Update on the Hall Farm Curve

12.36.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Apr 2008

Following our story on Crossrail in November, we have an update on the issue of the Hall Farm Curve. The good news is that Network Rail is seriously considering relaying this short stretch of line to connect St James Street with Stratford, a critical interchange for 2012 and beyond. However, the bad news is that, because it forecasts a requirement for additional capacity on the Lea Valley line between Cambridge, Stansted and Liverpool Street, Network Rail would route ALL local trains to and from Chingford via Stratford. This would obviously speed up the intercity services but would mean that there will no direct connection with Clapton and Hackney Downs stations for Waltham Forest residents. Those wishing to use those stations would either change at Walthamstow Central, go to Tottenham Hale and wait for a slow downline train or travel to Liverpool Street and wait for a slow upline train.

This is not what campaigners such as Councillor John Beanse of Hale End and Highams Park ward and our GLA representatives have been asking for all these years. Chingford residents require an ALTERNATIVE and additional service not one that limits their choices and indeed would makes access to parts of north east London even more difficult. Network Rail has been made aware of our disappointment in no uncertain terms.