Moving Victoria - not to Royal Oak but to somewhere else?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Coach and Bus Week

Plans to move the London’s coach station from Victoria to Royal Oak have been abandoned after strong opposition from people in the local area.

The plans were initially established due to the leases on the Grade II-listed building coming to an end in 2023.

The Evening Standard reported that Grosvenor, the freeholder of the land, want to redevelop the three-acre site.

The proposed move to Royal Oak was faced with backlash by locals who said it would increase pollution and congestion in the area.

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) have noted that it is considering other options, which include keeping part of the coach station or all of it entirely.

From a west-of-London viewpoint, a move to Royal Oak (or Old Oak in the future) would seem to have merit in taking coaches to the edge of London from 'our' direction then letting people get onto the underground to get them to final destination.   The drag through to and from Victoria always feels - well - a drag!

[JayMac]

Obviously needs to be sold. The Duke of Westminster is down to his last £9 billion.

[4064ReadingAbbey]

From Coach and Bus Week

Plans to move the London’s coach station from Victoria to Royal Oak have been abandoned after strong opposition from people in the local area.

The plans were initially established due to the leases on the Grade II-listed building coming to an end in 2023.

The Evening Standard reported that Grosvenor, the freeholder of the land, want to redevelop the three-acre site.

The proposed move to Royal Oak was faced with backlash by locals who said it would increase pollution and congestion in the area.

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) have noted that it is considering other options, which include keeping part of the coach station or all of it entirely.

From a west-of-London viewpoint, a move to Royal Oak (or Old Oak in the future) would seem to have merit in taking coaches to the edge of London from 'our' direction then letting people get onto the underground to get them to final destination.   The drag through to and from Victoria always feels - well - a drag!

In a sense the coach station at Heathrow Airport is already a de facto west London connecting point. Indeed when Crossrail finally starts working it will make an even better jumping off point for connections to various points in London that it is at the moment.

Keep Victoria Coach Station, says I!

[grahame]

In a sense the coach station at Heathrow Airport is already a de facto west London connecting point. Indeed when Crossrail finally starts working it will make an even better jumping off point for connections to various points in London that it is at the moment.

Agreed on that ... what about the relatively high cost of using the links to London via Hayes and Harlington - will they come back down to more normal rates per mile once Elizabeth Line trains are running though?

[Bmblbzzz]

Victoria doesn't just serve coaches to the west though. It does have the advantage of being central and serving as an interchange for all directions. Against this, it's not the best location for onward journeys within London, as passengers have to cross the road and make their way through the railway station to get to the tubes.

Victoria Green Line should be taken into account as well. At present, having all three stations together: coach, train and Green Line for suburban, rural and international buses function as a central London transport nexus.

[Surrey 455]

In a sense the coach station at Heathrow Airport is already a de facto west London connecting point. Indeed when Crossrail finally starts working it will make an even better jumping off point for connections to various points in London that it is at the moment.

Agreed on that ... what about the relatively high cost of using the links to London via Hayes and Harlington - will they come back down to more normal rates per mile once Elizabeth Line trains are running though?

Also there's the Airport premium. With a National Express coach from London via Heathrow to anywhere, it is usually cheaper getting on at Victoria than it is at the next stop, Heathrow.

Last verified by me in 2010 so may no longer be accurate!