Hounslow Loop Line

Hounslow Loop Line

Stations Barnes Bridge Chiswick Kew Bridge Brentford Isleworth Syon Lane Hounslow

The Hounslow Loop Line is a railway line in southwest London, operated by South West Trains. It enables suburban trains to run on a circular route via Hounslow to and from Waterloo. The line is electrified at 750v DC (third rail).

The following stations are on the Loop after Barnes station, where it branches from the direct line through Richmond:

• Barnes Bridge
• Chiswick
• Kew Bridge
• Brentford
• Isleworth
• Syon Lane
• Hounslow
• Hounslow Junction and Whitton Junction - part of a triangular junction - allow the trains to return via Richmond at this point. The other side of the triangle allows trains to continue to Feltham and Weybridge.

Train services

Since 2004, South West Trains have operated four trains per hour (tph) in each direction on the line, both peak and off-peak. Typically, two of those operate via Richmond on a loop to and from Waterloo and two operate to and from Weybridge, via Addlestone, Staines and Feltham.

On Sundays the line operates at 1tph, with all trains running to and from Woking via Feltham.

Future

Hounslow Council are in the process of promoting Crossrail services between Hounslow and London Paddington. They propose that Crossrail trains terminating at London Paddington from the east should continue towards Old Oak Common, where they would join the North London Line and call at all stations to Hounslow. The route would use an existing freight spur in Brentford to leave the North London Line and join the Hounslow Loop Line. Reversing sidings would be provided west of Hounslow to reduce dwell times at the platform, with the running lines on either side of them. Infrastructure adjustments and station modifications would be needed to allow for 12-car Crossrail operation, all which will probably be addressed in the Crossrail Bill. Hounslow - Brentford would benefit from 6tph in both directions, which would match the frequency of outer London Tube services.