I’m delighted that Geoff Hoon MP, Secretary of State for Transport, has agreed to the demand that I and South London MPs made to give the go-ahead to the East London Line Phase 2b.

People were expecting it to happen and it would have been terrible if the London Mayor, Boris Johnson had pulled the plug on it. I am delighted our Transport Secretary of State stepped in to stop that happening and the new line will go ahead.

This means phase two of the East London Line will be constructed before the 2012 Games. The scheme will link Surrey Quays on the East London line extension to Clapham Junction, providing vital links through Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye and Queens Road Peckham.
Many of my constituents have also contacted me about the EAST CROYDON - LONDON BRIDGE SERVICE via Peckham Rye and the cancelation of the off peak 2tph (trains per hour) service in mid-December.

The franchise for South Central is current open to tender. I have written to the Department for Transport and all potential franchisees stating that I will support any bid that reinstates this link and addresses the imbalance of services between peak and off peak times.