The route between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport needs to be expanded, in order to meet increasing passenger numbers and plans for the Upper Lee Valley Opportunity Area. The area will create 15,000 new jobs and over 20,100 new homes by 2031 and four-tracking of the Lee Valley line is vital. A motion agreed by the London Assembly[1] expressed disappointment that the four-tracking of the route has not been prioritised by Network Rail. Joanne McCartney AM, who proposed the motion, said: “Unlocking the potential of the Upper Lea Valley will transform the area creating over 15,000 new jobs and building whole new communities. To realise this vision we urgently need to see an expansion of the rail links between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. There is no need to wait for Crossrail 2, National Rail should commit now to four-tracking the Lea Valley line and reaping the benefits to be gained from better connectivity.” Richard Tracey AM, who seconded the motion, said: “The sooner Crossrail 2 can be delivered the better, and this measure is a vital step towards that goal. Furthermore, it is ridiculous that it takes 45 minutes or more to travel from Liverpool Street to Stansted. The four tracking of the Lea Valley Line is crucial to both these issues and I fully back it.” The full text of the motion is: "This Assembly welcomes the fact that Network Rail is currently consulting on its Anglia route study document, but we are disappointed that it has not prioritised the four-tracking of the route between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. This Assembly notes that the Mayor has announced that Crossrail 2 could be open by 2029 and that would require four tracking of the Lea Valley line, but that Network Rail sees four-tracking as one of the options for meeting passenger demand up to 2043. This Assembly further notes that the document confirms that, “prior to publication of the final Route Study, more detailed work with stakeholders will be undertaken to better understand the benefits and potential funding sources in relation to any early four-tracking to the Lea Valley” This Assembly believes that the Upper Lee Valley Opportunity Area will create over 15,000 new jobs and over 20,100 new homes by 2031 and that four-tracking is vital to support these plans. This Assembly therefore urges Network Rail to work with Transport for London, and other stakeholders, to develop a sound business case and timetable for progressing with four-tracking of the line between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport as soon as possible.” Notes to editors:
The motion was agreed unanimously at a meeting of the full Assembly.
The motion was moved by Val Shawcross on behalf of Joanne McCartney at the meeting.
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Joanne McCartney AM who proposed the motion is available for interviews. Please see contact details below.
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