Greenwich gets on line

Greenwich is getting its tube station after years of uncertainty and months of negotiation between the Government and British Gas, Stephen Norris, Transport Minister for London, announced yesterday, writes Nicholas Schoon.

His department had wanted a large contribution towards the cost of North Greenwich station on the Jubilee line extension. It will be near the southern entrance to Blackwall tunnel and on British Gas land earmarked for houses and flats, shops and light industry.

A 10-mile extension with a Greenwich station, seen as a key part of that recession-delayed development, was first announced in 1990. The line will run from Green Park to Stratford and have 11 stations, six new to the Tube network. The total cost is pounds 1.9bn but neither the Government nor British Gas would disclose the cost of North Greenwich, or the company's contribution.