Sadiq Khan pledges TfL Bakerloo line extension stopgap to run from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham if elected

Sadiq Khan has pledged to bring in a “Bakerloop” express bus service between Elephant and Castle and Lewisham if re-elected as mayor of London.

The bus route would follow the proposed route of the Bakerloo Line extension to Lewisham, with stops at Burgess Park, Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate, running alongside the existing 21 and 453 services.

Mr Khan’s pledge follows the the launch of the Superloop buses in outer London, including the SL3 link from Thamesmead to Bexleyheath, Sidcup and Bromley, and the SL5 from Bromley to Croydon.

The final service in the “loop”, the SL2 from North Woolwich to Walthamstow, launched last month. 

Labour says the Bakerloop express bus service would be paid for from within existing Transport for London (TfL) budgets.

The Bakerloo line extension would see the line extend south from its current Elephant and Castle terminus to Lewisham via the Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate.

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TfL says there is the potential for a phase two of the extension, beyond Lewisham into Hayes and Beckenham Junction.

The authority estimates that at least 10,000 new local jobs, 85,000 additional local jobs within 45 minutes of Lewisham, and 50,000 new homes would be supported by the Bakerloo extension.

Labour says Mr Khan is “working hard” with government ministers to finalise details of the Bakerloo Tube extension, with construction set to commence by the end of the decade.

Mr Khan said: “The new Superloop services have been a huge success in outer London so far, and if I’m re-elected the new Bakerloop Express will help Londoners get between Elephant & Castle, Old Kent Road, New Cross and Lewisham much quicker and more easily. 

“I continue to make the case as strongly as ever that we need the Bakerloo line Tube extension to get underway as soon as possible, and TfL are lobbying ministers about the funding the project needs. In the meantime I’m determined that we do all we can to provide the very best service across south London.”

Kieron Williams, Labour leader of Southwark Council said: "This express connection is great news for south London, cutting journey times along the Old Kent Road to Elephant and delivering a much-needed transport upgrade ahead of the extension of the Bakerloo Line.

“It's yet another investment in our community from the Labour mayor of London. We're already working with Sadiq to upgrade Elephant and Castle station and to deliver thousands of new jobs and truly affordable homes along the Old Kent Road. This new express service will keep all of this work moving forward at pace."

LondonWorld has contacted the Department for Transport for comment.

The mayoral election will be held on May 2 and it will be the seventh time Londoners have gone to the polls to elect a mayor.

A total of 13 candidates are standing to be mayor, and this year will be the first time the election uses the first-past-the-post system, replacing the previous 'supplementary vote'.