It was the latest expansion to the London Underground’s colossal network.

The long name was dropped within months of it’s arrival and the line became very popular among passengers who wanted to travel from Baker Street in London to Waterloo, south of the River Thames.

But now, the Bakerloo line could be under threat of permanent closure as London Mayor Sadiq Khan seeks to plug a £1.9billion funding gap.

The mayor suggested last week that tube services can be reduced by 10% without new funding from the Government. Simon Kilonback, Transport for London’s chief finance officer, said however, that one line could be shut down entirely.

As a result, the Bakerloo line, which still runs trains dating back to the 1970s, is said to be under threat – despite the fact that just weeks ago TfL’s design team were told to begin work on a £3.1billion scheme to extend it.

Of the 11 lines on the London Underground, the Bakerloo line ranks ninth in terms of how busy it is – although more than 110million journeys are still completed on it every year.

The Central line, however, serves 289million more passengers per year.

When it opened in 1906, what was then the Baker Street and Waterloo Railway was just the latest extension to what has become the behemoth of the London Underground

It was the latest expansion to the London Underground’s colossal network.

Within months of its arrival, the lengthy name had been dropped in favour of just the Bakerloo Line and it proved instantly popular with passengers looking to travel between Baker Street in the City of Westminster and Waterloo south of the River Thames. Above: Rush hour at Piccadilly Circus on the Bakerloo Line in 1930

The long name was dropped within months of it’s arrival to make way for the Bakerloo Line. It proved popular among passengers who wanted to travel from Baker Street in London to Waterloo, south of the River Thames. Above: Piccadilly Circus, Bakerloo Line 1930

But now, the Bakerloo Line could be under threat of permanent closure as London Mayor Sadiq Khan seeks to plug a funding gap worth billions of pounds

The Bakerloo Line may be in danger of being permanently closed as London Mayor Sadiq Khan attempts to fill a funding gap of billions of Pounds.

The Bakerloo line was opened shortly after the turn of the 20th century to cater to London’s rapidly expanding population – which had doubled from the 1860 figure of 3million.

Under its original name, the station had been opened by a private firm spurred on by the success of the first electric tube – the City & South Railway – in 1890.

The lead up to the emergence of this new line was marred by turmoil and upheaval as original backers failed midway through the tunnelling process in 1901.

Charles Yerkes an American tycoon saved the project and lured more investors to invest in it.

Soon after it opened, its name was shortened and, by June 1907 had been extended north to Edgware Road and south to Elephant & Castle.

In 1913, Paddington station was given a spot on the line. Other stations were added after the First World War.

When London Transport – the forerunner to TfL – was formed in 1933, new Bakerloo tunnels were built between original station Baker Street and Finchley Road to help relieve overcrowding on other lines.

Today, the line runs from Harrow & Wealdstone in north-west London to Elephant & Castle in south London via the West End, serving 25 stations in total.

Plans to extend the line further – to Lewisham via New Cross Gate – had been indefinitely paused by TfL earlier this year due to lack of funds.

Today, the line runs from Harrow & Wealdstone in north-west London to Elephant & Castle in south London via the West End, serving 25 stations in total

Actors Keith Mitchell (left) and Denis Lill, as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson respectively, posing on the new Jubilee Line platform at Baker Street Underground Station in London, in front of a panel by artist Robin Jacques, depicting a scene from 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', 11th April 1979

Actors Keith Mitchell and Denis Lill pose as Sherlock Holmes (left), and Doctor Watson (right). They are pictured in front of Robin Jacques’ panel depicting a scene in ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles, 11 April 1979.

The Bakerloo Line, which still runs trains dating back to the 1970s, is said to be under threat ¿ despite the fact that just weeks ago TfL's design team were told to begin work on a £3.1billion scheme to extend it. Above: Passengers head towards the Bakerloo Line at Waterloo station in 1947

The Bakerloo Line, which still runs trains dating back to the 1970s, is said to be under threat – despite the fact that just weeks ago TfL’s design team were told to begin work on a £3.1billion scheme to extend it. Above: In 1947, passengers head toward the Bakerloo Line station at Waterloo.

But at the start of the month – before Mr Khan and TfL urged the Government to inject more money into the overall network, or risk a ‘managed decline’ – it was reported by industry magazine New Civil Engineer that bosses had told designers to continue work on the project.

TfL spokesperson told publication that while the organization was determined to deliver the scheme “when the time is right”, they also said they depended on the Government for funding.

“We continue working with the boroughs to fund the continued development of this scheme. We will also seek to continue our collaboration with the government in a feasible funding package that can enable us to deliver the project.”

This statement was made before last week’s warning about the possibility of a complete tube-line closure.

According to reports, the Bakerloo Line is at Risk. TfL was contacted for comment.

Kilonback explained to TfL’s finance panel: “We would have the Tube network reduced by 9 percent and the Bus network reduced by 18%.”

“On the bus network, this would mean that over 100 routes are being removed and 200 routes will see service frequency reductions.

“For tube networks, we’re still analyzing the impacts. For example, a total closure of one line or part thereof or smaller reductions in the overall network. [Underground] network.’

Mr Khan warned last week that bus services could be reduced by a fifth and tube services by almost 10 per cent unless the Government pumps more money into the transport network

Khan last week warned that tube and bus services might be cut almost ten percent each unless more funding is provided by the Government.  

Andy Byford from TfL stated that “without meaningful sustained investments we will see the damaging vicious circleof underinvestment and cut service, dragging London back into the 1970s/80s eras of an aged, infrequent, and unreliable transportation network.”

These comments were made by Mr Khan, who stated in a statement that Transport for London was dealing with an unprecedented financial crises caused by the pandemic.

“We are less than one month away from TfL’s emergency funding agreement expiring on the 11th of December.

The Government must provide the necessary long-term funds to sustain our public transportation network. Otherwise, it will not be able to reduce services as the demand for them is rising again.

The result would be fewer and slower tube and bus services in London, making it difficult for Londoners to move around.

“It could also lead to more tunnel and road closures as a result of a shortage in funding for key infrastructure.

“The wide-scale disruptions and gridlock that all of these changes would create would inflict a huge injustice on millions of Londoners due to the financial impact of TfL’s pandemic, as well as threaten the nation’s economic recovery.

Labour mayor, David Cameron said that while he was supportive of the Government’s investments in transport throughout the country to help level up the economy, it should not be at the price of levelling down London.

He stated that there is no London recovery without properly-funded public transportation networks in London, just as there cannot be a national recovery without a London recovery.

The TfL Finance Committee’s report to City Hall details reductions of more than £1 billion in annual running costs over the past five years but says more savings will be needed because of the projected £1.9billion funding gap.

The report states that this could lead to a transition to “managed fall” and would require at minimum an 18% decrease in bus services, as well as a 9% cut in Tube services.