Photo: John Lazenby / Shutterstock.com London is asking the public to have its say on plans for a new London Overground route that could change how travelers move across west and northwest London.
Transport for London (TfL) has opened a consultation on the proposed West London Orbital, a new rail service that would run between Hounslow and Hendon using existing railway infrastructure, including the currently underused Dudding Hill line.
The proposed route would include 12 stations, with four new stations planned at Neasden, Harlesden, Old Oak Common Lane and Lionel Road. Several existing stations, including Hendon, Brent Cross West, Acton Central, South Acton, Brentford, Isleworth, Syon Lane and Hounslow, would also require upgrades to accommodate the service.
For tourists, the most interesting aspect is the route's orbital design. Rather than sending passengers into central London, the proposed service would create a new connection around the western side of the capital.
That could eventually make it easier to travel between areas such as Hounslow, Brentford, Old Oak, Wembley, Brent Cross and Hendon without making a journey into central London and changing trains.
TfL says the West London Orbital is designed to improve connections between residential areas, employment centers, town centers and major development zones.
The route would also connect with other rail and Underground services, potentially giving passengers more options for reaching destinations across west and northwest London. TfL says the scheme could provide shorter journeys, more frequent services and improved accessibility at some stations.
For visitors staying outside central London, a future West London Orbital could therefore provide another way to reach parts of the city without relying as heavily on the Underground or buses.
However, tourists will not be able to use the new line anytime soon.
The project remains at an early stage. TfL is still developing the station designs, timetable, infrastructure requirements, environmental assessments and the business case, while funding for construction has yet to be secured.
If the required funding and approvals are obtained, TfL expects to decide at the end of 2027 whether to prepare a Transport and Works Act Order application. Further consultation would then take place as the project moves toward formal approval.
Construction could begin in the early 2030s, with the new Overground service potentially starting in 2035, subject to funding, approvals and the necessary consents.
The proposed railway would primarily use existing Network Rail tracks, although TfL has acknowledged that additional track and other infrastructure would be needed at certain locations to provide capacity for the new trains.
The current consultation is open until November 18, 2026. TfL says feedback will help shape the next stage of the project, including the design of the proposed stations and further assessment of its effects on passengers, roads and the environment.
For now, the West London Orbital remains a plan rather than a new railway.
However, if it secures funding and the necessary approvals, it could eventually create a new cross-London option for both residents and visitors, particularly those traveling between west and northwest London without needing to pass through the city center.