please empty your brain below

First I have heard of the Camden Highline.
I was already aware of south London's similar project called the Peckham Coal line.
As well as the doubts you raise.... Wouldn't this rely on network rail releasing the spare part of the viaduct? As they have long term plans (currently unfunded, admittedly) to return that section to four track (and hence using that space), I can't imagine them agreeing to the plan.

dg writes: See paragraph 6.
Always hated those wooden models, what insight are they supposed to provide, what the area looks like after a period of heavy snowfall if you flying over in a plane?

As far as project itself is concerned, the thing that makes the one in New York special aren't present in Camden, not least - as you pointed out, that there is a live railway running alongside, so the view in one direction will be a fence to prevent trespassing, perhaps screened by trees/shrubs, and be under constant risk of being over run by Buddleia from Network Rail controlled land.
The High Line equivalent in London (length, approach to the centre, quietness) would have been the viaduct from Broad Street to Dalston Junction (available 1986-2010). Prefer it as it is now though.
Spot on, Gordon. Our best candidate for a High Line clone was sensibly turned back into a railway.
My favourite elevated walkway is La Promenade Plantee in Paris built along an old railway viaduct that ends in Bastille. Wonderful gardens along the route and charming views of Parisian streets.
As an ex-Paris resident have to agree with Victoria - the 'Paris Highline' is superb and unlike New York it has a tangible benefit in that it lets you get from basically the Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes without touching the ground. We used it all the time.
what perhaps be better is a "wide-low-line". a wide fully tree and plant-lined street-level route through (central) London. connecting parks/museums/squares/galleries. accessible to all without need of stairs/lifts. a linear park of sorts found in other cities/countries.
I'm not convinced.

The New York High Line is great as its completely free of trains and NY is a tedious city to walk north south, due to its grid design, meaning you have to constantly cross major roads, which it bypasses. None of this applies to this part of London, which already has a traffic free route by the canal, which for a pedestrian is far nice AND actually takes you from the heart of Camden Town to Kings Cross.

25 years is far too long for Network Rail to give up valuable railway viaducts, the way London Overground has expanded. At the moment it isn't needed, but in 5 years time that can easily change.
To be honest the crayonista in me is crying out for this whole line to get four-tracked. I reckon it's somewhat feasible. Then you could have (say it along with me!) the North London Line working Richmond/Clapham to Stratford, and the increasingly-inaccurately-named East London Line working some trains through to Watford Junction via a reopened Primrose Hill. Free up space at Euston and no conflicting moves around Camden, if you four tracked from Camden Road East Jn to Camden Road West Jn.

Whether this would be good for what passengers want is another question, though, so perhaps it's less feasible after all. My friend's always going on about it though, and I see his point ;)
@Victoria: thanks for bringing the Promenade Plantée to my attention. I'll be sure to go there next time I'm in Paris.
London already has a High Line - it's the Woodland Walk between Finsbury Park and Highgate, and forms part of the Capital Ring walking route.
Although the New York High Line has somewhat been a victim of it's own success; the sheer number of people using it. At least there aren't trains rumbling a couple of metres from your ear every few minutes. (Peckham Coal Line the same).
People would use it once and then realise that downtown London does NOT have a downtown NY/Paris equivalent. We already have numerous enjoyable ground level walks/parks all over London, which NY and to some extent Paris do lack.
Who pays? private corporate use? Who maintains it? Closes it in the evening? No bikes etc. Do I hear a mini Garden Bridge controversy coming on?

I'm with Muzer 9.45, open it up for more rail services, esp. to Watford via a reopened Primrose Hill station. Up on Primrose Hill, now there's a great walk!
This sounds like a job for Joanna Lumley.

*runs away*
I don't understand why sticking a park on stilts is suddenly what every city wants. The point of the High Line is that it brought greenery and a walking route to a part of the city that had none. London has plenty of green spaces that don't need stairs to be reached and plenty of footpaths that aren't a little bit terrifying at night. It's a cash in to a trend rather than making something uniquely local.
Given that the new CEO of Network Rail is to be Andrew Haines, nothing is going to happen anytime soon... look at the delays and broken promises he presided over at the CAA.
I'm afraid I agree with the kind scepticism of other commenters. The NY High Line and its Parisian predecessor are very special indeed, and both completed to an exceptionally high standard. We don't need to attempt to replicate them and fail. Better to come up with some genuinely original ideas - such as pedestrianisation of Oxford Street as a precursor to a traffic free central London.
A better option for an old railway into new walkway for London would be the ex-GWR route from North Acton to White City, alongside the Central Line. It's mostly situ, overgrown with trees.

But the problem with that, as well as the Camden one, is it is next to a living railway. The Woodland Walk exists, as mentioned by Ian, is secluded, delightful and quiet. The problem is, few people other than locals and those who have done the Capital Ring etc have ever heard of it. Promote that one, including the 'high line' bit at the Ally Pally end, and job done.
An experience of myself in this area suggests that Regent's Canal has already offered a much better alternative (if some boats there can have their emission levels be better regulated that is)
OK, they speak English in New York, but Paris' Promenade Plantée is great example too and much closer to home.

On a viaduct made redundent by the first RER section opened in 1969. I've done the walk, as well along the Petit Ceinture (not really allowed) which crosses it further east and is a good starting point: Tram T3a https://flic.kr/p/ZyFu9d
Mush as it would be nice, it would only remain so if it were less 'successful' than NY, since it has become an irresistible magnet for large steel and glass office and 'luxury' residential blocks.










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