TfL Bakerloo line extension: What is it, where will it go, what new stations are being proposed?

For many living in south-east London, the long-awaited Bakerloo line extension will be key to improving transport services in a poorly connected part of the capital.

Proposals to extend the line south from its current Elephant and Castle terminus have been knocking around for years, with the first consultation held on the project back in 2014.

Since then, there have been further consultations in 2017 and 2019, though it remains unknown when, and if, work will begin.

It has been backed by groups including London Councils, a cross-party organisation representing the capital’s boroughs, and Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, has described it as “the answer” to some of south London’s transport woes.

But what is the Bakerloo line extension, and will it ever happen?

Where will the Bakerloo line be extended to?

The current plans for the Bakerloo line extension would see it continue heading south-east from Elephant and Castle down to Lewisham.

This would take passengers through stops at Burgess Park, Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate, before ending at Lewisham station.

As part of the work, Transport for London (TfL) says it would build a new ticket hall at Elephant and Castle, the two new stations at Burgess Park and Old Kent Road, plus a new stop at New Cross Gate to improve connectivity to National Rail, Overground and buses.

Improvements to Lewisham station are also in the plans, to enable better access to National Rail, DLR and buses.

There is furthermore the potential for a phase two of the extension, beyond Lewisham into Hayes and Beckenham Junction.

According to its webpage on the project, this phase would “involve converting the national Rail line via Catford to Hayes to a London Underground operation”.

Why has work not begun on the Bakerloo line extension?

According to TfL and the mayor, Sadiq Khan, work is unable to be carried out until a long-term funding deal is agreed with government.

The current settlement, which was agreed in August 2022 for a total of £1.2 billion, is scheduled to last until the end of March 2024, or until TfL becomes “financially sustainable”.

However, in 2021, former transport secretary Grant Shapps’ office issued directions to safeguard the route down to Lewisham, meaning it is protected from other future development.

The transport authority’s commissioner, Andy Lord, told LondonWorld: “We have the route safeguarded all the way down to Lewisham, we would like to get the capital and approval for that as well, to build the extension from Elephant and Castle.

“The developers at Elephant and Castle are already building the station box to have Elephant and Castle ready for the extension should we get approval for it.

“Again we think there’s a very strong business case for that. We’re refreshing the numbers to see how we can make a case to the government for that.”

Mr Lord said though that TfL first needs to complete upgrade work on the Piccadilly line, before it can work on the Bakerloo line extension if approval is granted.

LondonWorld previously reported how some work had begun on party of the design work for the project, in order to enter into discussions with potential developers on the route between Southwark and Lewisham.

Support for the Bakerloo line extension

The proposal has received backing from groups including London Councils, which said it could unlock over 110,000 new homes and 130,000 jobs.

Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, described it as “the answer” to some of the connectivity issues in south-east London, after the lack of options to Lewisham residents was raised at a mayoral event in June.

A TfL spokesperson previously said: “Extending the Bakerloo line and upgrading the existing line would connect an historically under-served part of London to the Tube network, while unlocking thousands of new homes that London needs and supporting new jobs.

“We remain committed to delivering the scheme when the time is right but are dependent on a long-term government funding settlement. We are restarting a limited piece of work to confirm elements of the tunnel design, which we hope will enable us to have constructive discussions with potential developers along the route. We seek to continue to work with the government on a viable long-term funding package so the project can be delivered in the future.”