Running in twin-bore tunnels for its entire 7.5km length, the extension will continue the Bakerloo line beyond the current eastern terminus at Elephant & Castle. The project is intended to improve services to southeast London in anticipation of London’s population increasing to more than 10 million by 2030, and will provide capacity for up to 60,000 additional passenger per hour during peak periods.

TfL first consulted on the proposal in 2014, when it asked for views on the extension including options for the route, with an extension to Lewisham via Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate adopted as the preferred alignment. This was followed by a second round of consultation in 2017, when TfL asked for views about potential station and shaft locations.

The latest round of consultation includes the changes incorporated based on feedback received by TfL, and is open until December 22.

Stations

TfL is developing station plans for Old Kent Road 1, on a site near to the junction with Dunton Road; Old Kent Road 2, on a site near to the junction with Asylum Road; New Cross Gate, providing an interchange to London Overground and National Rail services at the existing station; and Lewisham, providing an interchange to National Rail and DLR services at the existing station and serving the town centre. The stations will be fully accessible, and will provide step-free access from the street to the train.

At Elephant & Castle, TfL is proposing providing a combined station entrance and ticket hall for the Northern and Bakerloo lines, which would be built as part of a proposed new shopping centre development to provide passengers with an interchange between the Bakerloo line, Northern line and Thameslink services and help reduce congestion during peak periods.

Tunnel alignment

As part of the extension, TfL has developed a new alignment for the Bakerloo line between Lambeth North and Elephant & Castle, which would allow the construction of a new Bakerloo Line station at Elephant & Castle and enable a shorter, quicker route for the existing line from Lambeth North to Elephant & Castle.

The Wearside Road Council depot site has been proposed as the end of the new section, where out of services trains will be stabled. This would also provide the opportunity to connect to the Hayes Line, on which TfL is also consulting.

TfL has considered possible at New Cross Gate, Hither Green, and Catford as primary tunnelling worksites for the extension, and the launch stations for tunnel boring machines.

TfL is also proposing a secondary tunnelling worksite as part of the Old Kent Road 1 station site to support construction of the tunnels as well as building the proposed new station, which was not included in the 2017 consultation.

Shafts

Changes to the plans have removed the need for a shaft between Elephant & Castle and the Old Kent Road stations due to the shorter and more direct tunnel alignment.

TfL has proposed building a shaft at a site off Lewisham Way at Alexandra Cottages, between New Cross Gate and Lewisham stations. The shaft would provide an emergency access and evacuation route in the event of a fire or other incident, and would also provide access for line maintenance and enable ventilation. A “head house” structure would be built on the surface to contain the shaft equipment.

The former plans for a shaft at the Wearside Road Council depot site have developed into new proposals for train stabling.

Beyond Lewisham

TfL has carried out an assessment of options for extending the route beyond Lewisham, and says the most beneficial option is converting of the main line via Catford to Hayes and Beckenham Junction to London Underground operation.

TfL has asked for feedback on a number of key consultation issues, including:

  • a new integrated station entrance at Elephant & Castle
  • the route of the proposed tunnels from Lambeth North to Elephant & Castle
  • the route of the proposed tunnels from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham
  • the location of the primary and secondary tunnelling worksites for the scheme
  • the naming of the two proposed stations on Old Kent Road, and
  • the possible further extension of the route from Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction.

The project will be integrated with the upgrade of the existing Bakerloo line, which involves purchasing new trains and installing a new signalling system to increase capacity, improve safety and reliability, improving customer journeys and reducing long-term costs of the line.

TfL says that subject to funding and design development, it could apply for permission to build the extension through a Transport & Works Act Order in 2023.

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