destinations such as The City (Shoreditch High Street), Canary Wharf (via Canada Water) and West London, particularly White City and the proposed development at Old Oak Common. It would also provide major interchange opportunities at Clapham Junction, Blackfriars and Farringdon (via Denmark Hill) which would make journeys easier and provide interchange options outside the busy inner London termini such as London Victoria. 12 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 1 2 3 4 5 Strategic Transport Context Local Connections The local area is already well-served by a range of public transport options. Wandsworth Road • 4 rail /hour (LOROL) • 24 bus services/hour • Quietway 3 • Walk Clapham High Street • 4 rail /hour (LOROL) • 28 tube services/hour • 38 bus services/hour • Supercycle highway 7 • Walk Brixton • 4 rail /hour (Southeastern) • 32 tube services/hour • 145 bus services/hour • Walk Loughborough Junction • 4 rail /hour (First Capital Connect) • 30 bus services/hour • Walk 13 1 1 2 3 4 5 Strategic Transport Context Current Travel Patterns Over 82,000 people live within 800 metres of the four railway stations. The majority of travel to work in this area is already by public transport as the primary mode. Walking accounts for 7% of travel and car related travel 11%. It should however be noted that public transport trips typically begin with a walking trip. The census data does not include the impact of new London Overground services at Clapham High Street and Wandsworth Road stations which started in December 2012. 2011 Travel to Work census data 14 1 1 2 3 4 5 Strategic The London Plan 2011 (Revised 2013) Transport The London Plan is the overall strategic plan for London, setting out an integrated economic, environmental, transport and social Context framework for the long term development of the Capital. The Plan’s vision is: “A city where it is easy, safe and convenient for everyone to access jobs, opportunities and facilities with an efficient and effective Planning Policy transport system which actively encourages more waking and cycling, makes better use of the Thames, and supports delivery of the objectives of the London Plan.” Station improvements The Plan seeks to: and potential new improve the integration, reliability, quality, accessibility, frequency, attractiveness and environmental performance of the public stations are, in principle, transport