BREAKING NEWS: Boris vows to get tram extension back on track (From Croydon Guardian)

Boris vows to get Crystal Palace tram extension back on track

12:44pm Thursday 24th March 2011 in Local news Exclusive By Mike Didymus and Harry Miller

BREAKING NEWS: Boris vows to get tram extension back on track

The Mayor of London has vowed to push through the stalled tram extension to Crystal Palace, despite no concrete plans on how to pay for it.

The much vaunted £170m plan was abandoned in November 2008 due to lack of funding, alongside £3bn of other transport projects across the capital.

But Boris Johnson confirmed on a tram trip today the scheme was back on the agenda ahead of the looming mayoral elections in 2012.

He said: "It's always been our ambition to extend the Croydon Tramlink.

"Today we announce we're going to extend it to Crystal Palace.

"Id like to pay particular tribute to Councillor Steve O'Connell for his lobbying.

"Going on the tram today shows what a fantastic mode of transport it really is.

"We'll look at the costings... and we'll look at making more detailed plans."

Previous plans for the scheme were scrapped in November 2008 in favour of improving the Tube, introducing a modern Routemaster bus, and funding the Crossrail project to build a new east-west railway across London.

Mr Johnson's Labour opponent in the mayoral race, Ken Livingstone, has already promised to get the extension back on track after criticising the Mayor for dropping the scheme.

Councillor Steve O'Connell, GLA Assembly Member Croydon and Sutton said: "I'm delighted that Mayor Boris has announced his commitment to deliver the tram extension to Crystal Palace.

"This is fantastic news for the residents and businesses in that community, and I am pleased that my lobbying has paid off.

"And on the back of his announcement that in partnership with Croydon Council will also put an extra 10 trams on the tracks, this shows that Croydon is very much one of Boris's priority areas."