TfL celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Jubilee Line Metro Extension

London, United Kingdom (Metro Rail Today): Transport for London (TfL) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Jubilee Line extension, which connected Green Park to London's booming Docklands area and linked all of London's Tube lines. To commemorate this milestone, special anniversary posters will be displayed along the Jubilee line over the coming weeks.

The Jubilee line, originally opened in May 1979 between Stanmore and Charing Cross, was extended in three phases in the late 1990s. The first phase opened in May 1999, connecting Stratford, the line's current eastern terminus, to North Greenwich, near the Millennium Dome. The extension then reached Bermondsey via Canary Wharf, a financial hub transformed by the London Docklands Development Corporation in the 1980s and 1990s. By the end of 1999, the line was fully operational from Stratford to Green Park, linking the north-west and east of the city.

The extension brought 11 new stations, each designed by a different architect under the guidance of Roland Paoletti, featuring modern designs to herald the new millennium. Notable examples include Canada Water Station, with its glass walls allowing natural light to reach the platforms. All new stations were built with step-free access, including lifts, ramps, and level surfaces, significantly increasing the number of accessible stations in London.

TfL is currently working on more than 80 new actions from its Equity in Motion plan to make the Tube and wider transport network more accessible and inclusive. The Jubilee line extension laid the foundation for ongoing accessibility improvements, and TfL aims to have 50% of Tube stations provide step-free access. Efforts are underway to make West Hampstead step-free, and a feasibility study is considering the same for Finchley Road. Mini ramps are already in place at 47 step-free train stations, with an additional 22 stations set to receive them this summer.

Dale Smith, Head of Customer Operations on the Jubilee line, remarked, "The Jubilee line extension was a remarkable feat that changed the geography of our city as we saw in the new millennium. Creating a fast, reliable connection between the West End and the thriving Docklands area brought significant economic rewards for the city and more homes for thousands of Londoners. The extension also helped to lay the foundation for our ongoing accessibility work to ensure all Londoners can make the most of what our city has to offer."

In addition to the Jubilee line extension, TfL continues to develop London's transport network, having recently completed the Elizabeth line and Northern line extensions, and installed 4G across the network.

Earlier this year, TfL launched an ambitious new plan with over 80 commitments to ensure London's transport network is welcoming and inclusive. The full plan is available at Equity in Motion.

• The Jubilee line has 34 lifts and 118 escalators providing step-free access to all platforms.
• While TfL is now operationally financially sustainable, it cannot fund its capital projects entirely by itself. Investment in London's transport system has been constrained, leading to higher costs and inefficiencies, stifling growth and housing development.
• TfL seeks to work with transport authorities across the country to secure a national transport funding settlement to ensure public transport remains attractive for residents, workers, and visitors in the capital.
• With a long-term funding deal, TfL can deliver a program of sustainable investment, aligning supply chains around long-term programs for better outcomes at lower costs, protecting London's status as a leading global city and economic powerhouse.