London continues to grow every year and the only way our creaking transport network will keep up is by also growing. This doesn’t just mean improving the existing train lines and bridges but also building whole new projects.
The pandemic decimated TfL’s funding leaving it with a gap of around £1.9 billion. Despite this they’re limping onwards while still looking to the future with a number of big infrastructure projects in the pipe works.
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Some of these are well underway and expected to open in the next few years but others are still just the twinkle in planners’ eyes. Here are the eight that will change the face of London’s transport in the next decades.
Crossrail 2
(Image: TfL)
With the long overdue and terrifyingly over budget Crossrail finally coming to fruition, its only the transport masochists who are asking: ‘What next?’
Well that would be Crossrail 2. This will bisect the city North to South linking Surrey with Hertfordshire. Also connecting to the existing infrastructure at hubs such as Tottenham Hale and Wimbledon.
The project is estimated to cost over £30bn, more than double original projection for the first Crossrail.
West London Orbital
(Image: TfL)
This proposed Overground line would connect North West and West London. Rather than the arduous journey into Central and out again, residents would be able to get between neighbourhoods all the better.
With the new route, you would be able to get from Hendon, Barnet, in North West London to Hounslow in South West in just 37 minutes, a journey that currently takes an hour and half involving two Tubes and a National Rail train. The hope is the line would encourage economic growth along its winding path while giving West Londoners a much easier journey to key places such as Heathrow Airport.
Bakerloo extension
(Image: Transport for London)
South London is notoriously patchy when it comes to connection to the London Underground Line and the Bakerloo Extension hopes to be a small step towards correcting that.
From its current terminus at Elephant & Castle the Bakerloo trains would continue to Lewisham via Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate. Getting ahead of themselves, a second phase would the line continue to Hayes and Beckenham Junction.
Although TfL remain ‘committed’ to the extension, with their finances in tatters the whole project depends on a “viable funding package being put together”.
Rotherhithe-Canary Wharf crossing
(Image: Tide Construction/EPR Architects)
This would be a new river crossing for pedestrians and cyclists between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf. TfL have said an bridge would be the ideal option but a ferry service and tunnel are also being looked at.
The bridge would have to open similar to Tower Bridge, to allow large boats to go through. As cool as this would be once again funding gets in the way.
According to TfL: “A bridge in this place is complex and will cost more than we can afford right now, so we have decided to pause our work to develop a new bridge. We’re looking at options instead for a new fast ferry service.”
Despite this there is hope it will be revisited in the future.
Silvertown Tunnel
(Image: Transport for London)
This controversial project will see a massive new road tunnel being built from North Greenwich across to Newham. It hopes to relieve traffic through the desperately congested Blackwall Tunnel.
Construction is already underway despite opposition from residents living around where the tunnel will emerge north of the river. Newham is already one of the most polluted boroughs in the city and critics fear the new tunnel will only add to that.
(Image: Kiro Evans)
The tunnel will not be accessible to walkers or cyclists and will include specific lanes for heavy goods vehicles and buses. The cost is £1.2bn.
DLR extension
(Image: Callum Marius)
A possible extension to the Docklands Light Railway will see the line extended from Gallions Reach in Newham to Beckton Riverside and then across the River to Thamesmead.
Those areas have been identified as perfect for more development and shiny new DLR stations will help that along.
Barking Riverside extension
(Image: Barking Riverside Limited/Bellway/L&Q)
Another long awaited extension to the Gospel Oak to Barking line will see the addition of one more station at Barking Riverside. This is expected to open in Autumn 2022.
It will finally connect the transport blackspot to the wider TfL network.
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We will keep you informed about the latest news that affects your daily commute to work, as well as at the weekend.
We’ll also let you know in advance if there are any roadworks, railworks or closures you should know about, or if there are any problems on the city’s tube network.
Join the group here.
Healthy Streets
(Image: Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)
Infrastructure isn’t all big bridges and flashy trains. Sometimes it’s as simple as little street level changes.
Healthy Streets is a scheme by TfL with support from the Mayor’s office to make London’s roads more appealing to walkers and cyclists, while making them an around nicer place to be. It is hoped this will improve the health of Londoners.
The project will include, among many other things, building benches, planting trees, expanding pavements and developing cycle infrastructure.
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