Bakerloo line extension would transform South London travel, say backers
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
Journey times between the Old Kent Road and Oxford Circus could be slashed from 38 minutes to just 13 if the Bakerloo line extension goes ahead, it has been revealed.
A new report outlining the benefits of lengthening the line south-east from Elephant and Castle also says travel times between Lewisham and Piccadilly Circus could halve – from 32 minutes to 16.
Extending the line all the way to Catford could cut the time it takes to get from Catford Bridge to Oxford Circus from 35 minutes to 22 minutes, according to the report from Parliament.
The report adds that lengthening the line would support the creation of 100,000 new homes, 10,000 jobs across South-east London and provide a £1.5 billion boost to the UK economy every year.
A foreword to the new report called Moving London Forward, co-written by Cllr Kieron Williams, Jennifer Daothong, chief executive of Lewisham council, and John Dickie, chief executive of BusinessLDN, a group that represents businesses in the capital, says: “The Bakerloo line upgrade and extension is a fantastic opportunity for the capital and our country (to transform) connectivity and travel times all the way from Harrow in the north-west to Lewisham and Hayes in the South-east.”
Cllr Williams added: “The Bakerloo line upgrade and extension’s time has come. It’s a shovel-ready project that will unlock thousands of homes and jobs. It has the backing of MPs, the Mayor of London, TfL, London councils, London businesses and residents right across our city.”
Pictured top, from left: Backers MP Harriet Harmen, John Dickie, Lewisham MP Vicky Foxcroft, Seb Dance, Cllr Williams, Dawn Butler MP, Jennifer Daothong and Cllr Adam Hug (Picture: LDRS)