Report and further consultation on Bakerloo Line extension

The reason is for a new Bakerloo line station and platforms which would give better interchange between the Northern line, the other reason would also do do away with the Bakerloo lifts, not sure it the Northern line lifts would remain

As with the Northern line extension the new tunnels will have to be larger to accommodate a walkway for emergency escape purposes beside the track.

The original overrun tunnels are effectively gone, indeed a proportion of them was swallowed up with the extension of the station platforms and the start of the new sidings. The small amount of both sidings remaining was then backfilled with concrete IIRC - certainly there’s no access possible now. Given how little is left I can’t see much value in attempting to re-use them.

The current station layout is a mess, and I can see why it’s easier to start from a blank sheet. For example it’s not really adequate that the Northern Line platforms have to be used as a walking route to get to/from the Bakerloo Line to the shopping centre exit.

If it does apply to new passenger services then TfL would be able to seek a derogation for the existing tunnel length. My guess is that such would be granted in the circumstances, but as this is, as you say, theoretically we are unlikely to ever know for certain.

I see no reason why any tunnel that is currently used for passenger services would not be able to continue to be used for passenger services. After all there will be no emergency walkways on the parts of the Kennington loop between Kennington and the extension tunnels.

If the tunnel has been filled in how can it be retained for ventilation and as an emergency exit?

You appear to be talking about multiple tunnels: 1) a tunnel filled with concrete. 2) a tunnel that has ventilation shafts. 3) an existing tunnel that may or may not need an emergency walkway if used as a running tunnel (A tunnel that is not used as a running tunnel will not need an emergency walkway, regardless of the purpose it is put to.)

2 and 3 might be the same tunnel, but 1 cannot be the same as 2 and/or 3.

Not at all surprised to see some big transport projects shelved due to the state of TfL and the wider economy, but disappointing to see South East London overlooked for transport once again.

I've said this before, prior to the Victoria Line being built, look how many UG lines are actually south of the river?

Even a minor extension to Sutton from Morden on the Northern Line never got going.

Last Thursday ASLEF District 8 told reps that TfL have confirmed that the Bakerloo extension has been shelved due to the financial impact of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Unless Sadiq finds £2-3bn down the back of the sofa this is an ex-project

Pedant point - the extension did happen but in a different form, now part of the Thameslink Sutton/Wimbledon loop. The LER abandoned the proposal to go as far as Sutton as part of political wranglings with the Southern Railway, and it ended up being built as the conventional railway line instead.

Of course this means there's no direct link from Morden to Sutton, and I think the loss of that link from Mordern is probably worth bemoaning. In the event it's an interesting dilemma - would people prefer a 2tph service of big NR trains or a more frequent service of smaller tube trains? There's also the question of whether northbound Northern trains starting at Sutton would be full by Colliers Wood in the morning peak, much as they're full by Clapham now. Incidentally it's all very similar to the decisions facing planners and Hayes line residents with regards to the Bakerloo extension.

TfL hope for funding to complete response to last consultation, finalise desired route and establish safeguarding so it can be built if ever money becomes available. But they are still awaiting agreement on funding for the second half of the current year (from 18 October 2020) to ensure trains continue running!

The link is most likely to appear in the form of an extension to Tramlink, should the required funding ever be found.

The Bakerloo project as an active project will be stopped at the safeguard the route phase. I'm not surprised, it might come back after Covid has bitten the dust, it might not. My crystal ball is no better than anyone else's. I really hope it does come back, and a pity they now loose the open the extension along with ordering new trains, as they could have chucked re-signalling in at the same time and got a super upgraded service out of it. Poor Bakerloo - throughout its history it has always had its southern extension kicked into the long grass and got hand me down rolling stock.