THE refurbished East London Line is now open to the public, Transport for London has announced. Mayor of London Boris Johnson was at the new Dalston Junction Station this morning to officially reopen the first phase of the extended line which will see eig

THE refurbished East London Line is now open to the public, Transport for London has announced.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson was at the new Dalston Junction Station this morning to officially reopen the first phase of the extended line which will see eight trains an hour run through the East End to New Cross Gate.

Trains will only run between 7am and 8pm Monday-Friday for the time being, with full evening and weekend services coming into action on Saturday, May 23 when 12 trains will run every hour.

Trains will travel through the new Shoreditch High Street Station as well as refurbished stations at Whitechapel, Shadwell and Wapping.

Mr Johnson said: "This new railway will bring jobs and opportunities to communities up and down the line, massively improving access for hundreds of thousands of people.

"In this �1 billion upgrade, the old has been fused with the best of the new - the Victorian genius of Brunel's tunnel under the Thames now comprises part of a network of almost space-age stations, which will soon form an orbital railway around the Capital.

"This type of investment is essential if London, throwing off the shackles of recession, is to emerge with the ability to grow, prosper, and secure its position at the summit of world cities, to the benefit of all Londoners."

Oyster cards work on the new trains which have no doors separating the carriages, meaning passengers are able to walk the length of the train.

Work is continuing to extend the East London Line to Highbury and Islington by next spring and branch to Clapham Junction is planned by 2012.