Extension to TFL overground network to include WHL

[JimmyG2]

Posted this on the New Stadium forum but might get bigger coverage here.


Branching out: London overground to get 25 new stations

From the Evening Standard today

Sian Boyle
Published: 07 January 2014

Updated: 12:38, 07 January 2014


Twenty-five stations will be added to the Overground when two east London suburban rail services are incorporated into the Transport for London network.

The services, which run through Bethnal Green and Hackney, link Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford to Liverpool Street station. They will appear on the Tube map as part of the Overground from next year.

The latest extension will include stations for White Hart Lane, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill and London Fields, all of which will link to Liverpool Street via Hackney Downs.

The takeover of the suburban West Anglia main line is part of TfL’s wider adoption of National Rail lines serving London, revealed in its latest business plan.

Mike Stubbs, TfL’s Director of London Overground, said: “In July 2013 the Secretary of State agreed to devolve some West Anglia main line services to the Mayor and we are working with the Department for Transport and Abellio Greater Anglia to deliver a full transfer in 2015.”

Demand for London Overground services has grown by 160 per cent in the past five years, and when the east London section opened in 2010 overall demand quadrupled.

Ray King, 68, of the Cambridge Heath and London Fields Rail Users Group, said: “We’ve been campaigning for better transport networks for this area for over 13 years now and the service previously has been minuscule.

“Hundreds of rail users in this area say they need an improved service and the stations and trains are shoddy and in disrepair.” When TfL acquires the West Anglia inner suburban services it will replace the 30-year-old carriages with 30 new four-car electric units, as well as procuring electric trains for the Gospel Oak to Barking line of the Overground.

There are also plans to upgrade 23 Overground stations by 2016.

 

[Actonspur_FromCOYS]

Bloody good news I'd have thought

 

[Rocksuperstar]

But... trains already link Chingford & Liverpool St, and White Hart Lane station is already linked to the same, via Hackney Downs. Is this article basically just announcing that they are going to be added to the main map? Or that there is to be new stations built to go with it? Or a new dedicated service that will run in place of those already running?

Must admit, i've confused myself more as i've typed this.

 

[talkshowhost86]

So they'll presumably be using the existing line, but will this mean that there will be more frequent trains?

 

[JimmyG2]

Waiting for Stadium Development heavyweights
to tell us how significant this is.
Can't hurt obviously.
No time scale in the article
But could it coincide with the projected opening of the Stadium?

 

[Mullers]

Meh.

I find London overground to be pretty shit. I don't care how many stations are added, as long as transport costs remain high, I'm going to avoid using it where possible.

 

[Stoof]

So they'll presumably be using the existing line, but will this mean that there will be more frequent trains?

And use the Overground (ginger) line trains - which are new and spangly.

 

[weststandvoice]

So they're adding more stations, which will mean it will take even longer to get to the game.
Brilliant news. Another great leap for mankind.

 

[mil1lion]

I wont be satisfied until I get picked up from home and taken straight to my seat. I'm that lazy.

 

[TottenhamLegend]

So they're adding more stations, which will mean it will take even longer to get to the game.
Brilliant news. Another great leap for mankind.

Can't see anything saying there's extra stations, just a transfer in who runs the route.

The only thing I'd say is that aren't all Overground trains only 4 carriages? Might cause issues on matchdays if services aren't very regular.

 

[RichieS]

So Overground is to Underground as S-Bahn is to U-Bahn?

I would expect frequency of trains to increase in that case.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Can't see anything saying there's extra stations, just a transfer in who runs the route.

The only thing I'd say is that aren't all Overground trains only 4 carriages? Might cause issues on matchdays if services aren't very regular.

They go in multiples of four, so can be 4, 8 or, during busy periods on certain lines (one's that have stations long enough to accommodate them) 12.

 

[TottenhamLegend]

They go in multiples of four, so can be 4, 8 or, during busy periods on certain lines (one's that have stations long enough to accommodate them) 12.

Oh really? I've used the Overground a fair bit and only ever seen 4 carriages. I'm not doubting you though!

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Oh really? I've used the Overground a fair bit and only ever seen 4 carriages. I'm not doubting you though!

I know a couple of drivers and one of them explained to me, that's what the numbers are on the lamposts along the platform - they indicate which number of carriages stops where. Once i he told me, whenever i waited at Wood Street Stn heading back to Chingford, i'd wait at the "4" marker then i used to watch out for it coming around the bend before the platform and count the carriages, then i knew if i had to start walking further along

note: i'd not discount either of them being wrong, btw - one was and still is a raging alcoholic, the other is just so thick, when he was born his doctor wrote his sex down as "non-newtonian".

 

[mil1lion]

Here's a picture of the committee behind the idea

 

[MattyP]

So Overground is to Underground as S-Bahn is to U-Bahn?

I would expect frequency of trains to increase in that case.

Other London Overground trains are pretty much every three minutes.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

I could pick up the overground from west croydon then. Wow might only take 1.30hrs for me to get to WHL soon!!!

 

[punky]

Other London Overground trains are pretty much every three minutes.

Are you sure they are that frequent?

Barking to Gospel Oak timetable are approx every 15 minute and Watford Junction to Euston are approx every 20 minutes (morning peak time)

Like @TottenhamLegend I have only seen and heard of Overground trains to be 4 carriages long. Greater Anglia use 8 at peak time, every 15 mins. Overground carriages are also smaller than rail carriages. Unless TFL run at least 8 carriages then we could lose a fair bit of capacity.

 

[absolute bobbins]

Ah Chingford (well Wood Street) to Liverpool street, thems weres the days!

Where is the misty eyed smiley?

 

[weststandvoice]

Here's a picture of the committee behind the idea

Bloody Bulgarians, coming over here, making our trains run on time, the bastards.