Media centre

Wednesday 30 Aug 2017

Public invited to learn more about Gospel Oak to Barking line closures

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Public information sessions will take place during early September at every station on the Gospel Oak to Barking line, ahead of its closure for electrification work.

Work continues to electrify the line ahead of the introduction of new double-length electric trains from spring 2018, which will carry twice as many passengers and improve air quality for lineside neighbours.

Weekend closures will continue up to Sunday 10 September and will be followed by a five-week long closure starting Sunday 17 September. The line will reopen for weekday passenger services on Monday 23 October, but weekend closures will continue.

Ahead of the five-week closure, a series of information sessions will be held at all stations between Gospel Oak and Barking from Tuesday 5 September to Thursday 14 September. 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 16:30-18:30:

*   Tuesday 5 September, Gospel Oak and Upper Holloway

*   Wednesday 6 September, Crouch Hill and Harringay Green Lanes

*   Thursday 7 September, South Tottenham and Blackhorse Road

*   Tuesday 12 September, Walthamstow Queen’s Road and Leyton Midland Road

*   Wednesday 13 September, Leytonstone High Road and Wanstead Park

*   Thursday 14 September, Woodgrange Park and Barking

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “The Gospel Oak to Barking line is set to benefit from a transformational upgrade with a new fleet of longer, electric trains so that twice as many people can travel comfortably on this route. We are carrying out work to electrify the line, which can only take place when the line is closed. Our teams will be on hand to explain the work and answer any questions passengers and neighbours may have.”

Discussions are ongoing with TfL, train and freight operators to finalise agreements for additional weekend and longer closures from the end of October onwards to complete electrification work. A second, longer closure is currently proposed from Saturday 25 November until Sunday 14 January 2018, however these dates are subject to change. Details will be confirmed nearer the time.

The electrification installation will be completed in January 2018, enabling testing of the new trains and so that driver training can begin. The new trains will start entering passenger service from spring 2018. Current diesel services will continue to run as normal until then.

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