Transport for London (TfL) is advancing ambitious plans to extend the Bakerloo line into South London, with construction expected to start in the 2030s and the full route operational by 2040. The extension would run from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, potentially adding three brand-new stations, with speculation of further expansion beyond Lewisham.
Proposed New Stations on the Bakerloo Extension
TfL has identified Burgess Park and Old Kent Road as likely locations for new stations. Currently, the nearest Tube stations to Burgess Park are Kennington and Oval on the Northern line, with South Bermondsey National Rail to the east and Queens Road Peckham Overground to the southeast. The Old Kent Road station would sit between Burgess Park and New Cross Gate, which already serves Overground and National Rail. Lewisham is a DLR and National Rail hub.
Residents in Ladywell believe the extension could be transformative. Documents from February 2025 show TfL's map indicating new stops at Burgess Park and Old Kent Road, plus new Tube services at existing interchanges New Cross Gate and Lewisham.
Metropolitan Line Extension: Abandoned
In contrast, plans to extend the Metropolitan line into Hertfordshire have been shelved permanently. The Croxley Rail Link project proposed two new stations beyond London: Cassiobridge and Watford Vicarage Road. Under the plan, trains would bypass Watford station, running to Cassiobridge, then Watford Vicarage Road, continuing to Watford High Street and Watford Junction. Originally due for completion in 2020, the project was suspended in 2017.
Hertfordshire County Council is now considering alternative uses for the disused track between Watford and Croxley, following the cancellation.
Impact and Next Steps
The Bakerloo extension would improve connectivity in southeast London, reducing reliance on buses and National Rail. TfL is seeking funding to proceed, with a projected completion by 2040. The Metropolitan line extension's cancellation leaves Watford without a direct Tube link, though Overground and National Rail services remain.
According to TfL, the Bakerloo extension could unlock new housing and economic growth along the route. No official timeline has been set for funding approval, but TfL is pushing for progress in the next decade.
