TRAINS long enough to be boarded from two Underground stations simultaneously are included in a multi-million pound vision to improve rail links to Stratford.

Also among plans presented to residents last week were:

  • Improvements to the Docklands Light Railway
  • Possible links between Stratford Regional and the proposed Stratford International stations.

It is hoped the schemes will improve the chances for London's bid for the 2012 Olympics, but better public transport in the future is the main theme.

Leading representatives from Transport for London (TfL), Crossrail and Docklands Light Railway gave presentations at a special meeting of the Stratford Community Forum.

Members of the public put their concerns to the meeting chaired by Cllr John Saunders.

Martin Weaver, leading project officer for TfL, said that a feasibility study costing £2 million was launched last month and local people would be given chances to air their views.

Mr Weaver said: "Stratford station is very busy and by 2016 it will be even busier.

"We have worked out that 37,000 passengers pass through the station in peak hours, and by 2016 this number is predicted to have gone up to 80,000, with an extra 100,000 using the station during the Olympics.

"If nothing is done, the station would not be able to cope with this demand and shut down within three minutes."

Funding has not yet been secured for many of the proposed improvements, but the royal seal of approval was given to the Crossrail scheme which puts Stratford on the map for a new rail route running from Maidenhead to Shenfield.

The Crossrail scheme is estimated to be worth nearly half-a-billion pounds, with multi-million-pound contracts for the construction of huge new underground platforms.

It would see the launch of 70 new trains, each with ten carriages and capable of carrying up to 1,500 passengers.

There would be 12 trains running every hour, and links are planned between the new platforms to existing London Underground services.

At certain stops along the cross-capital route, passengers would be able to access the trains from two Underground stations at a time.

Bernard Gambrill, head of public affairs for Crossrail, said: "The trains would be so large that a platform big enough would join Liverpool Street and Moorgate stations and Farringdon and Barbican stations."

Mr Gambrill said that, should the scheme go ahead, trains would be running at the very earliest by 2013.

Among the concerns raised by the public were access for people with mobility difficulties and a shortage of lifts at Stratford station, concerns about the future of Maryland station, and questions about emergency evacuations.

Mr Weaver told the meeting that access and safety would be key priorities.