TRAM AND TRAIN LINE DISAPPEAR IN MAYOR'S NEW TRANSPORT STRATERGY

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15 October 2009

John Prendergast
johnp@southwarknews.org

Another blow was dealt to transport users in Southwark this week when the Cross River Tram (CRT) and the South London Line (SLL) were omitted from the Mayor of London's transport strategy.

Boris Johnson's transport plans for the next 20 years did not make a single mention of either project, suggesting both are far from being on his radar.

The CRT, which consisted of 16.5km of tramway commencing at Euston and making its way down to Waterloo, branching off towards Peckham and Brixton, now looks like it will be removed from his agenda altogether. This is despite a vociferous and well run campaign backing it.

Those in favour of retaining the SLL are currently attempting to make their voices heard at TfL, amongst other bodies.
The minor crumb of comfort for transport users in Southwark, as reported by the 'News' in March, is that the extension to the Bakerloo Line extension will be more seriously explored, although any movement on the project will not take place until at least 2020.

A spokesman stated details of extended routes were not available at this stage. He added: "The Mayor is well aware that Londoners living in the south of the capital are crying out for more tube services and research has shown extending the Bakerloo Line south from Elephant & Castle could have serious benefits in terms of regeneration and access to jobs.

"A far more detailed analysis is required to put a case for funding to the Government and when deciding on a possible route; but the Mayor believes it is a project that should be considered, which is why he has included it in the draft transport strategy for the public to comment on."

The demise of the CRT in favour of the Bakerloo Line left Phil Bale, who led the campaign for the tram, perplexed. He said: "The Mayor, after cancelling one set of unfunded transport projects, appears to have replaced them with even more unfunded proposals. 

"The 'possible' extension of the Bakerloo Line south of the river has been looked at in the past and ruled out as too expensive and too complicated to build - that's why TfL spent £19m and many years developing the Cross River Tram instead. 

"The lack of clarity on future public transport provision in south east London is deeply damaging to both residents and businesses in places such as Peckham and the Mayor's announcement today has done nothing to end this uncertainty."

Newington ward councillor Caroline Pidgeon, also Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, added: "Anyone looking at the Mayor's Transport Strategy would search in vain to find even a single mention of the proposed Cross River Tram, despite the fact that it is 354 pages in length!

It is now abundantly clear that Boris Johnson has no intention at all of ever wanting to introduce a Cross River Tram. The warm words by the Mayor and his transport adviser have now been exposed as being utterly worthless."

The spokesman for TfL stated there was not sufficient funding in place for the CRT, and the £1.3billion cost made it unrealistic.

Regarding the future of the SLL he added: "Extending the East London Line meant that the DfT had to put plans for a Victoria to Bellingham service on hold. Given the greater benefits of the East London Line scheme it was a decision that the Mayor's Office supported.

However, if the DfT can find the money needed for the Victoria Bellingham service, then the Mayor would be delighted to see that scheme get the go ahead too."

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