‘No engineering constraints’ to extending Northern line to Clapham Junction, council finds

The Council is investigating the potential to further extend the London Underground line – which in recent years was extended to Nine Battersea Power Station – as part of its masterplan for the Clapham Junction area.

Clapham Junction station is currently served by London Overground, South Western Railway, Southern Rail and Gatwick Express services. It is the UK station with the most interchange movements, reaching 21M annually before the pandemic. Network Rail is currently carrying out a £35M makeover of Clapham Junction to increase space and improve passenger flow.

The investigation into possibilities of extending the Northern Line was launched in early 2023, when it was warned that it is likely to be  “extremely complex”.

Now, the conclusions of the initial feasibility report into extending the Northern Line are outlined in documents presented to Wandsworth Council’s Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Aside from the reported lack of engineering constrants for the Northern line extension, the document goes on to say: “A tube service could attract additional transport users, ease overcrowding on existing rail and bus services and support additional development in the Clapham Junction area – at the same time a Northern Line connecting Clapham Junction to Waterloo could replicate to an extent the service already provided by South Western railway.

“Transport for London (TfL) are also reported to be reviewing the safeguarded route for Crossrail 2 – land at Clapham Junction is safeguarded for Crossrail 2 and if Crossrail 2 were to be resurrected it would provide a direct rail link between Balham/Tooting, Clapham Junction and Central London.”

Clapham Junction Masterplan

Wandsworth Council has been working with architects WW+P (Weston Williamson) on its masterplan for the Clapham Junction area since December 2023. It is also working with stakeholders the Greater London Authority, TfL, Network Rail and landowners.

The aim of the masterplanning work is to “consider the transport connections needed to best meet the emerging aspirations for the area in terms of new homes and jobs, and for the station itself which is in serious need of improvement”.

Reporting on the progress of this work, the document states: “The first stage of the work has been addressing the opportunity to resolve the station’s issues with circulation and capacity whilst also enabling better access across the railway from north to south for the benefit of both passengers and non-passengers.

“Conceptual crossings that can achieve this have been defined and agreed by the partners, and work is ongoing to establish the theoretical feasibility and viability of these options and their potential impact on Clapham Junction more broadly, with a view to engaging with the community in in 2025.

“The Falcon Road underpass is marginally too far east to contribute to a new station entrance or a solution to present station capacity issues, but it will remain a freely available, important and vital link across the railway between Clapham Junction communities.”

Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here.