Monday 15 November 2010

Willesden Junction Station Approach - nothing like a challenge! [updated]



Nice new main station building
(although corroson has started on the steelwork). 

Click on any photo for enlargement.
Your view, exiting the station.
The bus stop on the right is for terminating buses.

Some buses leave from the stop, extreme left, 
others on the main road in the distance.

(Not the most in-focus photograph.)



The Entrance to 'Station Approach' (attractive it isn't)




Moving clockwise around Station Approach...

The Eastern ("Brent") side
 


Looking north below, towards the main road, there is space to widen the road...


There are also existing piers at the main road, which were originally used to carry water mains over the railway. One at least of these could be used to increase the radius of the road junction with the main road...




The turning circle at the far end of Station Approach

On the left are steps up to the second station entrance, and the long footpath from High Street Harlesden.

In the centre is the narrow road to the railway depot.

Immediately behind the bus is a pedestrian route, parallel to the road, towards the footbridge across the West Coast Main Line (the tracks are to the right). That route eventually reaches the industrial area at Hyde Road.




The western ("Ealing") side

There is also space on this side to widen the road. (It is unclear what the remaining life of the metal bridge over the West Coast Main Line tracks is, on the left.)





The way we were

1928. (The booking office on the right survived past 2000)
Map from 1903. There is a proposal to use the green line on the left (the Dudding Hill Line, via Craven Park and Gladstone Park) for the North and West London Light Railway




From Councillor Powney's blog last August
(jamespowney.blogspot.com):

"I RECENTLY met with Network Rail about Willesden Junction, and can therefore update on Station Approach. The road suffers subsidence on the Hammersmith side. 

Apparently, the engineering issues are particularly difficult due to the way it was constructed, but work is expected to begin in the New Year to shore it up. Once that is done it should have some resurfacing, repaving, and maybe the replacement of some the guide rails which currently leave the useable part of the footpath so constricted."



From Harlesden Life:

(Minor note: This section of Station Road is actually in Ealing, as is part of Harley Road, further north. Brent Streetcare however maintain those roads, paid for by Ealing.)

(Photo credits: satguru and ca1951rr) 



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5 comments:

  1. A helpful piece about Willesden Junction station approach. However, one thing I would take issue with is the statement about 'maybe the replacement of some the guide rails which currently leave the useable part of the footpath so constricted.'

    The guide rails are lethal, in that they force pedestrians out into the roadway. Replacing them will not work, unless the footway is considerably widened. A shared space design would be preferable to more guard rail and we need to get this message through to Network Rail.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We don't want the usual 'half-measures improvement' here.

    In the short term, take down some of the railings, and stop the pavement becoming an impassable lake when it rains.

    And remove the graffiti.

    But for the longer term, hold out for a decent budget that provides a proper fix. Which means widening the road, and retaining proper pavements on both sides.

    ReplyDelete
  3. There isn't much money around these days - but how about trying to establish a Willesden Junction Users Group to try and focus on some solutions to the issues and engage with decision makers?

    More affluent areas have much more active lobbies in support of their local station. Harlesden deserves no less...!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Willesden Junction of 1928 looks a million times better than the Willesden Junction of now. All of the new updates that happen to the station are really not good, both aesthetically and quality wise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Does anyone know how to access the architectural drawings of the current station??

      Delete


The promised videos...

Cycling on Western Avenue

North Circular Road incident

Stonebridge rail workers

ROAD SAFETY in West London