In an unusual move, Transport for London (TfL) has announced that Turnham Green station will remain operational during major District line closures next month, with Piccadilly line trains stepping in to serve passengers.
Traditionally, Turnham Green sees only limited Piccadilly line services — mainly early mornings or late evenings. However, during the upcoming Early May Bank Holiday weekend (May 3-4, 2025), the station will stay open while District line trains are suspended.
Piccadilly line trains will make rare daytime stops at Turnham Green, starting from 7am on Saturday and continuing all through Sunday. It marks a significant shift in policy after years of the station shutting down during District line engineering works.
Full District Line Closure Planned
TfL confirmed that the western branches of the District line, including services to Ealing Broadway and Richmond, will be completely closed that weekend.
Replacement bus services will be available:
- Route DL1: From Hammersmith to Acton Town, serving Turnham Green.
- Route DL3: From Hammersmith to Richmond, stopping at Turnham Green during early mornings and late evenings.
More detailed travel advice is available on the TfL website.
A Change Years in the Making
This change comes after years of lobbying by local residents. In 2023, a petition backed by 988 signatures urged TfL to extend Piccadilly line services permanently to Turnham Green, citing the inconvenience of replacement buses and the negative environmental impact.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, responded at the time: “It is the intention for trains to call at Turnham Green after the line has been re-signalled under the Piccadilly line upgrade, though this is not currently a funded project as TfL is yet to receive any indication of funding for its capital projects from HM Government.”
TfL has yet to secure government funding for the Piccadilly line re-signalling project. Without it, any permanent changes remain off the table for now.
A TfL source explained the decision to allow Piccadilly line stops at Turnham Green during the May closure. They said closures are planned to “minimise overall disruption,” and allowing stops at Turnham Green made sense given the circumstances.
They added that any decision weighs up the broader impact on the timetable, factoring in passenger demand, other scheduled closures, and major London events.
“Piccadilly line services would stop at the station to benefit its customers when it is deemed it would not cause excessive disruption elsewhere,” the source confirmed.
While the Turnham Green Piccadilly line service is only temporary, it offers a small win for local campaigners who have long pushed for better connectivity. With the District line off the rails for the Bank Holiday, TfL’s move brings a touch of convenience back to West London commuters, at least for now.
