East London Line extension

The East London Line (ELL) extension is a long-awaited new service which will extend and connect the existing ELL to destinations north and south on the overland rail network. The ELL extension is broken into two phases.

Phase one of the ELL extension is now under construction. When phase one opens in 2010, ELL trains will travel south from New Cross Gate as far as West Croydon and Crystal Palace and north from Shoreditch through Hoxton and Dalston, to Highbury and Islington.

Phase two will extend the line south-west, through Peckham, Brixton, and Clapham to Clapham Junction. However, there is currently no stop proposed in Brixton, one of the key town centres and destinations along the route. As such the East London Line would travel through two miles of Lambeth, from Denmark Hill to Clapham High Street, without stopping. Phase two is not yet funded, although the powers to build it have already been granted.

In July 2007 Lambeth Council, along with the East London Line Group, a grouping of boroughs and businesses in South and East London, launched a major campaign called Connecting South London. The campaign calls for an early commitment by Government to funding Phase Two, including works to allow an extra stop at Brixton. The council is also working to ensure that fast, direct train services from Clapham High Street and Wandsworth Road to London Victoria are maintained, once the East London Line services commence.

Benefits for Lambeth

If a quick funding commitment is made, Lambeth believe Phase Two could be complete in time for the Olympics, providing significant journey time improvements for Lambeth residents travelling to and from East London Olympic venues. Apart from the Olympics, the ELL Phase Two is crucial to regeneration opportunities in both Brixton and Clapham, by attracting new employees and customers to businesses, allowing new interchange and journey options without having to travel through zone 1, as well as creating fast new links to jobs and services across London.

How to get involved

To make comments or find out more information on the scheme, call, email or write to Lambeth Transport Planning using the details below.

Further information

For more information visit the East London Line Extension pages on the Transport for London website, or contact Lambeth Transport Planning.

Lambeth Transport Planning
1st Floor
Blue Star House
234-244 Stockwell Road
London
SW9 9SP
Telephone: 020 7926 9179
Email: rail@lambeth.gov.uk