King's Road Chelsea railway station

King's Road Chelsea
King's Road Chelsea Location of King's Road Chelsea in Central London
Location	Chelsea
Local authority	Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Owner	Transport for London or Network Rail
Fare zone	1
Other information
Lists of stations	DLR Underground National Rail Tramlink
WGS84	51°29′15″N 0°10′08″W / 51.4875°N 0.169°W / 51.4875; -0.169Coordinates: 51°29′15″N 0°10′08″W / 51.4875°N 0.169°W / 51.4875; -0.169
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King's Road Chelsea railway station is a proposed station on Crossrail 2 but was omitted in June 2017 by Transport for London, when revised plans for the route of Crossrail 2 were announced.^[1]

Crossrail 2 is currently considered the fourth major rail project in the capital after the Thameslink Programme, East London Line extension and Crossrail 1. The station was not likely to open until 2022 at the earliest.^[2]

Location

Dovehouse Green on King's Road, the primary proposal for Chelsea station^[3]

In the plans in the 2015 Consultation Kings Road station would have been part of a tunnelled section between Parsons Green and Sloane Square, although the exact location would only be fixed when the line is finally approved.

According to the June 2008 safeguarding directions, the surface structures of interest lie either side of Dovehouse Street (including Dovehouse Green) at its junction with Kings Road and some small buildings on the south side of the road opposite.^[3]

Following the 2013 public consultation, revised plans were published in June 2014 by the Mayor of London which indicate two possible alignments for the railway tunnels along with two potential sites for a station in Chelsea:^[4]

• on the corner of King’s Road and Dovehouse Street, on the site which is currently occupied by Chelsea Fire Station;
• on a site further south-west, between the King’s Road and Cheyne Walk, close to Milman's Street and the River Thames

The location was under continual debate and eventually may be influenced by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London Mayor and residents and local businesses on Kings Road. In the 2013 survey 20% of residents opposed or strongly opposed a site on Dovehouse Green. Further options for a location to build Chelsea tube station include:

• a quarter mile west from the primary proposal and at the junction of Beaufort Street and Kings Road, or
• a three-quarter mile south-west and adjacent to Cremorne Gardens at Cremorne and World's End high-density residence estates. This stop would be called Chelsea Riverside and beneficial link with Thames riverboat services.

South of the proposed station at Dovehouse Green the route would pass under the Thames close to Battersea bridge and thence to Clapham Junction. There was discussion to add a Battersea Village stop (on the west side of Battersea Park, to complement Battersea Nine Elms (Northern line extension to Battersea) on the eastern side of Battersea Park); cost may deter an additional station.

Name

In the 2015 consultation for Crossrail 2, the station is referred to as King's Road Chelsea.^[5]

History

A tube line from Chelsea to Hackney was first proposed at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1904 a bill was put before Parliament, but was defeated by the political allies of rival tube constructor Charles Yerkes. It was proposed again in the late 1960s and has been on the long-term agenda since then. An integral part of the plan was to build a new station in the centre of Chelsea along the Kings Road, which is not currently served directly by any tube or national rail station.

It was safeguarded as part of a potential route in 1991 and 2007.^[6] Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council are strong supporters of Chelsea station, as well as returning Sloane Square into the project after it was dropped from the route.^[7]

Cancellation

In March 2017, TfL sent the proposals for the latest plans of Crossrail 2 and the new route does not include a stop at Kings Road Chelsea as it wasn't very popular as well as changes in Wood Green and Tooting Broadway. ^[8][9]

Proposed services

Preceding station		Crossrail		Following station
Clapham Junction towards Hampton Court or Shepperton or Chessington South or Epsom		Crossrail Line 2		London Victoria towards New Southgate or Broxbourne
Preceding station		London Underground		Following station
Parsons Green towards Wimbledon		Chelsea-Hackney line		Sloane Square towards Epping

References