HOPES that a train line linking Waltham Forest with Stratford would re-open soon have been dashed.
Rail campaigners and Waltham Forest Council have been lobbying for years to get the Hall Farm Curve between Chingford and Newham reopened, arguing it would bring huge economic and travel benefits to the borough.
They have also been pushing for the reopening of the route's now derelict Lea Bridge Station in Walthamstow, which has been supported by politicians including Stella Creasy MP and London Assembly member Jennette Arnold.
But a newly published report by Network Rail concluded the development of other routes in east London would be more beneficial.
The 'Route Utilisation Strategy' report, which lays out Network Rail's vision for the next 20 years, states the reopening of Hall Farm Curve does have "local merits" but would provide benefits "over a significantly smaller area than [the] Lea Valley route to Stratford".
It estimates the route would cost at least £36 million to revive, but said the issue would be considered at a later date.
Glenn Wallis, a member of the Barking to Gospel Oak User Group, said he was disappointed at the report and accused the council of producing a flawed business case.
He said: “A rail service to Stratford would take a quarter of the time of the current journey by bus. So much for Waltham Forest being an Olympic borough, where is the Olympic public transport legacy for Waltham Forest?”
But Peter Woodrow, chairman of the Chingford Line Users Association, remains optimistic that the line could re-open soon.
He said Lea Bridge station could be brought back into use using money provided by the developer of Westfield shopping centre in Stratford as a condition of planning approval.
Mr Woodrow added: "We are working very hard to get it reopened and it could happen by 2014."
"We certainly haven't given up. We should have a reasonable chance to make a case to Network Rail and we're pushing them to reconsider before 2019".
A Network Rail spokesman said: "We need to look at rail services across all routes and recommend schemes which deliver the best results for the maximum number of passengers."
Cllr Clyde Loakes, Cabinet Member for Environment, hit back at the criticisms.
He said: “This council has dedicated significant amounts of time and resource over more than a decade to get the Hall Farm Curve and Lea Bridge Station onto the agenda of those it needed to be.
"It was only as a direct result of our extensive discussions and significant lobbying of Network Rail and other agencies that the scheme was put on the national rail programme, in the first place.
"I and other councillors have lobbied hard on this matter and council officers have put in significant effort, including working closely with TfL to develop the business case for the project.
"Far from being “poor” the business case concluded that the Chingford to Stratford scheme would have a high passenger demand, forcing Network Rail to give it serious consideration.
"Ultimately the Council has not only worked hard, but it has invested a great deal in putting the case for the Hall Farm Curve – £50,000 for the business case alone.
"It is wholly unfair, not to mention very disappointing, to be criticised by groups with an alleged common cause when we have not only been at the forefront of the push for the Hall Farm Curve and Lea Bridge Station to become a reality again, but have also provided the lion share of the cash and leadership.”
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