Mayor resurrects Palace route he axed

TRAMS are to run into Crystal Palace, Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced.

He claims local pressure about the importance of the extension to residents and businesses has prompted him to reinstate the project as part of his transport plans.

Mr Johnson’s announcement last Thursday came just a fortnight after Ken Livingstone, his Labour opponent in next year’s Mayoral elections, said he would make extending Tramlink to Crystal Palace his top priority.

And the Labour camp has been quick to question how seriously Mr Johnson’s pledge should be taken.

Former Croydon Council leader, Val Shawcross, who will become deputy mayor if Mr Livingstone is elected and would also be likely to become chair of Transport for London (TfL), said: “The latest TfL business plan running until 2014/15 was published on Monday and while Tramlink is mentioned there is nothing in it about an extension to Crystal Palace.”

She claimed the plan also showed that capital expenditure for Tramlink over the same period was limited to a £3m a year rolling programme.

Building the extension has been estimated at between £60m and £170m.

Ms Shawcross said: “I am glad the Mayor has recognised the importance of the extension project, but he has not mentioned where the money to achieve it will be generated.”

She said if Mr Livingstone was elected he would revise the TfL transport strategy to reinstate the extension, abandoned by Mr Johnson when he was elected in 2008.

Ms Shawcross said: “I think the Mayor has simply made a pre-election announcement. He has been spooked by Ken’s public commitment to the extension.”

When Mr Johnson made his announcement last Thursday he would not be drawn on when the extension would open or how the project would be financed.

Mr Johnson said: “We will now be looking at the whole scheme in detail.

“There will be issues around the timing and we will be looking at ways of financing it. Travelling on the tram today, I know what a marvellous mode of transport it is.”