Tessa Jowell MP

Tessa Jowell was joined by Harriet Harman MP, GLA Member Val Shawcross and supporters from across the political spectrum at a rally to launch the campaign to Save the South London Line at Denmark Hill Station.

Undertakings that the South London Line would be diverted after 2012 to preserve a regular service into Victoria have been reversed by TfL.

The Department for Transport has provided the vast majority of funding to help bring the long-awaited East London Line Extension (ELLX) to Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye. But it appears that TfL's major contribution to the cost of the project is to require the South London Line to be scrapped. The savings made will form TfL's 'contribution' to funding the ELLX project.

Tessa Jowell said: 'This campaign is all-party and all community - people who depend upon a proper and reliable service to London Bridge and Victoria.

'There are major problems with TfL's plans to scrap the proposed replacement for the South London Line service.

'I want to see the South London Line continue in its current form or even be enhanced to serve more destinations. There must be at least 4 trains an hour to Victoria with services in the evenings and on Sundays. And with many people travelling between the hospitals at King's and Guys' along with commuters, a reliable and regular service to London Bridge is absolutely essential.

'I will be working with colleagues and campaigners to put pressure on TfL, the Mayor and the Department for Transport to reverse this ill thought out decision'.