The Anonymous Widower

Construction Has Started On The Silvertown Tunnel

These pictures show that construction has started on the Silverton Tunnel.

Note that New Civil Engineer is reporting that tunnelling has started.

My Current Thoughts On The Silvertown Tunnel

In 2015, I wrote No To Silvertown Tunnel, which I started with these two paragraphs.

My personal feelings about the Silvertown Tunnel are that it is irrelevant to me, except that it might help some trucks bring goods that I buy online or at a local shop. Although as a sixty-eight year-old-widower living alone, I don’t think my transport needs through the tunnel will be high.

I don’t drive after my stroke and I like that lifestyle, except when last night it took me three trains, a coach and a taxi to get back from watching football at Ipswich. But that tortuous late night journey was caused because NuLabor spent my tax money on pointless wars that will haunt us for generations, rather than in extending and renewing our rail system, that will nurture and enrich our future.

But my objections to the Silvertown Tunnel have changed and expanded.

New Transport Infrastructure Attracts Passengers

This may seem obvious, but there has been several cases recently in London to prove my point.

• The London Overground has been a success beyond Transport for London’s wildest dreams and as an example the North London Line, that started with three x three-car trains per hour (tph) is now running eight x five-car tph. This is a four time increase in capacity.
• New buses and contactless ticketing have encouraged more passengers to use the buses.
• Electrification and new trains has transformed the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.
• The expansion of Thameslink and new trains now carries a lot more North-South traffic through London.
• Every time, a new section of the Elizabeth Line opens more passengers are attracted to the new line.
• The remodelling of London Bridge station has increased passenger numbers. And shoppers!

On a personal note, I live on a bus corridor, that runs between North London and Moorgate for the Lizzie Line. Since the Lizzie Line has been fully connected, passenger numbers have risen by a big margin.

I don’t believe that the ability to attract more traffic of the Silvertown Tunnel will be any different.

More Traffic Means More Congestion And Pollution

I live close to the Balls Pond Road, which increasingly seems to be a truck route across North London.

The Silvertown Tunnel will be two lanes each way; one for trucks and buses, and one for smaller vehicles.

I can’t see that pollution and congestion around the Silvertown Tunnel and on the routes to the tunnel, will not increase.

There Is Little Or No Provision For Cyclists And Pedestrians

This will be a big problem. Especially, as the local traffic in the area will increase dramatically.

Does Central London Have Enough Parking For The Increased Traffic?

Parking in Central London is probably close to capacity now!

So What Would I Do?

Given that construction has already started, I feel it is too late to cancel.

Better Alternatives Than Driving

I feel measures should be adopted that provide better alternatives than driving.

Obviously, this won’t help with trucks, but it could reduce the total number of vehicles going through the tunnel.

These could include.

• Increase the frequency of trains on both the Lizzie Line and Thameslink.
• Increase the number of destinations on both the Lizzie Line and Thameslink.
• Add an extra car to Lizzie Line trains.
• Remove First Class on the shorter eight-car Thameslink trains.
• Add provision on some Lizzie Line and Thameslink routes for bicycles.
• Add a Silvertown station to the Elizabeth Line for London City Airport.
• Add one or more pedestrian and cycling bridges across the Thames.
• Expand of the Docklands Light Railway.
• Expand the Thames Clipper.
• Connect Barking Riverside station to Thamesmead and Abbey Wood station either by a rail or a fast ferry.
• Keep the cable-car.

I suspect there are other viable ideas.

Develop Incentives To Use Public Transport

Incentives could be in these areas.

• Better station and bus terminals encourage more to use trains and buses.
• Full free onboard wi-fi and phone charging.
• Special fares for some journeys.

An example of the latter could be a discount for certain cross-river journeys.

Make The Silvertown Tunnel Available For Zero Carbon Vehicles Only

This would surely cut pollution in London.

Conclusion

We should use the Silvertown Tunnel to improve London’s air quality.

November 23, 2022 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Buses, Cable-Car, Cycling, Decarbonisation, Docklands Light Railway, Elizabeth Line, London City Airport, Pollution, Roads, Silvertown Station, Silvertown Tunnel, Thames Clipper, Thameslink, Trucks, Tunnels