Members of the London Assembly's Transport Committee have met with Mayor of London Boris Johnson to urge him to step up efforts to secure funding for the second phase of the East London Line extension.

The Mayor is currently discussing options with Transport for London and the Department for Transport to identify funding for Phase 2, which would extend the East London Line from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction and complete the vision of an orbital railway for London.

It is estimated that completing the orbital route would increase the number of passengers carried to 50 million per year - a huge return for a relatively low investment in transport infrastructure terms.

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While the full scheme cost is calculated at £105 million, changes to the scope and other identified savings mean the actual grant funding needed to facilitate Phase 2 by 2011 is £24 million.

The extension would relieve overcrowding at London Bridge station, allow people to circumnavigate central London, and increase access to the East End from south London - which is particularly important in light of the pressures that will be put on the capital's public transport system during the 2012 Games.

Val Shawcross, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said: "Phase 2 of the East London Line extension must be delivered. Ultimately everyone in the capital would benefit and I would hate to see this major infrastructure project lost in a game of funding tennis between the Mayor's office and government."

(CD/NS)