In 2011, TfL withdrew regular weekday District Line services to Kensington (Olympia). TfL stated this would remain under constant review.[1] Over a decade later, a full weekday service has still not been reinstated.

Currently 220 timetabled services operate per week to Kensington (Olympia), predominantly (95%) at the weekend. TfL are committed to operating special services for larger events at Olympia London. Previously this included District Line services but is now delivered through 4-8 rail replacement buses per hour.

TfL completed the Four Lines Modernisation Programme in 2022, a major upgrade of the District Line This included new signalling between Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia) allowing more trains to travel along the branch. Analysis of TfL’s latest data shows that upgrades have not led to an increase in train frequencies despite there being no technical barriers to doing so.[2]

Reinstating a more frequent service at Kensington Olympia would:

• Support local residents with sustainable transport routes.

• Ease pressure on nearby stations – Shepherd’s Bush, Earl’s Court, and Barons Court.

• Reduce demand for replacement buses, reducing traffic and improving air quality ( in line with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy target of 80% of journeys to be made by sustainable transport by 2041).[1]

• Provide additional transport for visitors to Olympia, with numbers forecast to grow to between 9 and 10 million when the new venues are all open

  
  

[1] London Assembly, 2011. District Line Services to Olympia.

[2] TfL, 2014. NUMBAT data.

[3] Mayor of London[, 2018. Mayor’s Transport Strategy.