Work is due to start in spring this year on Shepherd's Bush Central Line station. It forms part of LUL's major programme of transport investment for the White City development, a partnership between LUL and the developer, Westfield. The new 1.4 million sq ft retail and leisure development, which is scheduled to open in 2008, will be the largest in-town shopping complex in Europe.
The development will bring wealth and an improved economy to the region and will lead to 4,000 additional jobs in the White City area and 1,000 during the construction. Shepherd's Bush Central Line station, which is the closest tube station to the development and provides the main access to the development for passengers, is to be extensively remodelled.
It is expected that 60 per cent of customers will travel to White City by public transport and that, following the opening of the retail development, 45,000 will use the station per annum. (In 2001, 27,000 people came through Shepherd's Bush (Central Line) station). “The retail development will obviously lead to a substantial increase in demand at Shepherd's Bush,” says project director Steve Washington. “The new station will cater for this and help deliver a world class transport system for Londoners and all customers.”
The remodelling of the station falls into three parts:
- The ticket hall level and staff accommodation, which is funded and constructed by the developer, Westfield;
- Congestion relief scheme and step free access work, which is funded by London Underground; and
- Station modernisation, a PPP project.
“It's a very exciting project which will lead to a greatly improved station,” says Steve.
“There will be a brand new ticket hall, with reduced queuing, as well as better working conditions for staff. In addition, the improvements being carried out by LUL will provide a congestion relief scheme and step free access (through provision of lifts), so making the station accessible to all.”
The station modernisation, with its improved aesthetics, will provide new passenger information systems and security systems.
The wider White City development transport programme is an ambitious one which will see a number of significant investments in the area. In addition to Shepherd's Bush Central Line remodelling, it includes a new station on the H&C Line, new underground sidings, and a major new interchange at the southern end of the development. This will have the potential for five modes of transport – the Underground (Shepherd's Bush Central Line), buses, a new West London rail station, taxis and a possible future tram system.