Bakerloo line to be extended to Lewisham by 2029

Lewisham station Credit: mattock (Wikimedia Commons)

Lewisham station Credit: mattock (Wikimedia Commons)

The Bakerloo line will be extended to Lewisham by 2029, Transport for London has revealed.

The extension has been long-awaited by Lewisham council and includes two new Bakerloo line stations at New Cross Gate and Lewisham.

The plans to extend the Bakerloo line to Lewisham have been welcomed by Lewisham council’s cabinet member for Parks, Neighbourhoods and Transport, Brenda Dacres, who said it would greatly boost the economy.

Ms Dacres said: “The impact of the Bakerloo line extension cannot be underestimated – it will boost the economy in Lewisham and south east London, provide the opportunity to build desperately-needed new homes and improve transport links into central London.”

Local businesses in Lewisham have also praised the proposals and hope that this will make Lewisham a more desirable place to live and visit.

Ruchna Patel, an employee at Sheel Pharmacy said she supported the plans as they would make Lewisham a more popular place to live.

Ms Patel said: “I think the Bakerloo line will be a good thing for the area and it would help the local businesses. We support the plans as it would make Lewisham a more popular place to live because of transport links to central London.”

Anthony Khondoker, owner of Maggies Café, which is situated close to Lewisham station echoed this view.

Mr Khondoker said: “It would be really good as more people would move into the area. We are right next to the station so it would help us a lot.”

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he hopes the construction can start during 2023, subject to funding and be completed by 20290.

For Lewisham, designs for a potential new station layout are being developed to ensure it will provide “an effective, simple and quick” interchange for customers between the Bakerloo line, DLR and National Rail services, Transport for London has announced.

Transport for London’s deputy mayor for transport, Heidi Alexander, said that the extension would support at least 25000 new homes across Lewisham and Southwark and create 5000 new jobs.

The extension will provide capacity for 65000 extra journeys in the morning and evening peak hours, and help relieve congestion on roads and reduce air pollution in the borough.

The new plans will mean that an underground service will run every two to three minutes between Lewisham and central London.

Work is continuing on the design of the additional New Cross Gate station and a site is yet to be decided. Transport for London said it would work to provide and easy and efficient interchange with London Overground and National Rail services.

Transport for London’s director of city planning, Alex Williams said over 5,000 local people surveyed in relation to the plans were in favour of the extension and that the first phase of planning for the extension was now underway.

Mr Williams said: “We have taken on board the views of almost 5,000 people and will now refine the proposals and carry out a further public consultation next year. This will help us shape our plans for the first phase of the extension to Lewisham which is planned to be completed by 2029.”

The director also hopes that the extension will help create a better connected community within London.

Mr Williams said: “The Bakerloo line extension is vital to support the growth of south east London as well as improving connectivity and reducing journey times for tens of thousands of people.

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