The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson today opened a new London Overground station to bring direct rail access to the Capital's transport system for thousands of West London residents for the first time.
The £7.8 million Imperial Wharf station in the new Imperial Wharf development provides residents in Hammersmith and Fulham, Chelsea and West Brompton with high frequency rail connections to the major transport interchanges of Clapham and Willesden Junctions.
Boris Johnson, said: "Imperial Wharf will bring TfL's London Overground rail revolution to this part of West London, which has been poorly served by rail links until now. Residents are now just minutes away from Clapham and Willesden Junctions, which provide links to the whole of London's transport system and the national rail network."
"This allows investment to flow inward and residents access to more jobs, education and leisure opportunities."
"Passenger safety and security is vitally important, which is why this and all London Overground stations will be staffed at all times when trains are operating. It is fully accessible with Oyster PAYG, state of the art CCTV and good lighting."
"With four trains an hour running through the station all day and every day from 2011, London Overground will become synonymous with safe, fast and reliable turn up and go services on comfortable, air-conditioned trains."
Tony Carey, Managing Director of St George PLC, said: "St George is proud to have enabled the new Imperial Wharf station to be built by taking both the responsibility for project management and constructing the station as well as providing a substantial £4.8 million towards the cost of this £7.8 million station."
"Working closely with national, regional and local organisations we have delivered the station ahead of schedule demonstrating how public and private sector cooperation can provide significant new public transport infrastructure for the benefit of the local community, residents and businesses in Hammersmith & Fulham and southern Kensington & Chelsea."
Hammersmith & Fulham Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, said: "Imperial Wharf station will make the lives of thousands of commuters in Fulham and Chelsea much easier. It has taken a while to get here but after a lot of hard work by everyone involved there is light at the end of the tunnel. We aim to make Hammersmith & Fulham the Borough of Opportunity and great transport links are vital to achieving this. I am delighted that the north and south of the borough are now linked by Overground for the first time since the Second World War."
The Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Cllr Merrick Cockell, said: "This station will be a real boost to south Chelsea residents. It's taken a while, but thanks to Hammersmith & Fulham and my own Council forging a strong partnership with TfL and the private sector we have been able to improve public transport in an area where residents for many years have been calling for better links."