PLANS to extend the Circle Line on the London Underground next month has caused a storm at City Hall. Improving the line will have a knock-on effect of causing more overcrowding on the Circle’s Hammersmith & City sister’ line in East London, claims one London Assembly member John Biggs

By Mike Brooke

PLANS to extend the Circle Line on the London Underground next month has put City Hall in a spin.

Improving the line will have a knock-on effect of causing more overcrowding on the Circle’s Hammersmith & City sister’ line in East London, claims London Assembly member John Biggs.

Passengers travelling to East London are set to suffer reduced services, he warns.

The Circle Line trains from December 13 add an extra run to Hammersmith on the other side of London once they’ve completed a loop, then return to the loop using the same tracks as the Hammersmith & City.

Passengers will benefit from more frequent trains that side of town, but not those travelling eastward after Liverpool Street where the Hammersmith & City branches away from the Circle.

The frequency is being reduced from seven trains an hour to six heading to Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Mile End and on to Barking.

“Passengers in the west get a good deal, but the East End is not so fortunate,” Biggs protested.

“This stretch is in huge demand and is already overcrowded. Reducing the service will make this worse.

“Those trying to get to the East End will suffer a more crowded and less frequent service.”

The Assembly member who represents East London says he is cynical about Transport for London claims that reducing train frequency will not have a bad impact on passengers along this section of the Underground.