Dalston or Hackney Central for Crossrail stop? Locals urged to have their say

Rail debate: Crossrail construction to begin in 2020. Photograph: © Evelyn Simak (Creative Commons)

Should the new Crossrail train line stop at Dalston or at Hackney Central?

TfL and Network rail are urging local residents to answer this question as part of an open consultation on the route of the high-frequency train Crossrail 2.

Locals have the opportunity to have their say through an online consultation organised by the Mayor of London, which will remain open until July 15.

Construction will begin on the new line – which will reduce journey time from Hackney Central or Dalston to central London to only eight or nine minutes – by the year 2020.

The new consultation asks the public to indicate whether the single tunnel should stop at either Hackney Central or Dalston station, or at both as was proposed in 2013. TfL estimates that £1bn will be saved from the original plans to stop at two stations.

TfL also claims that the revised proposal will minimise the environmental impact of construction and operations.

Katie Halberg, 21, a student from Manchester said: “I have been living in Hackney for two years and I think it’s amazing that they will build a new line making it easier to get to central London – it’s a mess now, with all those buses and tube lines to change.

“Of course the best solution would be to build two new stations, one in Hackney and one in Dalston. But I guess Hackney is the most crowded area, so more people would benefit from the new transport links.”

Julie Ridy, 45, a carer from Stoke Newington said: “I find it hard to believe that the locals will have the last word in this issue. Personally I believe that ultimately, TfL will just build a new station where it’s cheaper and easier for them. But if I were to choose, I’d say that Dalston needs it more since it’s not as well connected to other parts of the city as Hackney is.”

Mohammed Qualib, 30, a pharmacist from Dalston commented: “Hackney is where most offices are located, together with a high number of flats and houses. That probably means that more commuters would benefit from the new line. I think that TfL should check which one of the two stations gets busiest during rush hour: that’s the one that needs a new station the most.”

A statement on the TfL website declared that they are “particularly seeking views” on this issue. The comments received from the general public, together with further project evaluation work, will serve to identify potential variations in the route and to provide further feedback.

TFL and Network Rail have also organised a number of drop-in sessions for the residents to ask questions and find out what they are proposing in the area.

On Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 of July two sessions will be held at Hackney Central Library from 12 to 7pm. On Friday 18 and Saturday 19 of July, respectively from 10 to 4pm and from 11 to 5pm, two further sessions will take place at Dalston Library.

To comment online about the development, click on the link below: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail/june-2014/consultation/intro/view.