Local Businesses Asked to Rally Behind West London Orbital
Urged to sign letter to government backing rail scheme
The proposed London Overground service would use the Dudding Hill Line
May 14, 2026
A coalition of West London businesses has issued a renewed call for the Government, the GLA and Transport for London to commit funding to the West London Orbital (WLO) rail scheme, arguing that poor orbital transport links are holding back one of the UK’s most important economic regions.
The campaign centres on the proposal to bring the Dudding Hill Line — the freight-only railway running between Acton and Cricklewood — into passenger use as part of a new London Overground service. The line would form a north–south route from Hounslow to Hendon and Brent Cross, connecting with HS2 and the Elizabeth line at Old Oak Common.
In a joint letter coordinated by West London Business, companies from across the region say the WLO is essential to unlocking productivity, investment and employment. They describe West London as a £70 billion economy, larger than Birmingham and Manchester combined, but one constrained by limited cross-borough transport options.
The letter argues that the WLO would “vastly broaden our catchment areas”, enabling an additional 450,000 residents to reach Old Oak Common within an hour and improving access to skilled workers across the region. Businesses say the scheme would support growth in key sectors including media, technology and logistics, and strengthen clusters at Brent Cross, Park Royal, Old Oak Common, Hounslow town centre and the Golden Mile.
Supporters highlight the scheme’s potential to unlock 15,800 new homes and 11,400 jobs, describing it as a vital tool for reversing the decline in productivity seen across most West London sectors since the pandemic. They also emphasise the WLO’s role in reducing pressure on the North Circular Road, one of the most congested and polluted routes in the UK.
The letter stresses that the project would run on existing, underused rail infrastructure, requiring no land acquisition and causing minimal disruption during construction. New stations along the route are described as welcome opportunities for regeneration, with the potential to make West London “a more attractive, connected and employable region”.
Crucially, the WLO would pass through some of the most deprived areas in England, linking them directly to major employment zones and improving access to opportunities created by HS2 and other large-scale developments.
Businesses signing the letter say they “stand ready to continue supporting and championing this project” and urge national and regional authorities to put funding mechanisms in place “as quickly as possible”.
Organisers are now inviting further companies to add their names and logos to the letter, which will be shared with MPs, government departments and other decision-makers to demonstrate the breadth of support for the scheme.
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