Urgent call to set the signals green on Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension

Councils, businesses and partners call on the Government to commit to this growth-unlocking infrastructure project, ahead of the Spending Review and Ten-Year Infrastructure Strategy.

The Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension is London’s next big opportunity.

This widely-backed and shovel-ready project will deliver the economic growth, homes and jobs London and the UK needs as well as improving connectivity, social inequalities and sustainable travel.

This is why the Back the Bakerloo campaign, led by London councils (Southwark, Lewisham, Brent, Westminster), Central London Forward and BusinessLDN, is calling on the Government, urgently, to set the signals to green on this transformative infrastructure project.

The campaign partners want the Government to match London’s ambition by committing to deliver the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension in the upcoming Ten-Year Infrastructure Strategy and by securing the project’s funding for the next three years in the Comprehensive Spending Review (both expected in June).

Urgent need for upgrade

The Bakerloo Line is a vital part of London’s transport and economic infrastructure, however, with the current train fleet 16 years past its estimated life span, the service is currently at risk of full withdrawal and is a drain on the public purse.

Transport for London (TfL) wants to upgrade the line with new rolling stock. This would enable the line to run 27 trains per hour rather than the current 20 (a train every 2 minutes) as well as making the service more comfortable and reliable for passengers.

In recent weeks, TfL Commissioner, Andy Lord called for a long-term funding deal from the Government to replace the 50-year-old Bakerloo Line trains and stop the Tube network from falling into disrepair.

The extension is vital for growth

The first phase of the extension (for which, TfL is currently conducting feasibility studies ) will extend the line from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham via Old Kent Road.

This will include new Tube stations at Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate and Lewisham.

The second phase will take the line beyond Lewisham and on to Hayes and Beckenham Junction. This phase would make use of the existing National Rail line (converting it to a London Underground operation). Ladywell, Catford Bridge and Lower Sydenham stations would all be integrated into the Tube network, helping to support development in the south east of London and enabling more capacity on the rail network.

Long-term benefits

A recent report highlighted the impact the project will have, nationwide. This includes:

• injecting at least an extra £1.5bn into the UK economy per annum
• unlocking the delivery of 107,000 new homes in London, to address the acute housing crisis
• supporting 150,000 good jobs, including in Goole, Yorkshire where the trains would be built
• breaking down economic barriers as 48% of people within reach of the existing Bakerloo Line live within the top 30% most deprived communities in England
• improving connectivity across London with travel time from Old Kent Road to Oxford Circus cut by nearly two thirds
• accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero through sustainable travel, with 150,000 additional public transport trips and 20,800 fewer car trips daily. This will reduce road congestion and overcrowding on buses, as well as improving air quality
• delivering nearly 200,000 square meters of new commercial floorspace along the route

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Backers

This shovel-ready project has overwhelming support, and is backed by the Mayor of London, TfL and London Councils.

In TfL’s most recent public consultation, 89% of the nearly 9,000 respondents, expressed their support for the Bakerloo Line Extension proposals.

In recent weeks, the Mayor of London and London Councils placed the project at the heart of their new London Growth Plan, highlighting how the upgrade and extension will enable their vision for growth and productivity in the capital.

The project also has significant backing from the business community. A number of London and UK-wide developers and local businesses have come together to start a new Business for Bakerloo campaign, demonstrating the level of investment opportunities the project will bring to the UK.

Two new stations are planned for Old Kent Road as part of the Bakerloo line extension

Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said:
“The time has come for the Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension – a shovel-ready project that would unlock thousands of new homes along the line and bring a national economic growth boost of £1.5bn, creating thousands of jobs across the UK supply chain. The project is ready to go, and work is already underway on the first station upgrade at Elephant and Castle.”

Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham, said:
“For too long south east London has been excluded from the world-class London Underground Network and the benefits of being a well-connected inner London borough. With Lewisham wages nearly 40% lower on average than neighbouring boroughs, the Bakerloo line extension would be a game-changer for unlocking inclusive growth and opportunities not just in the south east but across the UK.

Along with access to better pay and good jobs, we will see our high streets visited more, local businesses benefit, our roads less congested and air quality improved.

The wider scheme will also create 150,000 good jobs across the UK and unlock nearly 200,000 square meters of additional commercial floorspace along the route.”

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council said:
“The Bakerloo Line is an iconic part of London’s underground, its history, and its culture. It connects our great landmarks, from Wembley to the West End, and is a vital part of economic infrastructure – with one in six jobs in London within a 12-minute walk of a station. But the significant challenges facing the ageing line – and its 10 stations that fall in the borough of Brent – put it at risk of total failure.

We’re working hard to regenerate every corner of our borough, unlocking growth and connecting our communities better than ever before. But we can’t do this alone. It’s time to breathe life back into the Bakerloo.”

Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council and Chair of Central London Forward, said:
“The Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension is vital to London and the UK’s drive for inclusive growth and to tackle the housing crisis.

We urgently need to build more homes in every part of the country and in London, that means finding new areas for development. The project would unlock the delivery of 107,000 new homes in London, playing a major role in meeting the Government’s housebuilding targets. It would also mean improving air quality by taking 20,000 car journeys off the road each day, supporting inclusive growth across London.”

Find out more and pledge your support at BacktheBakerloo.org.uk