Travel Connections

The region's proximity to central London means that London Thames Gateway residents are ideally placed to benefit from the capital's improving public transport infrastructure, currently the fastest growing network in the UK.

Key to this is the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) which was recently extended to London City Airport and will connect to Woolwich in 2009. Putting commuters on the right track, this provides essential service from those working in the city or looking to travel there to go shopping or enjoy a night out. Services every seven to 10 minutes, and a journey time of less than 45 minutes to central London, makes the extended DLR a real bonus for local residents.

Travelling further a field is just as simple. The region's extensive road networks and proximity to the M25 make journeys to other parts of the UK easy.

Additionally, London City Airport offers the global traveller easy access to the continent, flying direct to 38 destinations served by 15 airlines. The airport, which recently published a new Masterplan to increase passenger numbers without the need for a new runway, plays an important role in the ongoing regeneration of east London and will be key in serving the 2012 Olympics. It also currently boasts the highest proportion of passengers using rail than any other London airport and with shorter journeys to and from the airport, has a smaller impact on the environment. 

High Speed 1 is Britain's first major new railway for over a century and will provide a new transport hub in London Thames Gateway at Stratford. The new High Speed 1 service from St. Pancras International is now open and has cut 20 minutes from journey times to the Continent, bringing customers and employees closer to London Thames Gateway businesses. Commuter services to the new Stratford International Station will start in 2010.

There is also the prospect of a green light for the Thames Gateway Bridge, the first new road bridge in the London area since 1991 when the QE2 Bridge was built. A new bridge will link the communities on the north and south sides of the river, providing valuable routes for commuters and industry.

The only Underground line not to travel through Zone One, The East London Line is being considerably extended. The East London Line route will link north and south, travelling between Highbury & Islington, through Canada Water with its connection to the Jubilee Line, and down to places not previously on the Underground network including Brockley and Forest Hill. In terms of commuter infrastructure, the East London Line extension, due to open in 2010, will have a considerable and highly positive impact on the local communities north and south of the river.