Bakerloo Line Upgrade and Extension

Transport for London (TfL) is considering upgrading and extending the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle via Lewisham and eventually to Hayes, to improve London’s connectivity and enable national growth.

The Bakerloo Line is an iconic part of the London Underground, and a vital part of London’s economic infrastructure. However, the trains have been in circulation since the 1970s and are the oldest in use in the UK. This results in increased maintenance costs and delays, and the line is at risk of critical failure or shutdown at any time.

The proposed route is via the Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate, with new London Underground stations at New Cross Gate and Lewisham, considerably increasing public transport capacity and connectivity.

A second phase of the extension is also being considered, taking the Bakerloo Line beyond Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction, converting the existing National Rail line to a London Underground operation. This would see Ladywell, Catford Bridge and Lower Sydenham stations integrated into the tube network, helping support development in the south of the borough.

This key infrastructure project would involve renewing the trains and signalling, improving the passenger experience but also increase frequency and boosting capacity across the entire line. New rolling stock will enable the line to run 27 trains per hour rather than the current 20.

New homes, jobs and economic boost

Upgrading and extending the Bakerloo line is the next big opportunity for London and the UK and would unlock over 107,000 new homes, and 150,000 new jobs nationally and inject a £1.5 billion boost to the UK economy.

Additionally, it would accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero, with 150,000 additional public transport trips and 20,800 fewer car trips daily.

Substantial improvements in journey times will give greater access to jobs within commuting distance, including some of London’s most deprived communities.

The proposals also project nearly 200,000 square meters of additional commercial floorspace along the route.

Central London Forward, Lewisham Council and Southwark Council recently commissioned an impact assessment of the project which outlines the detailed benefits.

Safeguarding the land

The Government has issued directions to safeguard land needed to build the proposed extension. Safeguarding is a formal process whereby the Department for Transport protects land above and below ground from conflicting future development. A dedicated Bakerloo Line extension team at TFL is progressing work on line alignment and station designs.

Widely supported

This shovel-ready project has overwhelming support, and is backed by the Mayor of London, TfL, London Councils, and London’s business community. It is the most popular project TfL have ever consulted on.