East London Line elation! Phase 2 extension FINALLY confirmed

Labour London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark, Valerie Shawcross is celebrating with jubilant transport campaigners today as South London gets set to finally appear on London’s tube map.

Phase two of the East London Line extension will be funded by the government, Network Rail and Transport for London, it has been announced. The news follows a concerted campaign by Val, local MP’s, councillors and hundreds of South Londoners.  The new extension will run from North London via Rotherhithe through Peckham, Denmark Hill and Clapham to Clapham Junction station, where it will provide a link with the national rail network.  It will link into the Phase One extension, currently under construction, which will link Highbury and Islington to New Cross, Crystal Palace and West Croydon. 

Val said ‘I am absolutely thrilled with this result and I’m grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to support Phase Two. Finally areas like Peckham and Camberwell will have the improved services they deserve and have waited for decades. ‘

The new project will cost around £100million pounds to complete and is scheduled to open in 2013.

Val added ‘I’ve visited the works taking place on East London Line Phase One and it was really exciting to see a brand new railway being built. This new connection will give South Londoners much faster and easier access to Canary Wharf, East London and the Olympic site. The next extension will also mean that key stations such as Peckham Rye will get much needed improvement works, making journeys more comfortable for everyone.’

           ENDS

 Notes:

 ·        Funding for East London Line Phase Two was confirmed by Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP and Mayor Boris Johnson at 10.15am at Clapham Junction rail station on Thursday 12th February 2009.

 ·        Val Shawcross is London Labour Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark and Chair of the Assembly Transport Committee.