Improving connectivity - Transport moves forward in Thames Gateway London
Thames Gateway London offers a central location at the hub of Europe and close to the capital. Exceptional regional, national and international connections are vital to the continuing economic success of the area which is why Gateway to London are strongly supporting plans to improve the region's transport infrastructure which is currently growing faster than anywhere else in the UK.
The last few months have seen many of these plans move forward and several new proposals announced that will continue this growth as well as preparing East London for the Olympic Games in 2012.
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR), now an integral part of Thames Gateway London, saw the opening of an extension to London City Airport and King George V dock in December, furthering its vital support role for businesses and local communities. The new 4.4km route from Canning Town, which runs through the southern part of the Royal Docks and also stops at West Silvertown and Pontoon Dock, provides services every 7 to 10 minutes and is now the quickest direct airport transfer to and from central London. This also means that business travellers can be in Canary Wharf within 14 minutes and the City in 22 minutes after arriving at London City Airport.
Work is also now well underway on a further 2.5km DLR extension from King George V under the Thames to Woolwich Arsenal. Due to open in early 2009, this will provide an alternative crossing of the River Thames and create a link for Woolwich to Canary Wharf and the City that will enhance access to jobs and amenities. Together with the City Airport link, the proposed conversion of the North London Line to form the Stratford International extension, and phase 1 of the East London Line extension from Dalston Junction to West Croydon, these schemes will all be operational for the 2012 Olympics.
At London City Airport itself, a new masterplan has been published for consultation which sets out growth plans in response to the Government's Aviation White Paper. The airport will be developed in two time frames; from now until 2015 and from 2015 to 2030, to ultimately be able to support 8 million passengers a year and provide 4,000 jobs. This growth will be accommodated without the need for a second runway or by changing its hours of operation. It will be a further boost to the region's economy and continues to be a key contributor to business competitiveness.
www.londoncityairport.com/masterplan
London City Airport, which celebrated its 10th anniversary on 29 May and was voted the UK's favorite airport earlier this year by travel magazine Wanderlust, has also secured a number of new airlines and routes in the last few months, including British Airways flights to Milan and Scandinavian Air Services flights to Stockholm.
Road travel in Thames Gateway London may also be set for a boost following the public inquiry into the Thames Gateway Bridge which closed in May. Gateway to London gave evidence in support of the bridge proposal which would provide a vital link for the region, particularly for the region's logistics companies, connecting the junction of the A406/A13 in Beckton on the north side of the River Thames to the A2016 in Thamesmead on the south side. If approved, the bridge would significantly reduce journey times and open up access to employment opportunities across the region. The inquiry's inspectors have indicated that their report to the Secretaries of State will be submitted by the end of October meaning that if consent is granted, the bridge could be operational by 2013/14.
And finally, the plans for Crossrail continue to progress with a House of Commons Select Committee currently considering the detail of the bill and various petitions. The Committee recently announced a number of proposed changes to the scheme which have either addressed concerns from businesses and local people or are aimed at improving the project's design. These include the reintroduction to the parliamentary bill of Woolwich Station following robust representations from the London Borough of Greenwich. Called 'Additional Provisions' these include plans for a station at Maryland on Leytonstone High Road, Stratford, Newham and can be viewed as part of an information round at various locations along the proposed route between 11 September and 3 October to explain the changes and keep people up to date on the project. For further details visit http://www.crossrail.co.uk/ or call the Crossrail helpline at any time on 0845 602 3813.
Gateway to London remains committed to Crossrail as the scheme is vital to London and the Thames Gateway providing a key East-West link and the only transport capability that can cope with the capital's forecast population and economic growth. More specifically for Thames Gateway London, it will open up the region to other parts of the capital, the South East of England and the rest of the UK bringing new opportunities and more jobs to Europe's fastest growing business district.
