Transport Studies Group

Jubilee Line Extension Impact Study Unit

Contact: Prof. Peter White

About the Jubilee Line Extension

The Jubilee Line Extension (JLE), came into full operation in the late autumn of 1999. The extension represents the most significant addition to the London Underground System since the completion of the original Jubilee Line 20 years earlier. Construction commenced in late 1993.

The 16 kilometre extension, which runs from Green Park (in London's West End) to Stratford (in East London) through parts of South London and the Docklands. There are eleven new stations and six of these stations provide local access (for residential and business communities) to the underground for the first time.

About the Impact Study

Transport for London - Jubilee Line Extension Impact Study

It was believed that the Jubilee Line Extension would have significantly wider benefits than those considered in the conventional social cost benefit assessment of the time; these included only the financial and transportation effects. The process did not capture the potential regeneration effects of:

• overcoming the barrier of the Thames by the provision of four additional river crossings;
• improving access to inner city areas (particularly Bermondsey);
• unlocking development potential and invigorating local communities.

The study was therefore intended to investigate these incompletely understood relationships, and identify the extent to which these benefits have materialised.

London Transport (LT), supported by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) agreed that the impact of such a major investment in London's public transport network should be monitored and assessed. They also appreciated that this process needed to start well before the new line opened.

The aims set for the study were:

• To understand how the extension has affected London; and
• To improve appraisal and forecasting techniques.

The Co-ordinating Unit

The Jubilee Line Extension Impact Study Unit (JLEISU), which is based in the Transport Studies Group at the University of Westminster, was set up in early 1997 to help coordinate and provide an independent focus for the Impact Study. During the remainder of 1997 and early 1998, the JLEISU developed the study methodology in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL, formerly London Transport) and the Department for Transport (DfT, formerly the DETR).

The methodology identified the need for a series of studies and supporting surveys of particular topics. The work was conducted by a number of different consultants.

Working Papers

The Working Papers are grouped thematically and by number. Most are now available to download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format:

JLE Working Papers listed by number

JLE Working Papers listed by theme

• Background and Methodology;
• Summary Reports;
• Transport Systems and Travel;
• Land Use and Development;
• Property Market;
• Economic Activity and Labour Market;
• Socio-Demographic Impacts;
• Resident's Perceptions;
• Visitor Activity;
• Environment;
• Townscape;
• Agents of Change.

A small number of Working papers are not available for download. Due to confidentiality issues a small number of reports can not be made available.

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