Extend London Overground from Barking Riverside to Thamesmead and Abbey Wood

The Issue

East and south-east London need better transport links for neighbourhoods to flourish. 10,000 new homes are planned for Barking Riverside, and 7,000 in Thamesmead. Yet all politicians are offering are new road connections across the Thames - condemning these growing areas to being dependent on cars to get around. 

Transport for London's rightly proposing a new rail link between Barking and Barking Riverside. But this doesn't go far enough. We believe the London Overground service should be extended further, with stations at Thamesmead and Abbey Wood, to connect with Crossrail services.

A cross river rail link would transform Thamesmead, boost Barking, and reduce the need to drive on London's congested streets. It'd be more valuable than any of the road crossings currently proposed.

It would give Thamesmead the rail service it was first promised 40 years ago. A new rail link across the Thames would open up jobs and new opportunities on both sides of the river. New connections would be opened up to Bluewater, Lakeside, Southend Airport and the Olympic Park. And residents could do all this without having to take a car or enduring long bus rides.

So please sign this petition - and let's see London's politicians back a river crossing that'd help us all in the years to come. And please fill in TfL's survey, too, at www.tfl.gov.uk/gospeloak-barking.

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No to Silvertown TunnelPetition Starter
Media enquiries
This petition had 235 supporters

The Issue

East and south-east London need better transport links for neighbourhoods to flourish. 10,000 new homes are planned for Barking Riverside, and 7,000 in Thamesmead. Yet all politicians are offering are new road connections across the Thames - condemning these growing areas to being dependent on cars to get around. 

Transport for London's rightly proposing a new rail link between Barking and Barking Riverside. But this doesn't go far enough. We believe the London Overground service should be extended further, with stations at Thamesmead and Abbey Wood, to connect with Crossrail services.

A cross river rail link would transform Thamesmead, boost Barking, and reduce the need to drive on London's congested streets. It'd be more valuable than any of the road crossings currently proposed.

It would give Thamesmead the rail service it was first promised 40 years ago. A new rail link across the Thames would open up jobs and new opportunities on both sides of the river. New connections would be opened up to Bluewater, Lakeside, Southend Airport and the Olympic Park. And residents could do all this without having to take a car or enduring long bus rides.

So please sign this petition - and let's see London's politicians back a river crossing that'd help us all in the years to come. And please fill in TfL's survey, too, at www.tfl.gov.uk/gospeloak-barking.

avatar of the starter
No to Silvertown TunnelPetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Prime Minister
Responded
“Dear Petitioner, Thank you for your email about the petition calling for an extension of London Overground from Barking Riverside to Thamesmead and Abbey Wood. The Mayor has made the provision of river crossings in east London a priority. In his London Infrastructure Plan 2050, launched this summer, he set out the overwhelming need for additional river crossings to unlock economic growth, jobs and homes in East London. The Mayor’s Transport Authority, Transport for London (TfL), has been taking forward the Mayor’s vision for new crossings through the promotion of a new crossing at Silvertown and further crossings east of Silvertown. TfL recently launched a detailed consultation on the Silvertown Tunnel in the expectation of applying for the powers to build the crossing by the end of 2015. It also ran a consultation on options for a package of river crossings to the east of the proposed Silvertown Tunnel from July to September – this could include a new bridge at Gallions Reach and/or at Belvedere. The Mayor expects to set out his response to this consultation and his long-term vision for river crossings by the end of the year. New links will also open up opportunities to improve cross river public transport. At present only one bus route runs through the Blackwall Tunnel because the frequency of incidents in the tunnel and length of queues make bus journeys unreliable. The new crossings will ease the problem and allow new services to run across the river and out to surrounding areas. Crossings east of Silvertown would be open to all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. The river in east London between Woolwich and Rotherhithe has been crossed five times by rail lines; Crossrail entering service in late 2018 will be a further major public transport crossing. The Mayor introduced the Emirates Air Line Cable Car in 2012 to provide a specific pedestrian and cyclist link across the river. Turning to the specific request in your petition, I am pleased to tell you that the Mayor’s London Infrastructure Plan 2050 already includes the ambition to extend London Overground from Barking Riverside across the Thames. This could provide a connection to Crossrail at Abbey Wood and also open up major regeneration and housing development potential at Thamesmead. The 2050 plan is available on the Greater London Authority (GLA) website at www.london.gov.uk/priorities/business-economy/vision-and-strategy/infrastructure-plan-2050. The proposal is at an early stage of development and further work is needed, including looking at detailed feasibility and how it could be funded. TfL will ensure that the well-developed plans to extend the London Overground to Barking Riverside are compatible with a further extension across the Thames in future. As mentioned above, TfL is currently exploring the need for more river crossings in east London. These proposals would not only enable better road connections but will also improve cross-river public transport. TfL and the GLA will continue to work closely with the relevant London boroughs and interested parties to identify the various opportunities and issues. Yours sincerely Public Liaison Unit ”
Transport For London
Transport For London
Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin, MP
Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin, MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Transport for London
Transport for London
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Petition created on 15 September 2014