London mayor Sadiq Khan has added a possible orbital rail line for West London and a proposal for the Sutton Tram extension to an updated 25-year transport strategy for the capital.
The mayor’s office said the strategy, which has been presented to the London Assembly for consideration next week, will 'ensure affordable public transport for all, support London’s economic growth, and create a fairer, greener and healthier city'.
London mayor Sadiq Khan
It said the strategy includes ‘record investment’ in new and improved rail, tube and bus services, an ‘unprecedented focus on walking and cycling’ and a commitment to make the entire transport system zero-emission by 2050.
Following feedback from a consultation on a draft published last summer, the strategy now includes the potential for a West London orbital rail line, connecting Hounslow with Cricklewood and Hendon via Old Oak, Neasden and Brent Cross.
This new line would be delivered through TfL, the West London Alliance, boroughs and Network Rail.
The strategy also contains a specific proposal to work with the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton to develop the proposed Sutton Tram extension.
Mr Khan said: ‘I’ve been clear that we need to be bold in how our city operates as London’s population grows, and this means not only investing record amounts in new infrastructure like extensions to the tube, rail and Crossrail 2, but working with boroughs and local communities to reduce our reliance on car use across London.
‘With our unprecedented focus on walking, cycling and clean public transport, our ambitious Transport Strategy can act as a crucial driver for new homes and jobs, but also improve quality of life for everyone living in London.’
The strategy also sets out plans for new Tube trains and signalling to provide more frequent and reliable services, the opening of the Elizabeth line (Crossrail), extensions to the DLR and Overground, new ‘green’ buses and taxis, new river crossings, and ‘the transformation of London’s streets to make walking, cycling and public transport the most appealing and practical choices for Londoners’.
The strategy also reiterates ‘how vital Crossrail 2 and a transformed suburban rail metro service are for the capital’s future economy, jobs and homes’.
It also confirms that the mayor, through TfL, will continue to support the construction and operation of the Silvertown Tunnel, which has been delayed and thrown into doubt by a central government decision to examine the air quality implication.
Across the next two decades, the Mayor’s Transport Strategy will include:
- Major transport schemes including the Elizabeth line, Northern Line extension, Crossrail 2, Bakerloo line extension and the Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf crossing.
- Billions to be invested in delivering the Healthy Streets Approach across all London boroughs.
- Forging ahead with Crossrail 2,
- Record breaking investment across the entire Tube network
- Dramatically improving air quality across London and making London a zero-emission city.
- Improving accessibility across London to enable all Londoners, including disabled and older people, to travel spontaneously and independently.
Other amendments following the consultation are:
- Continued focus on prioritising bus services in outer London.
- Supporting the freight and logistics industry to reduce impact of deliveries while ensuring they remain efficient and accessible across London.
- Ensuring that a Vision Zero approach applies to the whole transport system. This radical change to how London approaches road danger will aim for no one to be killed in or by a London bus by 2030, and for all deaths and serious injuries from road collisions to be eliminated from London’s streets by 2041.
- Working with Government, local boroughs and developers across London to secure revenue to deliver vital transport infrastructure.
- Increased focus on the opportunities from new technology
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