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Millions of Londoners will be able to cross the river by rail from Hackney to New Cross when the revamped East London line reopens today.
The railway will operate a limited service of eight trains per hour from 7am to 8pm on weekdays from Dalston Junction to New Cross. A full service to West Croydon will open on May 23.
Campaigners welcomed the £1 billion extension of the old East London line but warned that it should be in addition to existing rail services in south London, which are facing cutbacks.
Commuters in south-east London, which is not on the Tube, are particularly poorly served by the public transport network.
The South London line, which runs in a U-shape between Victoria and London Bridge, is under threat from the second phase of the East London line, which will extend to Clapham Junction by 2012.
Jo deBank, from London Travelwatch, said: “The East London line is great news and will go into areas which are transport poor.
“But there's still more to be done in south London. We need to make sure that there's still enough transport for people. South London still suffers from not having as much transport as other parts of the capital.”
Lib-Dem transport spokesman Caroline Pidgeon said: “Phase two is wonderful but ultimately the problem is people were promised it in addition to the South London line, not instead.
“It will give great connections out to Clapham Junction but people want that as well as routes into Victoria and London Bridge.” The new East London line will operate a fleet of 20 walk-through air-conditioned trains from Dalston Junction in the north via the City and Docklands to New Cross, Crystal Palace and West Croydon in the south.
Four new stations opened today at Dalston Junction, Haggerston, Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street, putting Hackney on the Tube map for the first time. A further 14 stations have been refurbished.
The line, which is expected to carry 100,000 a day, will be connected to the wider London Overground network — in the north by next spring and in the south by mid-2012 — making an orbital route around the capital.
The old East London line ran from Shoreditch to New Cross. Shoreditch station closed in 2006 and the rest of the line in December 2007.
The rail-link was due to open two weeks ago but the event was called off at the last minute with Transport for London citing technical difficulties. Experts have cast doubt on the reason for the delay.
Opponents have criticised Boris Johnson for going ahead with the opening during the election campaign and trying to take the credit for a Labour-initiated project.
The Mayor said: “This new railway will bring jobs and opportunities to communities up and down the line, massively improving access for hundreds of thousands of people.
“In this £1 billion upgrade, the old has been fused with the best of the new — the Victorian genius of Brunel's tunnel now comprises part of a network of almost space-age stations.
“This type of investment is essential if London, throwing off the shackles of recession, is to grow and prosper.”
Reader views (36)
Used this line on Monday and the ticket gates still dont accept travelcard paper tickets issued by C2C outside London!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 13/05/2010 20:37
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To Coylum
Shows what you know, i.e. nothing! Suggest you stay in Vancouver then - will be no great loss to us in this fantastic vibrant city LONDON. I know where I'd rather be! Certainly not Vancouver!! Also I think you mean "there", not "they" so get it right! Jog on mate. Loser.
- Sophie, Brockley, London, UK, 10/05/2010 10:13
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I used this line yesterday and found how under used the trains are which is normal for anything new but the reason question Boris should answer is while this line has opened with 4 carraige trains running every 6 mins the WEST London Line which is overcrowded still only runs every half hour!! This is despite the fact that a large section of the North London line is closed so are Londoners paying drivers not to work?
Surely a more frequent service in West London could have been introduced?
Funny thing is that this so called West London Residents Association makes so much fuss when it comes to the C-Charge and parking and yet not a titter from them about this situation!!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 29/04/2010 11:55
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A success!
Not cancelled by the Conservative Mayor; the contracts had already been signed before he was elected.
If you meet a Conservative shadow Ministers, ask about Crossrail. The big tunelling contracts are all due to be let this summer.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON, 28/04/2010 09:32
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"Nor is Dalston Junction a 'new' station..."
Um, yes it is. The previous one on the site has been closed since 1986, so that's new in my book. Haggerston closed even longer ago, 1940.
"Why the Indians ?"
Shoreditch High Street serves Brick Lane?
"yes, let's hear it for Ken and his cronyism and his crooked advisers and his administrations flagrant wasting of taxpayer's money. Ken was good on travel policy for London but bad bad bad on everything else"
Ah, that'll be why a key Mayoral advisor was recently convicted of fraud. Oh, it was *Boris's* advisor, wasn't it? Ah. Those pesky fact things getting in the way again.
- Tom, London, UK, 28/04/2010 09:03
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Who would want to go to either place? They would seem to be no reason for a connection. They are both dumps and there is nothing worth visiting in between.
- Coylum, Vancouver, Canada, 28/04/2010 07:28
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For many of us in New Cross Gate the “new” East London Line is significantly worse than what we had before and all the hype merely PR spin to disguise the fact.
Previously New Cross Gate was a terminus. When mainline trains to London Bridge arrived overcrowded and impossible to board, the East London Line proved a godsend. As it was the start of the line, you could generally get a seat. Now that trains will be starting from Croydon, there is no likelihood of any passenger from our station doing so in future.
Whether by mainline or London Overground, we will be forced to stand in cattle truck conditions. And just to make certain this is the case, the new East London trains have had most of the seats taken out.
To accommodate the new route from Whitechapel and Hoxton to Croydon, fewer trains will be run on the Southern route into London Bridge where, I suggest, most people from New Cross Gate want to go. Croydon was already perfectly well served by Southern; and the old East London Line to Whitechapel ran sufficiently frequently without any need to reduce the mainline services.
- Malcolm Bacchus, New Cross Gate London, 28/04/2010 01:31
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yes, let's hear it for Ken and his cronyism and his crooked advisers and his administrations flagrant wasting of taxpayer's money. Ken was good on travel policy for London but bad bad bad on everything else
- David Webster, Dulwich, London, 28/04/2010 01:13
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Whats the relevance of the Indians? They`re about the only ethnic group that HAVEN`T settled in Hackney.
- Matt, Islington, 27/04/2010 21:17
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How could BORIS Buffooning/Blustering/Bombastic/....have possibly been voted-in as Mayor 2 years ago?
Come-back KEN KIVINGSTONE Y O U achieved OVERGROUND RAIL, NOT Johnners - the Supercilious!
- TEDWARD HEATH, South-East , London, 27/04/2010 21:11
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Totally disgusting that this bloated oaf should turn up to try to take credit for Ken Livingstone's work. Luckily, all but the dumbest of Londoners know what a fraud he is. How much money is he getting for doing sod-all? He should be sacked for incompetence immediately.
- Bob, Oval, 27/04/2010 20:40
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Is it me, or is this buffoon trying to steal Ken's old clothes? If it wasnt for Ken this project would never gone ahead, let alone be completed. Ken is a real Londoner who cared about London and fully understood the issues both in terms of travel, congestion and living. Bring Back Ken....all is forgiven!!
Please God and London Electorate, save us from this embarrassing, media-hogging idiot!
- SJ, London, 27/04/2010 19:41
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This is Ken's railway. It could only have been started by Boris if he has a Tardis in City Hall!
- Barry Edwards, London, UK, 27/04/2010 19:21
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Shoreditch tube station used to be in zone two. Promotional media during the 4 year line closure have shown the new Shoreditch High Street station in zone two. Now its opened I suddenly notice it is in zone one! How's that been allowed to happen?
- Simon, East London, 27/04/2010 18:26
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The old Shoreditch Station is further east than the new Shoreditch Hig Street Station which is just north of Liverpool Street Station and is in Zone 1 (just about!!)
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 27/04/2010 18:52
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Shoreditch tube station used to be in zone two. Promotional media during the 4 year line closure have shown the new Shoreditch High Street station in zone two. Now its opened I suddenly notice it is in zone one! How's that been allowed to happen?
- Simon, East London, 27/04/2010 18:26
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As the Mighty Boosh said... 'The old and the new combining to make something not quite as good as either'.
- Paul B, London, 27/04/2010 18:10
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How long before it breaksdown?
- Miles, London, 27/04/2010 17:06
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Yes indeed Boris, "the old has been fused with the best of the new" - the initiative and ambition of old mayor Ken Livingstone fused with the attention-seeking and posturing of new mayor Boris Johnson!
- Robin, London, 27/04/2010 16:42
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At long last I will soon able travel from Croydon to East London without having to go through Central London (zone 1).
- Sunjay Bhogal, Croydon, 27/04/2010 16:40
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Bollywood Boris.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark, 27/04/2010 15:52
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I'm not sure that we should be making it easier for people from East London to get into Central or, even worse, West London.
- Carl, London, 27/04/2010 15:34
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Who's the cowboy !!!!
- Mr S.Port, London, 27/04/2010 14:38
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Ahh!!! so these are the new east end cockney indians, my asian friend was telling me about
- Mr S.Port, London, 27/04/2010 14:36
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Merrie,
The reason it won't be stopping at Surrey Canal Road Station is because some toe-rag will nick the wheels of it if it stops long enough in SE14.
- George, London, 27/04/2010 14:22
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BORIS in a SARI - taking the Credit for KEN LIVINGSTONE's Initiative For LONDON OVERGROUND ?
- When, it was BORIS who CANCELLED the VITAL CROSS-RIVER TRAM From CAMDEN to PECKHAM, After £9 MILLIONS had been Spent on Preparation;
Is to CLOSE sections of the OVERGROUND SOUTH LONDON LINE;
'Flush-Away' more MILLIONS, by rubbishing the BENDY-BUSES;
and WASTES Millions on a 'NEW' ROUTE-MASTER ?
- ROGER BAILEY, GROVE PARK, London, 27/04/2010 14:15
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Well done,Boris. Now let's make haste to complete the job with the extension line to Clapham Junction for 2012, then this will be a great railway landmark of the Johnson mayoralty
- patrick, Wandsworth, 27/04/2010 14:02
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So Hackney Downs, Hackney Central, Hackney Wick, Clapton, Homerton, Rectory Road, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill, etc, were/are not 'on the rail map'? Nor is Dalston Junction a 'new' station...
- Confused, Twixt Shoreditch and Hoxton stations, 27/04/2010 13:55
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ipods are bad enough but I will not use this line if it has bloody Bollywood dancers.
- BJ, East London, 27/04/2010 13:38
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The only thing Boris did for this line was to stop the building of the nearest station to where I live - the Surrey Canal Road station.
So when the extension to Clapham is built the Tory-types from West London can get to The City and Canary Wharf much more easily, but us non-Tories in south-east London don't have the same convenience.
So no thanks to Boris, but many many thx to Ken Livingstone
- Merrie, London, 27/04/2010 13:32
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Have all the safety standards been met?
Bob Crow needs to take an urgent look into this.
- Anthony, Esher, Surrey, 27/04/2010 13:21
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Could anybody give me the name of Boris' tailor - so that I will know who to avoid next time I order a suit. The Mayor, the public face of London, looks as though he is dressed in a sack and a more than half full sack at that.
- Mwmbwls, Parsons Green, 27/04/2010 13:15
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I couldn't care less about the politics involved quite frankly - all I care about is once this line is opened to West Croydon it mean all the Canary Wharf commuters along this line will be able to get a Travelcard that excludes Zone 1 which will frankly save them a fortune, as they will now be able to change at Canada Water instead of London Bridge. I wonder how long it will be before TFL make Canada Water a Zone 1 station - God forbid that anyone actually SAVES money!! I would lay money that its made Zone 1 the same week as the new line is openend - call me sceptical....
- Anna, Herts, 27/04/2010 13:14
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Why the Indians ?
- Squiz, Islington, 27/04/2010 13:09
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Oh Boris! Please stop trying to lick the cream off the top….
It’s congratulations to Hackney & Ken Livingston for pushing this. This line was well overdue, although I’m not sure about the new project housing created in Dalston – I’ts a price paid for alowing this scheme to go thru…
- James, London, 27/04/2010 12:51
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Hackney was not without a tube, Manor House is within LBH. Also this is Overground so doesn't count...
- Jacqui Smith's DVD Collection!, Hackney, London, 27/04/2010 12:43
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Many congratulations to former Mayor Ken whose project this is and it demonstrates what can be done when London is controlled by someone who actually cares about London and ordinary Londoners and not just small cliques in tory areas.
The pity is once this scheme is completed other schemses like DLR extensions to Dagenham Dock, Cross River Tram and even tramlink or even a vital river crossing will not follow as Boris played politics with these schemes and simply cancelled them all it a fit of fantasy when elected.
If Cameron is elected next week the same fate will happen to Crossrail and London will soon find that it simply cant afford Tory fantasy economics!!
So where are Boris Johnsons plans to build on the overground a system that is very economical and produces good VFM (e.g extend the overground from Stratford to Enfield Town and/or Chingford>)
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 27/04/2010 11:26
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