Media centre

Tuesday 1 Jun 2010

GOSPEL OAK TO STRATFORD ROUTE RE-OPENS AFTER UPGRADE

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

London Overground services between Gospel Oak to Stratford line resumed today following a three-month programme to renew the track, upgrade the signalling and lengthen platforms at some of the stations.

When complete by spring 2011, the upgrade will provide more frequent, longer trains, less crowding and a more reliable service.

The work included renewing six kilometres of track, installing 17,000 metres of overhead line, 583 metres of station platform being built between Gospel Oak and Stratford and the installation of 23km of signalling cable.

The first phase of the London Overground's East London route opened fully last week and when the second phase is complete, in 2011, the line will create the Capital's first orbital rail route, serving 22 London boroughs.    

Ian Brown, Managing Director of Transport for London's London Rail, said: 'I would like to welcome passengers back to the line and thank them for their patience with our very necessary upgrade programme.

'A total of £326m is being invested upgrading the London Overground network and when complete it will deliver longer trains and more frequent services. 

'It's the first time there has been any significant improvement work done to the line since it was built in 1869 and it desperately needed it.'

Andrew Munden, route director for Network Rail, said: 'The investment being made in the London Overground network is an integral part of Network Rail's plans to improve services and build a bigger and better railway in the Capital.

'The completion of this major phase of the project is a big step forward to bring passengers a more reliable service with longer trains more often - but we still have more to do.

'The project now moves onto a new phase to complete the work at stations and continue the signalling upgrade.

'We thank passengers for their continuing patience while we carry out this work to improve their railway.'

The line reopens with the following service:

• In the peaks, six trains per hour between Stratford and Willesden Junction and three trains per hour to both Richmond and Clapham Junction
• In the off-peak, four trains per hour between Stratford and Richmond and two trains per hour between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction
• In the peak, four trains per hour on the Gospel Oak to Barking line
• In the off peak, two trains per hour on the Gospel Oak to Barking line.

Works will continue at weekends and there will be further closures this winter to commission the new signalling.

The upgrade is well on schedule to be completed in 2011 so that London Overground can make its crucial contribution to the Olympic transport network in 2012.