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Tuesday 17 Oct 2017

Gospel Oak to Barking electrification on track with confirmation of winter closure dates

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Network Rail has reached a major milestone in the Gospel Oak to Barking electrification project with over half of the new electrical wire needed on the line now installed. Winter closure dates to upgrade the last diesel operated London Overground route have also been confirmed today.

The line is currently closed with weekday services resuming on Monday 23 October. Weekend closures will continue and the line will fully close again from 6.30pm on Saturday 18 November 2017 until Sunday 14 January 2018 inclusive.

This project is on track for the introduction of new double-length electric trains from spring 2018. The new electric trains will carry twice as many passengers and improve air quality for people living near the railway.

By the end of the current closure 90% of the line between Gospel Oak and South Tottenham will be wired. From Saturday 18 November 2017 until Sunday 14 January 2018 Network Rail’s orange army will shift focus to largely working between South Tottenham and Barking, installing the remaining structures, wires and testing the new infrastructure. The whole line will need to remain closed as we work to towards connecting the new electrical infrastructure into the wider surrounding rail network and switching on the power.

Ahead of this upcoming closure another series of public information sessions will take place at six stations along the Gospel Oak to Barking line from Tuesday 31 October until Thursday 2 November. Staff from Network Rail, Transport for London and Arriva Rail London, the operator of London Overground, will be available to answer questions at the following stations from 4.30pm to 6.30pm:

*   Tuesday 31 October, Gospel Oak and Crouch Hill

*   Wednesday 1 November, Blackhorse Road and Walthamstow Queen’s Road

*   Thursday 2 November, Leytonstone High Road and Barking

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “I’d like to thank our railway neighbours and passengers for their continued patience while we work round the clock to electrify this popular route.

“The Gospel Oak to Barking line is set to benefit from a transformational, once in a generation upgrade with a new fleet of longer, electric trains so that twice as many people can travel comfortably. Our teams will be on hand at station events to explain the work and answer any questions passengers and neighbours may have.”

Two-car diesel trains will return on Monday 15 January 2018. Testing of the new electrical infrastructure and new trains will take place in-between passenger services and at night with new trains entering passenger service from spring 2018. 

Passengers should check before they travel and plan their journey in advance at tfl.gov.uk