Disused rail corridor linking Camden with King’s Cross could be turned into an elevated walkway, cycle route and garden under ambitious plans put forward by a local business collective.

 

The 1.3km route was built as part of the North London Railway and crosses eight roads on seven bridges at a height of 8m. Creation of the sustainable transport link, which is around 18m wide, would cut the journey time for pedestrians between the two centres down to around 10 minutes.

 

Camden’s proposal has been compared to the New York High Line through Manhattan, which converted a section of former railroad into a public park in 2009, and is similar to the Peckham ‘Coal Line’ idea in south London.

 

“This new transport link can reduce overcrowding and journey times on the existing cycling and pedestrian routes nearby, like on the Regent’s Canal,” said Camden Town Unlimited’s chief executive Simon Pitkeathley, who is behind the proposal.

 

“Making use of disused space can create new employment opportunities as well as economic, health and quality of life improvements for the local community,” he added.

 

Camden’s new route would start on the north side of the railway above Kentish Town Road, before travelling east towards Camden Road station and on towards Caledonian Road & Barnsbury station before finishing beside Camley Street, which leads into King’s Cross.

 

Visualisations of the proposed route have been prepared by Studio Weave and Architecture 00, who won a design competition.

 

(Image: Camden Town Unlimited)