Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 3rd March 2025 by ianVisits in Transport News The consultation for the next extension of the Superloop bus service offering a faster link between North Greenwich and Abbey Wood it’ll partially alleviate Thamesmead’s lack of decent public transport by offering a faster bus link to the Elizabeth line stations at Woolwich and Abbey Wood The SL11 would replace the 472 bus route but bypass Woolwich’s slow loop around the town centre and stick to the main road instead That’s likely to cut a good 5 to 8 minutes off the route as the Woolwich town centre route is quite congested and slow to navigate it does require people to walk to the replacement bus stops if they want to use the service As the SL11 would be a limited-stop service some bus stops on current route 472 would not be served These bus stops would continue to be served by other local bus routes The SL11 is not proposed to operate through the night but a replacement 472 night bus would be provided Some of the SL11 route is to support improved transport links in Thamesmead until such time as the DLR opens and support the ongoing redevelopment of the area. That section is funded by a £23 million government grant in 2023 At the time it was estimated that the proposed bus transit scheme would support 8,000 new homes and 5,500 new jobs in the area. It has also been suggested that the bus link could bring forward other housing developments that are delayed due to the lack of decent public transport to get built while they wait for the DLR extension to be built The SL11 consultation is here This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here “it’ll partially alleviate Thamesmead’s lack of decent public transport by offering a faster bus link to the Elizabeth line stations at Woolwich and Abbey Wood.” Transport is already decent in much of Thamesmead and its a bit of a dated idea it lacks decent public transport and I say that as a Thamesmead resident Improvements won’t be much to write home about really as we already have the SL3 to Abbey Wood which takes a four to five minutes The 472 also takes barely any time to Woolwich given few stops and a high speed jaunt along Western Way It looks like a route offering an answer to a problem that doesn’t really exist yet at least I won’t complain but hard to see the benefit in terms of heading to nearby rail heads which are already very accessible and quick to reach It looks like they had to spend the £23 million and so are doing this due to funding deadlines rather than any real improvements for Thamesmead as we actually have it pretty good now believe it or not Will this be extended via the new tunnel at Silver town and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits The Royal Borough of Greenwich is recruiting a trio of masterplanners for a series of urban regeneration frameworks [Deadline: 29 May 2025] The council is seeking three specialist teams with a ‘wider range experience and in-depth knowledge of urban master planning’ to draw up new frameworks for the transformation of Abbey Wood one for Plumstead and one for Woolwich Town Centre £240,000 and £275,000 respectively in fees – will be expected to identify opportunities for ‘place and people focused regeneration’ and offer fresh perspectives on how to unlock benefits for local communities and businesses According to the brief: ‘To help guide and inform the development of the frameworks a series of engagement activities with the local community and key stakeholders will be required to understand their key priorities and ambitions ‘Each area framework will need to detail the opportunities and challenges and explore the possibilities for a place and people focused regeneration The appointed consultant teams will need to bring fresh perspectives to help shape the future place vision and regeneration strategy so these areas deliver greater benefits to their communities Greenwich is a large south London borough covering around 47.35 km2 of land between Deptford and Thamesmead. The latest procurement comes two years after City Hall launched a search for an ‘innovative’ developer-led team for a £106 million mixed-use development on the Greenwich Peninsula The Royal Borough of Greenwich announced a new £100 million dynamic purchasing system for built environment services in September last year Bids for the latest commission will be evaluated 70 per cent on quality and 30 per cent on price Applicants must hold professional indemnity insurance of £2 million Tags Hutchison Ports is recruiting a design team for its new £9 million… An open international contest is being held for a major €27.5 million… An international design and build contest is being held for 25 new… The UK Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) has… Abbey Wood Property Developer has successfully obtained planning approval for a landmark co-living development located on Eynsham Drive The project will deliver 487 co-living homes and enhancements to the local community infrastructure comprising multiple blocks ranging from 3 to 17 storeys will offer residents access to shared facilities on every floor promoting a collaborative and community-oriented living experience Situated at the corner of Eynsham Drive and Harrow Manorway this development boasts exceptional transportation links With Abbey Wood rail station just a short walk away residents will have access to Crossrail services providing swift connections to key destinations such as This project aims to provide a range of benefits to the local community It will help alleviate pressure on the local housing market reduce the demand for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and offer free access to community space for up to 20 hours a week for local groups the developer will contribute £50,000 to enhance the public areas surrounding the nearby Thistlebrook Estate The co-living development represents a significant addition to London’s housing market offering a modern and flexible living solution while simultaneously supporting the regeneration of the Abbey Wood area and contributing to community development Complete the details below to receive our daily newsletter highlighting investment and development activity: CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast local heroes were celebrated at the Abbey Wood Community Champion Awards.   The awards were for Abbey Wood locals who have gone above and beyond to help others have made an exceptional contribution to their community or have overcome personal barriers in the last 18 months.   The awards ceremony and showcase event took place at C2K Community Centre in Abbey Wood local organisations showcased community projects which were funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich.  The projects aimed to provide direct support to local residents and improve a sense of togetherness within the community. The activities showcased at this event did more than bring the community together they have helped to capture the “voices” of local people educated residents and raised awareness around the impact of serious violence This is part of the Our Greenwich mission to ensure everyone in Greenwich is safer showcased some of the work the organisation does by using creative arts through music to build confidence and self-esteem in young people The audience were then treated to a performance from up-and-coming artist MOBI1.   which has provided art workshops for residents of all ages in Abbey Wood Some of the art produced during these workshops was displayed around the venue.   there was a fantastic performance of part of Tramshed’s ‘Sorry not sorry’ play which explored themes of serious violence knife crime and how young people can stay safe Tramshed has delivered the play to hundreds of students in primary and secondary schools in the local area.    Nominees of all ages were put forward by people in the community for the categories below:   And the winners for each category are…   Hilary Bunker, Weybourne Residential Home   Michael Goldsmith, C2K Community Centre   Paulette Orree, TYM Youth Club   Abiola Britto, volunteer at LPF Kiddies Club   Alfie Rochester, volunteer at TYM Youth Club   Chloe Rochester, volunteer at TYM Youth Club   Harry Bishop, volunteer at TYM Youth Club   Natalie Kyere, member of Seduced by Art   Alison Ikpitan, creator of Party in the Park, charity fundraiser   Esther Sesay, founder of the Javan Coker Foundation   Gemma Smith, Neutral Ground contact centre   Inspirational Young Person Award   Ella Harvey, volunteer at TYM Youth Club   Joey T, mentor at TYM Youth Club   Karen Saunders, TYM Youth Club, Evangelist with the Church Army's Greenwich Centre of Mission   Tracey Cullen, C2K Community Centre Café   Voluntary and Community Sector Organisation Award   Carmel Britto, Education Director of the LPF Kiddies Club   Kian G, mentor at TYM Youth Club   Congratulations to all the well-deserved winners for their continuous commitment to helping and supporting others. Thank you to everyone who has been involved and contributed to these important projects.  Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man and a woman have died after they were found hurt in east London, the Metropolitan Police said describing the deaths as “unexpected and unexplained” The Met said officers were called shortly before 3pm on Tuesday after concerns were raised for the welfare of the occupants of the address in Holstein Way, in Abbey Wood who are believed to be known to each other seriously injured and the pair were then declared dead at the scene Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, who leads policing in Bexley, said: “I know many residents in the local area will be questioning why police are carrying out inquiries within Holstein Way. We are currently investigating the death of two people which was unexpected and unexplained. “At this early stage, we are working with officers and local authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. We believe that the two were known to each other, and at this time we are not seeking to speak with anyone else in connection with this. “A crime scene will remain in place until we have conducted our inquiries. Thank you to those in the local area for their patience.” Next of kin have been informed and inquiries continue. Last week the Royal Borough of Greenwich installed a third knife amnesty bin in Woolwich Town Centre to help tackle knife crime People can use these bins to dispose of dangerous weapons anonymously and safely without fear or prosecution Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: “Far too many lives have been taken by knives in Greenwich and knife crime continues to have a devastating effect on our communities After listening to resident feedback and careful location research we have installed a third amnesty knife bin in Woolwich following the success of the bins in Abbey Wood and Eltham.  “Weapons can be deposited safely in the bins, which are securely bolted to a concrete base with a letter box design which does not allow people to be able to reach the contents inside. We urge residents to visit our website to find out more about our ‘Let’s Live #KnifeFree’ campaign the risks of carrying a knife and the help and local support available.”  There are now three knife amnesty bins placed in: Since the Abbey Wood and Eltham bins were installed in July 2024 they have been emptied by our partner organisation Word 4 Weapons resulting in 214 weapons being taken off our streets.  You can help prevent knife crime and report information anonymously by visiting Crimestoppers, Fearless Nick Abbot is Leading Britain's Conversation A man and a woman have died after they were found with serious injuries at a home in east London The Metropolitan Police said the pair's deaths are "unexpected and unexplained" Police said officers were called shortly before 3pm on Tuesday after concerns were raised for the welfare of the occupants of the address in Holstein Way and the pair were declared dead at the scene said: "I know many residents in the local area will be questioning why police are carrying out inquiries within Holstein Way We are currently investigating the death of two people which was unexpected and unexplained Read more: 'Wicked' mum-of-two faked terminal cancer to trick partner out of £25,000 for ‘treatment’ Read more: Tiktokker blasted for ‘sickening' ghost-hunting livestream filmed at Nicola Bulley’s grave we are working with officers and local authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths We believe that the two were known to each other and at this time we are not seeking to speak with anyone else in connection with this "A crime scene will remain in place until we have conducted our inquiries Thank you to those in the local area for their patience." Their next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers as police continue to investigate See more More Latest News See more Latest News See more The News Explained See more Royals See more Highlights & Opinion See more More Topics MTR Elizabeth Line has announced that a new drivers’ accommodation has opened up at Abbey Wood. Rail Business Daily’s market leading news and profile enhancement services enable your business to tell your story to the wider rail community. Engage with thousands of readers via our rail news platforms, including the hugely popular 7am newsletter, rail news website and Rail Director magazine. If you want to do more work in rail, Rail Business Daily is the place to be. Every morning at 7am, direct to your inbox. By submitting your contact details, you agree to us sending you emails on behalf of railbusinessdaily.com Police are investigating the “unexpected and unexplained” deaths of a man and woman, understood to be brother and sister, in south-east London Emergency services found the pair with serious injuries at an address on Holstein Way in Thamesmead on Tuesday at around 3pm A police source told the PA news agency they were brother and sister said of the female victim: “She lost her husband and it was apparently very traumatic for her “Everyone says she was never the same since.” A neighbour six doors from the property said the flat was “jinxed” Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, who leads policing in Bexley, said: “I know many residents in the local area will be questioning why police are carrying out inquiries within Holstein Way. “We are currently investigating the death of two people which was unexpected and unexplained. “At this early stage, we are working with officers and local authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. “We believe that the two were known to each other, and at this time we are not seeking to speak with anyone else in connection with this. Their next of kin have been informed and inquiries continue. A boy of 13 was arrested on suspicion of affray after a man in his 40s was found with stab injuries in Abbey Wood yesterday morning Police were called at around 8.45am following reports of an assault in Lensbury Way the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended and found the injured man The 13-year-old boy was taken to a police station and subsequently released with no further action taken Authorities have not yet confirmed the circumstances surrounding the stabbing but one resident has claimed that the child was trying to protect his father from four men who were attacking him according to reports in some media outlets Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting CAD 1578/11DEC Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org Pictured top: Lensbury Way (Picture: Google Street View) Approval has been given for a new set of tower blocks up to 17 storeys tall at Abbey Wood The developers want to create 500 co-living rooms and a 110-bedroom hotel The new development will see four new blocks being added to the site on Eynsham Drive just a seven minute walk from Abbey Wood Elizabeth line station will deliver 487 co-living rooms with communal areas such as a gym and roof terraces A lack of affordable housing in the scheme has also been offset by the developer contributing £7.3 million to the council for affordable housing units to be sourced off site The topic was unanimously approved at a planning board meeting for Greenwich council on Tuesday said he was not against development in the area but was concerned about the number of elements in the proposal He also emphasised that he would like to see the affordable housing contribution for the site being put towards housing in Abbey Wood Labour councillor ‘Lade Huphzibah Olugbemi said at the meeting that she was worried about the number of homes in the development She noted that there were already extensive works being carried out by Peabody in Thamesmead to deliver up to 2,000 new homes The councillor said: “I’m very concerned about the impact on our existing infrastructure it’s the concept of creating another ghetto I’m extremely concerned about this number of units.” Planning consultant Richard Quelch said the project would help address the authority’s pressing need to deliver housing said at the meeting that the homes had been designed to a high standard with the co-living concept helping to reduce loneliness for people in the borough Ms Krikler said: “This is delivering good rental homes that are well designed and managed to a much higher standard than the existing local private rental sector The site is currently occupied by a car wash and animal hospital run by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) The new development will see the hospital retaining its current practice while construction is carried out and moving into a larger upgraded facility in one of the blocks once initial works are complete It has been going for more than a century and cares for up to 10,000 animals every year Pictured top: A CGI view of the site looking east on Eynsham Drive (Picture: JMH Group/Assael Architecture) The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response A 13-year-old boy has been arrested after a man in his 40s was stabbed in Abbey Wood Police and paramedics rushed to Lensbury Way shortly after 8.45am this morning (Wednesday December 11) following reports of an assault First responders found a man aged in his 40s had suffered stab injuries and was taken to hospital. The Metropolitan Police confirmed his injuries were not life threatening The teenager was arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in police custody while the investigation continues Scotland Yard is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident A force spokesperson said: "Police were called at 8.46am on Wednesday 11 December to reports of an assault in Lensbury Way the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended and found a man "A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of affray "Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or message MetCC on X quoting CAD 1578/11DEC Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org." Sign up to our London Court & Crime newsletter for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up HERE But one MP warned ‘delays and cancellations’ suffered by her west London constituents had to be tackled News | Transport MPs have called for the Elizabeth line to be extended into Kent – and for better rail links to Heathrow airport A debate in Parliament on Tuesday heard support for extending the £20bn line, which opened in May 2022, east from Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet There were also calls for more semi-fast services and new stations on the 73-mile line – but one west London MP warned that the “delays and cancellations” being suffered by her constituents had to be tackled Concerns were also raised about the impact on Elizabeth line services when the rail line into Paddington shuts at Christmas for track work at the new HS2 station being built at Old Oak Common said the Elizabeth line – nicknamed the Lizzie line – had been “a game changer” But she told a Westminster Hall debate called to celebrate the line’s success: “However suffer from a less frequent service than Southall and that is in the context of increasing development “There are also more delays and cancellations on the line than would be expected with new rail infrastructure.” Supporters of an extension to Ebbsfleet say it would boost links to an area where many new homes are being built – and to enable an interchange with HS1 high-speed services between St Pancras and the Kent coast There is also the hope that Eurostar international services will one day call again at Ebbsfleet International station said: “There remains a strong case to extend the Elizabeth line to Ebbsfleet in order to serve residents in the thousands of new homes built there in order to interchange with high-speed services and hopefully with reinstated services to mainland Europe.” Half of Londoners forced to end nights out before midnight Trump’s ‘drill baby drill’ policy will not alter UK net-zero ambition – minister PM ‘totally disagrees’ with ex-Blair aide’s claim UK does not need small farmers Take control of your wellbeing with these great products and services said a Government study five years ago suggested options for improving transport connectivity between Abbey Wood since that narrowing of options in late 2021 when the business case was submitted to the last Conservative Government “I urge the Minister and his colleagues across Government to look at how we can get on and finish the Elizabeth line as originally intended to grow the economy boost productivity and improve lives across our region where the links with high-speed and international services would create an ideal interchange That must be a priority when considering the future of the Elizabeth line.” rail minister Simon Lightwood said: “There are currently no plans to extend the line from Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet International to celebrate the massive economic impact attributed to the opening of the Elizabeth line He uses the line almost every day but had been “banned” by his family from talking about it He compared it to Britain’s greatest sporting achievements and on a par with winning the right to host the 2012 Olympics But he said there was a “great deal of concern” in the area west of London in Wales and the west country about the blockading of Paddington to allow work to take place at Old Oak Common Mr Rodda, who was a survivor of the 1989 Paddington rail crash said the section of the Elizabeth line between Reading and Hayes showed the fastest growth in passenger numbers “When the Elizabeth line was envisaged… there was no guarantee that it would come to Reading The original plan was for it to go as far west as Maidenhead,” he said “I have had requests for more north-south improvements in electrification in our area “There has also been some interest in introducing more semi-fast services on the Elizabeth line—in other words trains that do not stop at every station but move more quickly between the major stations Some people have raised further station development “A western rail link is an important adjunct to the arguments about the Elizabeth line The line has created a lot of connectivity and an east-west corridor between Berkshire but people going to Heathrow have to approach London and go out again “Many colleagues from Wales and the west country—particularly south Wales lobbied for extra connectivity that would allow people to get on a train at Cardiff or Bristol and go straight to Heathrow reducing surface transport and pollution near the airport “It would also bring huge flexibility for commuters working at the airport particularly residents of Slough and west London Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Fourteen-year-old died after he was stabbed on 472 bus to Abbey Wood in south-east of capital on Tuesday afternoon A 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death on a London bus has been named by his mother as Kelyan Bokassa Kelyan was travelling on a 472 bus to Abbey Wood when he was attacked at about 2.30pm on Tuesday as the bus was on Woolwich Church Road Paramedics treated him at the scene but he died shortly after they arrived His mother, Mary Bokassa, told the BBC her son was “caring, very caring” It quoted her as saying: “He loved to have his friends around and when they were round he would want to cook for them Anything he loves … he was doing to his best ability He was good at football … and he was extremely good at drawing.” Bokassa said her son had been “groomed” by gangs and had previously been taken into care She said she had asked for help and tried to keep him from associating with gangs The crime scene at Woolwich Church Street Photograph: Martin Godwin/The GuardianKelyan was a former pupil at St Columba’s Catholic boys school in Bexleyheath In a statement issued before he had been identified the school said: “We are saddened by the loss of life in Woolwich yesterday of a young boy who was briefly a pupil of St Columba’s in 2022 Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time Our schools will provide support to any of the students who may be affected by this senseless violence.” A vigil was due to be held on Wednesday evening at St Mary Magdalene church which overlooks the bus stop where Kelyan died Kelyan was an aspiring rapper who performed under the name Grippa and had recorded a number of tracks posted online Last November he recorded Gotta Eat, which featured tributes to Daejaun Campbell, a 15-year-old who died after being stabbed on Eglinton Road in Woolwich from the anti-knife crime charity Project Lifeline told reporters that just two weeks ago Kelyan had laid flowers for Daejaun who is responsible for policing in Lewisham It’s a horrendous crime and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now.” She added: “No arrests have been made at this early stage but we are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved.” Just over an hour after the attack was first reported video posted to social media appeared to show paramedics carrying a body bag from the bus A single bouquet of flowers lay beside the bus stop where Kelyan died after being carried out of the 472 bus with stab wounds The new-build development that looms over the road was still cordoned off by police “There were loads of sirens around the bus I’m not sure what’s going on at this point He described footage he saw of people “frantically running” away from the scene “One had a massive machete about the size of my forearm,” he said He said they ran through the development and down towards the River Thames frantically running and then something happens there’s an object gone and they’re calmly walking after Commuters have been hit by two days of major disruption on the Elizabeth line News | London Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice The director of the Elizabeth Line has apologised after trains were unable to reach central London for the second day running Engineers have been trying to fix a signalling fault which has stopped trains from being able to enter the Elizabeth line’s main tunnels between Paddington and Abbey Wood ITV reports that a software crash was triggered when engineers carried out routine maintenance on passenger information screens The system advises passengers when trains are due first caused problems on Tuesday morning and continued to bring trains to a standstill on Wednesday morning The Elizabeth line is the busiest railway line in Britain with more than 350 million journeys made on the line by its second birthday According to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan it has delivered an estimated £42bn boost to the economy Director of the Elizabeth line said: "We apologise to customers for the disruption on the Elizabeth line to resolve issues that resulted from overnight maintenance of the system and check before they travel using our website or the TfL Go app." A spokesperson for Siemens Mobility added: “We’d like to say sorry to everyone whose journeys have been disrupted by the problems on the Elizabeth line “We can promise you that we’re working really hard with TfL to fix the problems as quickly as we can.”