The basic plan for the southern extensions is to build a short link from the tube line to enable the tube trains to continue to run on the South Central railway lines - with one branch coming through Forest Hill and on to Crystal Palace or West Croydon.

According to Peter Boxell, Communications Manager of the East London Line Extension (ELLX) the new line is finally being given the go-ahead. The line will be in place by 2010 - or at least the bit that matters to us running from Croydon in the south to Highbury and Islington in the north via Canada Water and Whitechapel.

This means an extra six "tube" trains per hour in each direction running from Forest Hill Station. There is a slight fly in the ointment however. Because of the extra traffic caused by the ELLX (and rearrangement of the Brighton line) the Startegic Rail Authority (SRA) are planning to reduce the current through trains to London Bridge (currently 6 per hour through most of the day) to four trains per hour.

This would really put Forest Hill on the London Transport Map. The effect on house prices and rents could be quite dramatic for what is now one of the most inexpensive areas in inner London.