13.11.14
Northern Line extension to Battersea gets the go-ahead
The extension of the London Underground’s Northern Line to Battersea has been given the go-ahead by the Department for Transport.
The £1bn project will see two new stations built at Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, along a new branch from Kennington.
It is hoped the extension will generate 24,000 new jobs and over 18,000 new homes, while during construction the project will support around 1,000 jobs. The developers behind the regeneration projects will be funding the costs of the project, via a special funding package organised between the Mayor’s office and the government.
Following transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s approval of the project, construction will start as soon as spring next year. Over three miles of new tunnels will be constructed and the new stations are to be opened by 2020.
Once up and running it is expected the extension will cut journey times to the West End to as little as 15 minutes. By 2020 LU is planning to increase train frequencies on the Northern line to at least 30 trains per hour with the introduction of new trains.
Mike Brown MVO, managing director of London Underground, said: “This vital new part of the Underground network will support and enable growth in an area that is rapidly developing. By 2020 we will have created over three miles of new tunnels and two brand new stations that will transform transport links to the area.”
London mayor, Boris Johnson, added: “I am delighted we can confirm that early next year the spades will be hitting the ground for the creation of the Northern line extension. Driven by improved transport links this part of central London is set to move forward a century in a matter of a few years, supporting 24,000 new jobs and more than 18,000 new homes. The benefits of major infrastructure projects such as this are enormous – cutting journey times for passengers, supporting London's future growth and creating jobs right across the UK.”
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