London Overground
Encyclopedia
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations
since 2007 as part of the National Rail
network, under the franchise
control and branding of Transport for London
(TfL). It consists of five lines: the East London Line
; the Gospel Oak to Barking Line
; the North London Line
; the West London Line
and the Watford DC Line
. From late 2012 a sixth line, the South London Line, will be incorporated into the Overground system.
are mostly run on a system of rail franchises
and operated by a number of private train operating companies, marketed together as National Rail.
A pilot scheme was launched in 2003 to bring National Rail services operated by multiple companies under one branding umbrella within London. Using the Overground Network
brand, TfL introduced consistent information displays, station signage and maps on selected routes in South London. Although this pilot was purely an exercise in branding, it was the first instance of TfL having a visible influence over National Rail services in London. The Overground Network pilot has since been withdrawn.
In January 2004 the Department for Transport
announced a review of the rail industry in the United Kingdom. As part of that review, proposals were put forward by Transport for London for a "London Regional Rail Authority" to be established, which would give TfL regulatory powers over rail services in and around Greater London.
A result of this consultation was the transfer of part of the Silverlink
rail franchise to TfL control. This is to date the only agreed movement towards establishing a London-wide rail authority.
The Silverlink franchise had two areas of operation: Silverlink County (regional services from to , , and ); and Silverlink Metro (services mostly within the London urban area). When the franchise was split up in 2007, County services were taken over by the London Midland
franchise, and the Metro services came under TfL control.
. On 5 September 2006, London Overground branding was announced, and it was confirmed that the extended East London Line would be included.
routes formerly of Silverlink Metro.
The official launch ceremony was on 12 November 2007 at station by the then Mayor of London
Ken Livingstone
, with a later media event on the disused bay platform at station.
The launch was accompanied by a marketing campaign entitled "London's new train set", with posters and leaflets carrying an image of a model railway
retail package containing the new Overground trains, tracks and staff.
At the launch, TfL undertook to revamp the routes by improving service frequencies, staffing all stations, improving station facilities, introducing new rolling stock and allowing Oyster card pay as you go
to be used throughout the network from the outset.
All stations were "deep-cleaned" following the TfL takeover, and the Silverlink branding was removed. Station signage has been replaced with Overground-branded signs using TfL's corporate New Johnston
typeface.
On 15 April 2009 the North London Line platforms at moved to new high-level platforms 1 & 2 from the old low-level platforms 1 & 2, the latter being made available for the DLR's Stratford International
service. Platforms 1 and 2 comprise an island platform with step-free access to platform 12 and the subway linking to platforms 3 to 11.
On 27 September 2009, station opened on the West London Line, between and .
On 27 April 2010 the East London Line became part of the London Overground network when the Phase 1 extension to the line was completed. The former London Underground line has been extended northwards (mostly along the former Broad Street viaduct of the closed North London Line) to the re-opened , and southwards to new termini at and West Croydon
by using part of the existing Brighton Main Line
.
The service began with a limited "preview" service between Dalston Junction and New Cross / New Cross Gate, with the line coming into full operation between Dalston Junction and West Croydon/Crystal Palace on 23 May. On 28 February 2011, the section of the line between Dalston Junction and Highbury & Islington was opened to the public. In attendance were the Mayor of London
, Boris Johnson
, and London Underground
's Managing Director, Mike Brown. All trains from Highbury & Islington terminate at /, while trains from Dalston Junction terminate at and, from late 2012 onwards, via Surrey Quays
.
TfL said in November 2010 that ridership on the new East London line was ahead of forecast at 92,000 a day, and that patronage at Surrey Quays had "gone through the roof".
The incorporation of the East London Line into the London Overground network has added substantial sections of line that are in tunnels, including the historic Thames Tunnel
, the oldest tunnel under a navigable river in the world. A peculiarity of this part of the network is that at the London Overground line runs below the London Underground line.
. Following a model similar to that already used for the Docklands Light Railway
, TfL invited tenders for operation of the Overground. Unlike National Rail
franchisees, TfL would set fares, procure rolling stock and decide service levels. The operator would take an element of revenue risk: TfL takes 90% of the revenue risk, 10% of revenue is retained by the operator, and the operator is responsible for revenue collection.
The tenderers were MTR Laing (a 50:50 joint venture between MTR Corporation
and Laing Rail), Govia
, National Express Group
(the operator of Silverlink), and NedRailways
. In December 2006, this was narrowed to Govia and MTR Laing, who were selected to submit their 'best and final offers', and on 19 June 2007 it was announced that MTR Laing had been selected.
The contract was signed on 2 July 2007, for seven years with the option of a two-year extension. In preparation for the launch of the Overground, MTR Laing renamed itself London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL).
In December 2007, Henderson Group
, the parent company of John Laing plc, announced the sale of the Laing Rail division, which comprises half of LOROL, Chiltern Railways
, and a stake in the Wrexham & Shropshire open-access railway operator. In April 2008, Laing Rail was bought by the German Government's rail operator Deutsche Bahn
, which now holds a 50% stake in LOROL. The price was said to be around €
170 million.
, with a considerable portion of the network in Zone 2
. The network also uses in central London, the southern terminus
of the Watford DC Line.
The network interchanges with the Bakerloo
, Central
, District
, Hammersmith & City
, Jubilee
, Northern
and Victoria
tube lines and the Docklands Light Railway
. The Overground lines appear with the Underground lines on the standard Tube map
s issued by Transport for London, and a separate map of the system is also available.
Much of the Overground passes through less affluent areas, and is seen as contributing to their regeneration. The North London and Gospel Oak to Barking lines were previously considered by the Transport Committee of the London Assembly to be neglected and not developed to their full potential.
, where executive functions and staff training are carried out. Also here is Operations Control, which manages day-to-day operations. LOROL maintains its rolling stock from depots at Willesden Junction and New Cross (newly built for the extended East London line); it also uses several satellite locations for stabling trains, including Stratford railway station and Barking Depot in East London (Barking is a central depot for the National Express Group Franchise C2C). Train crew are based at several station locations across London, including London Euston, Willesden Junction, Watford Junction, New Cross, Stratford and Gospel Oak.
Ticketing on the Overground uses a mix of paper and the Oyster Card
electronic smart card. As with all National Rail and TfL services in London, passengers can use a Travelcard
(daily, seven-day, monthly or annual); as on other National Rail Services in London, paper single, return and cheap day return tickets priced under the zonal fare scheme are also available. In addition, TfL permits the use of Oyster
"pay-as-you-go" (PAYG).
As part of an effort to improve safety and protect revenue, TfL has announced that it will introduce ticket barriers at a number of stations. The stations that did not have barriers when TfL took over the line have been fitted with standalone Oyster Card readers similar to those at ungated Underground and DLR stations. The validator at which previously was needed to enter/exit the Oyster card system when using the line is now disused.
The ticket stock for the Overground continues to be common National Rail stock, as Overground services remain part of the National Rail network, but sometimes with a large TfL roundel in the centre and the repeated legend "Rail Settlement Plan
" in a light green background.
and the Docklands Light Railway
. Stations outside Greater London, except for Watford Junction, are included in the newly created Travelcard Zones 7-9, while Acton Central, Hampstead Heath and Willesden Junction were re-zoned on 2 January 2008 (from 2 to 3, 3 to 2 and 3 to 2/3 respectively), which had the effect of reducing some zone-based fares.
Paper tickets are charged on the same zone-based rules as for Underground and DLR paper tickets, which were expanded to take in the extra zones covered. Watford Junction has its own specific price scale. In all cases, paper tickets are significantly more expensive than using Oyster PAYG.
). The most recent figures released by the Office of Rail Regulation
(ORR), for January to March 2011, showed that it had achieved 95.9% of the Public Performance Measure (PPM) target for punctuality and reliability set by the ORR. This was above the average PPM for all London and the South East railway companies. The MAA of the PPM for the 12 months to 31 March 2011 was 94.8%. TfL, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, has investigated the use of data from the Oyster smartcard
ticketing system to measure the performance of the Overground explicitly from the passenger perspective.
In the Spring 2010 National Passenger Survey, conducted by Passenger Focus, London Overground received the lowest overall satisfaction rating of any UK train operating company, at 72%.
. These design standards will be applied to the new fleet of trains.
The routes are branded with a new version of the roundel, the iconic bar-and-circle symbol associated with transport services in London. The Overground version consists of an orange ring with a blue bar. The roundel was adopted from an earlier design by the London Passenger Transport Board
in 1933 and which has spawned many variations applied to succeeding operations. The current TfL versions use a hollow circle or ring rather than the original solid circle.
In common with other TfL services, the Overground is denoted by a designated sector colour, a vivid orange (Pantone
158C). Similarly to the presentation of the DLR, the Overground is shown on Tube maps as a double stripe rather than a solid line, to denote its status as a service that is not an Underground line.
Corporate signage, stationery and literature use the New Johnston
typeface in common with other TfL services. A few refurbished stations on the reopened East London line now display the station name in large orange three-dimensional upper-case letters.
built by Bombardier Transportation
have been introduced on the electrified lines. The North London Line has 24 three-car units, and after platform extensions the North London Railway fleet will be extended to four cars in 2011. The East London Line is being initially operated with 20 four-car units, with three extra trains due to be introduced.
The new Class 378 electric trains were officially unveiled at station on 13 July 2009. They include a number of "Tube-style" features, including longitudinal seating and increased standing room to provide a high-capacity metro service. The trains have walk-through open carriage interiors and air conditioning
. The first Capitalstars began passenger operation in July 2009.
The new trains are leased from a newly-formed Rolling Stock Operating Company
(ROSCO) named QW Rail Leasing
, the lease running until 2027. TfL had planned to buy the new Class 378 EMU fleet outright, but in February 2008 it announced that it would lease the trains instead in order to free up the £250 million capital cost of purchase, combined with reducing the risk of making a loss through any future sell-on of the fleet.
The class 378s were introduced with success on most of the London Overground but there were some issues and delays. The 4-car 378 units for the Watford DC Line were delayed due to problems operating the trains as driver-only operated, due to safety concerns about blind spots on the CCTV system that allows the driver to see the passenger doors close. The Class 170 had technical issues that have now been resolved. But as of October 2010, the new rolling stock has completely replaced the older Class 313 EMU, Class 508 EMU
and Class 150 DMU
units previously operated by Silverlink, apart from the three Class 508 units withdrawn in late 2008. All the older rolling stock has been cascaded to other train operating companies, such as First Capital Connect
, First Great Western
and Merseyrail
.
The East London line, previously operated with London Underground A60 and A62 Stock, was temporarily closed for rebuilding and is now operated with new Class 378 Capitalstar units.
Eight two-car Class 172/0 units were ordered by Angel Trains
on behalf of TfL in November 2007, and London Overground will lease the units from them. Electrification
of the GOBLIN line is advocated by TfL
, local boroughs and passenger groups, but has not been included as part of Network Rail's
Route Utilisation Strategy for the Cross London Route. From 2010, TfL started using new two-car Class 172
Turbostar
diesel trains.
All of the 172/0 units (numbers 172001 to 172008) have entered service for London Overground.
If the plan to replace the Watford DC Line with a Bakerloo line service to goes ahead, the 1972 Stock
fleet on the Bakerloo line could be augmented by newly-retired Victoria line
1967 Stock
trains, although these would need modification.
standard livery, with light grey coaches, a longtitudinal thick blue stripe and a thin orange stripe along the bottom, London Overground roundels at mid-points along the coaches and orange doors. The fronts and backs are painted yellow to comply with National Rail standards. The seat upholstery features a moquette by fabric designers Wallace Sewell.
Older rolling stock inherited from Silverlink retained its Silverlink's purple and lime green livery with yellow doors until the stock was replaced. The Silverlink logos were removed and Overground banners were added.
Phase 2 of the East London Line extension began construction in May 2011. It will provide a further 2.5 km link from south of Surrey Quays to the Network Rail Inner South London Line to Clapham Junction, by way of Queens Road Peckham, Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill, Clapham High Street and Wandsworth Road. The extension uses an alignment between Rotherhithe and Peckham which had been disused since 1911, via the defunct Old Kent Road station.
Funding for the project was secured in February 2009, including £64 million from the DfT and £15 million from TfL, and work is scheduled for completion by late 2012.
The route passes over both and stations without stopping. The proposals have been criticised for not including new interchange stations with Thameslink
and the London Underground Victoria line
s. No stations are planned at these locations as the line is on high railway arches, making the cost of any station construction prohibitive.
A new station at Surrey Canal Road was also planned, but this was put on hold in 2009, though a suitable station 'box' is being built to facilitate later possible implementation.
TfL has proposed re-extending the Bakerloo Line to . It has been suggested that most or all of the line from to Watford Junction would be used exclusively by the London Underground
, and London Overground services would be withdrawn.
As part of this change, Overground services would be diverted at Primrose Hill Junction via the currently freight-only route through (closed to passenger traffic since 1992) to , providing a new service between Queen's Park and Stratford. If this change takes place, and will no longer have direct services to central London, and the Overground will lose its only presence at a London terminus (Euston).
The Watford line is still shown as part of the Overground on prospective Tube maps issued by TfL, so this proposal appears uncertain.
's franchise expired in 2009. However, this plan was not included in the franchise tender documents, nor in the 2008 ten-year plan.
railway services at the proposed station. Planning documents issued by the Department for Transport
suggest that the new station, on a site just south of , could open by 2025 and offer connections with London Overground on both the North London
and West London Lines.
The station would also be served by the forthcoming Crossrail
line, Great Western Main Line
services and Heathrow Express
, and the proposals additionally indicate the possibility of including interchange facilities with the Bakerloo
and Central line
s. The Old Oak Common plans are supported by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
.
London Overground Rail Operations
London Overground Rail Operations Ltd , initially known as MTR Laing, is a train operating company contracted to operate the London Overground train service on the National Rail network, under the franchise control of Transport for London...
since 2007 as part of the National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
network, under the franchise
Rail franchising in Great Britain
Rail franchising in Great Britain was created by the Railways Act 1993. Passenger services are franchised, for a limited period, to train operating companies...
control and branding of Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
(TfL). It consists of five lines: the East London Line
East London Line
The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
; the Gospel Oak to Barking Line
Gospel Oak to Barking line
The Gospel Oak – Barking Line is a railway line in north and east London which connects Gospel Oak in North London and Barking in East London as part of the London Overground network. It is sometimes known as the Goblin , although this is a nickname rather than an official title...
; the North London Line
North London Line
The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail...
; the West London Line
West London Line
The West London Line is a short railway in inner West London which links lines at in the south to lines near Willesden Junction in the north. It has always been an important cross-London link especially for freight services...
and the Watford DC Line
Watford DC Line
The Watford DC Line is a commuter railway line from London Euston to Watford Junction. Services on the line are operated by London Overground....
. From late 2012 a sixth line, the South London Line, will be incorporated into the Overground system.
Background
Rail services in Great BritainRail transport in Great Britain
The railway system in Great Britain is the oldest in the world, with the world's first locomotive-hauled public railway opening in 1825. As of 2010, it consists of of standard gauge lines , of which are electrified. These lines range from single to double, triple, quadruple track and up to twelve...
are mostly run on a system of rail franchises
Rail franchising in Great Britain
Rail franchising in Great Britain was created by the Railways Act 1993. Passenger services are franchised, for a limited period, to train operating companies...
and operated by a number of private train operating companies, marketed together as National Rail.
A pilot scheme was launched in 2003 to bring National Rail services operated by multiple companies under one branding umbrella within London. Using the Overground Network
Overground Network
Overground Network was a branding initiative launched in 2003 by the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London, the public transport authority in London, UK. Its aim was to encourage use of National Rail services in South London...
brand, TfL introduced consistent information displays, station signage and maps on selected routes in South London. Although this pilot was purely an exercise in branding, it was the first instance of TfL having a visible influence over National Rail services in London. The Overground Network pilot has since been withdrawn.
In January 2004 the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
announced a review of the rail industry in the United Kingdom. As part of that review, proposals were put forward by Transport for London for a "London Regional Rail Authority" to be established, which would give TfL regulatory powers over rail services in and around Greater London.
A result of this consultation was the transfer of part of the Silverlink
Silverlink
Silverlink Train Services Ltd was a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operated routes in North London and from London to Northampton...
rail franchise to TfL control. This is to date the only agreed movement towards establishing a London-wide rail authority.
The Silverlink franchise had two areas of operation: Silverlink County (regional services from to , , and ); and Silverlink Metro (services mostly within the London urban area). When the franchise was split up in 2007, County services were taken over by the London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
franchise, and the Metro services came under TfL control.
Initial announcements
On 20 February 2006, the Department for Transport announced that TfL would take over management of services then provided by Silverlink Metro. Tenders were invited from potential contractors to operate the service under the provisional name of the North London RailwayNorth London Railway
The North London Railway was a railway company that opened lines connecting the north of London to the East and West India Docks. The main east to west route is now part the North London Line. Other lines operated by the company fell into disuse, but were later revived as part of the Docklands...
. On 5 September 2006, London Overground branding was announced, and it was confirmed that the extended East London Line would be included.
Launch
On 11 November 2007, TfL took over the franchise for the operation of trains on North London RailwayNorth London Railway
The North London Railway was a railway company that opened lines connecting the north of London to the East and West India Docks. The main east to west route is now part the North London Line. Other lines operated by the company fell into disuse, but were later revived as part of the Docklands...
routes formerly of Silverlink Metro.
The official launch ceremony was on 12 November 2007 at station by the then Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, with a later media event on the disused bay platform at station.
The launch was accompanied by a marketing campaign entitled "London's new train set", with posters and leaflets carrying an image of a model railway
Rail transport modelling
Railway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale...
retail package containing the new Overground trains, tracks and staff.
At the launch, TfL undertook to revamp the routes by improving service frequencies, staffing all stations, improving station facilities, introducing new rolling stock and allowing Oyster card pay as you go
Oyster card (pay as you go) on National Rail
The acceptance of Oyster Card on National Rail in London, England had been limited to a restricted number of National Rail services since the introduction of the stored-value product on London Underground in January 2004...
to be used throughout the network from the outset.
All stations were "deep-cleaned" following the TfL takeover, and the Silverlink branding was removed. Station signage has been replaced with Overground-branded signs using TfL's corporate New Johnston
Johnston (typeface)
Johnston is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by and named after Edward Johnston. It is well known for its use by Transport for London....
typeface.
On 15 April 2009 the North London Line platforms at moved to new high-level platforms 1 & 2 from the old low-level platforms 1 & 2, the latter being made available for the DLR's Stratford International
Stratford International station
Stratford International station is a main line railway and Docklands Light Railway station located in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham in northeast London, United Kingdom...
service. Platforms 1 and 2 comprise an island platform with step-free access to platform 12 and the subway linking to platforms 3 to 11.
On 27 September 2009, station opened on the West London Line, between and .
East London Line extension
West Croydon station
West Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
by using part of the existing Brighton Main Line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
.
The service began with a limited "preview" service between Dalston Junction and New Cross / New Cross Gate, with the line coming into full operation between Dalston Junction and West Croydon/Crystal Palace on 23 May. On 28 February 2011, the section of the line between Dalston Junction and Highbury & Islington was opened to the public. In attendance were the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, and London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
's Managing Director, Mike Brown. All trains from Highbury & Islington terminate at /, while trains from Dalston Junction terminate at and, from late 2012 onwards, via Surrey Quays
Surrey Quays
Surrey Quays is a name given to a largely residential area of Rotherhithe in south-east London, occupied until 1970 by the Surrey Commercial Docks...
.
TfL said in November 2010 that ridership on the new East London line was ahead of forecast at 92,000 a day, and that patronage at Surrey Quays had "gone through the roof".
The incorporation of the East London Line into the London Overground network has added substantial sections of line that are in tunnels, including the historic Thames Tunnel
Thames Tunnel
The Thames Tunnel is an underwater tunnel, built beneath the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, connecting Rotherhithe and Wapping. It measures 35 feet wide by 20 feet high and is 1,300 feet long, running at a depth of 75 feet below the river's surface...
, the oldest tunnel under a navigable river in the world. A peculiarity of this part of the network is that at the London Overground line runs below the London Underground line.
Operator
The Overground is operated by a private company, LOROLLondon Overground Rail Operations
London Overground Rail Operations Ltd , initially known as MTR Laing, is a train operating company contracted to operate the London Overground train service on the National Rail network, under the franchise control of Transport for London...
. Following a model similar to that already used for the Docklands Light Railway
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
, TfL invited tenders for operation of the Overground. Unlike National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
franchisees, TfL would set fares, procure rolling stock and decide service levels. The operator would take an element of revenue risk: TfL takes 90% of the revenue risk, 10% of revenue is retained by the operator, and the operator is responsible for revenue collection.
The tenderers were MTR Laing (a 50:50 joint venture between MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
and Laing Rail), Govia
Govia
Govia is a transport company based in the United Kingdom. A joint venture between Go-Ahead and Keolis SA it is a key operator of commuter services in London, the South East and on the West Coast Main Line...
, National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
(the operator of Silverlink), and NedRailways
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen , or NS, is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands.Its trains operate over the tracks of the Dutch national railinfrastructure, operated by ProRail, which was split off from NS in 2003...
. In December 2006, this was narrowed to Govia and MTR Laing, who were selected to submit their 'best and final offers', and on 19 June 2007 it was announced that MTR Laing had been selected.
The contract was signed on 2 July 2007, for seven years with the option of a two-year extension. In preparation for the launch of the Overground, MTR Laing renamed itself London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL).
In December 2007, Henderson Group
Henderson Group
Henderson Group plc is a global investment management company with its principal place of business in the City of London. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. It is also listed on the Australian Securities Exchange as a member of the ASX200 index...
, the parent company of John Laing plc, announced the sale of the Laing Rail division, which comprises half of LOROL, Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
, and a stake in the Wrexham & Shropshire open-access railway operator. In April 2008, Laing Rail was bought by the German Government's rail operator Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
, which now holds a 50% stake in LOROL. The price was said to be around €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
170 million.
Current system
Introduction
The initial network, service levels and timetables were a continuation of Silverlink Metro services. As the Overground name implies, the majority of the network is above ground, mostly consisting of railway lines connecting together different areas outside Central LondonCentral London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
, with a considerable portion of the network in Zone 2
Travelcard Zone 2
Fare zone 2 is an inner zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services.-Background:...
. The network also uses in central London, the southern terminus
Terminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of the Watford DC Line.
Routes
The Overground consists of the following lines:- East London LineEast London LineThe East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
– to West CroydonWest Croydon stationWest Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
/; to . - Gospel Oak to Barking LineGospel Oak to Barking lineThe Gospel Oak – Barking Line is a railway line in north and east London which connects Gospel Oak in North London and Barking in East London as part of the London Overground network. It is sometimes known as the Goblin , although this is a nickname rather than an official title...
– to - North London LineNorth London LineThe North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail...
– to (the Stratford to section closed on 9 December 2006). - Watford DC LineWatford DC LineThe Watford DC Line is a commuter railway line from London Euston to Watford Junction. Services on the line are operated by London Overground....
– to - West London LineWest London LineThe West London Line is a short railway in inner West London which links lines at in the south to lines near Willesden Junction in the north. It has always been an important cross-London link especially for freight services...
– to - Inner South London Line (from late 2012) - -
The network interchanges with the Bakerloo
Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo line is a line of the London Underground, coloured brown on the Tube map. It runs partly on the surface and partly at deep level, from Elephant and Castle in the south-east to Harrow & Wealdstone in the north-west of London. The line serves 25 stations, of which 15 are underground...
, Central
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
, District
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
, Hammersmith & City
Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line is a subsurface London Underground line. It connects Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, running through the northern part of central London. It is coloured salmon pink on the Tube map...
, Jubilee
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
, Northern
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
and Victoria
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
tube lines and the Docklands Light Railway
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
. The Overground lines appear with the Underground lines on the standard Tube map
Tube map
The Tube map is a schematic transit map representing the lines and stations of London's rapid transit railway systems, namely the London Underground , the Docklands Light Railway and London Overground....
s issued by Transport for London, and a separate map of the system is also available.
Much of the Overground passes through less affluent areas, and is seen as contributing to their regeneration. The North London and Gospel Oak to Barking lines were previously considered by the Transport Committee of the London Assembly to be neglected and not developed to their full potential.
Service frequencies
, these are the typical service frequencies on individual lines:- North London Line – six trains per hour between Stratford and Willesden Junction, with four continuing to Richmond and two to Clapham Junction. Eight trains per hour at peak times.
- West London Line – four trains per hour (two starting or ending at Stratford).
- Gospel Oak to Barking Line – four trains per hour.
- Watford DC Line – three trains per hour.
- East London Line – four trains per hour serving each of the southern termini, providing 12 trains per hour through the central section from Surrey Quays to Dalston Junction. Eight trains per hour from Dalston Junction to Highbury and Islington.
- South London Line (from late 2012) - four trains per hour from Dalston Junction to Clapham Junction via Surrey Quays.
Stations
The Overground serves the following stations:| North London Line North London Line The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail... |
West London Line West London Line The West London Line is a short railway in inner West London which links lines at in the south to lines near Willesden Junction in the north. It has always been an important cross-London link especially for freight services... |
Watford DC Line Watford DC Line The Watford DC Line is a commuter railway line from London Euston to Watford Junction. Services on the line are operated by London Overground.... |
Gospel Oak to Barking Line Gospel Oak to Barking line The Gospel Oak – Barking Line is a railway line in north and east London which connects Gospel Oak in North London and Barking in East London as part of the London Overground network. It is sometimes known as the Goblin , although this is a nickname rather than an official title... |
East London Line East London Line The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * |
^ ~
|
Current operations
London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL) has its head office in Swiss CottageSwiss Cottage
Swiss Cottage is a district of the London Borough of Camden in London, England. Thedistrict is located north-west of Charing Cross. It is centred on the junction of Avenue Road and Finchley Road and is the location of Swiss Cottage tube station.-Etymology:...
, where executive functions and staff training are carried out. Also here is Operations Control, which manages day-to-day operations. LOROL maintains its rolling stock from depots at Willesden Junction and New Cross (newly built for the extended East London line); it also uses several satellite locations for stabling trains, including Stratford railway station and Barking Depot in East London (Barking is a central depot for the National Express Group Franchise C2C). Train crew are based at several station locations across London, including London Euston, Willesden Junction, Watford Junction, New Cross, Stratford and Gospel Oak.
Ticketing
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
electronic smart card. As with all National Rail and TfL services in London, passengers can use a Travelcard
Travelcard
The Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area. Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year,...
(daily, seven-day, monthly or annual); as on other National Rail Services in London, paper single, return and cheap day return tickets priced under the zonal fare scheme are also available. In addition, TfL permits the use of Oyster
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
"pay-as-you-go" (PAYG).
As part of an effort to improve safety and protect revenue, TfL has announced that it will introduce ticket barriers at a number of stations. The stations that did not have barriers when TfL took over the line have been fitted with standalone Oyster Card readers similar to those at ungated Underground and DLR stations. The validator at which previously was needed to enter/exit the Oyster card system when using the line is now disused.
The ticket stock for the Overground continues to be common National Rail stock, as Overground services remain part of the National Rail network, but sometimes with a large TfL roundel in the centre and the repeated legend "Rail Settlement Plan
Rail Settlement Plan
Rail Settlement Plan is a division of the Association of Train Operating Companies in the United Kingdom. It provides a wide range of common services to the UK's franchised passenger rail operators and third party providers of information and retail services.The company was established on the...
" in a light green background.
Ticket pricing
Oyster PAYG is charged on the same zone-based rules as for the UndergroundLondon Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
and the Docklands Light Railway
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
. Stations outside Greater London, except for Watford Junction, are included in the newly created Travelcard Zones 7-9, while Acton Central, Hampstead Heath and Willesden Junction were re-zoned on 2 January 2008 (from 2 to 3, 3 to 2 and 3 to 2/3 respectively), which had the effect of reducing some zone-based fares.
Paper tickets are charged on the same zone-based rules as for Underground and DLR paper tickets, which were expanded to take in the extra zones covered. Watford Junction has its own specific price scale. In all cases, paper tickets are significantly more expensive than using Oyster PAYG.
Performance
Although branded as a TfL service, the Overground remains as, and is monitored for performance as, part of the National Rail network (unlike the UndergroundLondon Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
). The most recent figures released by the Office of Rail Regulation
Office of Rail Regulation
The Office of Rail Regulation is a statutory board which is the combined economic and safety regulatory authority for Great Britain's railway network. It was established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator...
(ORR), for January to March 2011, showed that it had achieved 95.9% of the Public Performance Measure (PPM) target for punctuality and reliability set by the ORR. This was above the average PPM for all London and the South East railway companies. The MAA of the PPM for the 12 months to 31 March 2011 was 94.8%. TfL, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, has investigated the use of data from the Oyster smartcard
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
ticketing system to measure the performance of the Overground explicitly from the passenger perspective.
In the Spring 2010 National Passenger Survey, conducted by Passenger Focus, London Overground received the lowest overall satisfaction rating of any UK train operating company, at 72%.
Branding
The public presentation of the Overground is visually associated with existing TfL design standards, using similar graphic design elements to those used on Underground publicity, signage and other elements, drawing on the design heritage of Frank PickFrank Pick
Frank Pick LLB Hon. RIBA was a British transport administrator. After qualifying as a solicitor in 1902, he worked at the North Eastern Railway, before moving to the Underground Electric Railways Company of London in 1906...
. These design standards will be applied to the new fleet of trains.
The routes are branded with a new version of the roundel, the iconic bar-and-circle symbol associated with transport services in London. The Overground version consists of an orange ring with a blue bar. The roundel was adopted from an earlier design by the London Passenger Transport Board
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
in 1933 and which has spawned many variations applied to succeeding operations. The current TfL versions use a hollow circle or ring rather than the original solid circle.
In common with other TfL services, the Overground is denoted by a designated sector colour, a vivid orange (Pantone
Pantone
Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space...
158C). Similarly to the presentation of the DLR, the Overground is shown on Tube maps as a double stripe rather than a solid line, to denote its status as a service that is not an Underground line.
Corporate signage, stationery and literature use the New Johnston
Johnston (typeface)
Johnston is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by and named after Edward Johnston. It is well known for its use by Transport for London....
typeface in common with other TfL services. A few refurbished stations on the reopened East London line now display the station name in large orange three-dimensional upper-case letters.
Rolling stock
Since London Overground took over operations from Silverlink, Transport for London has been pursuing a programme of rolling-stock replacement over three to five years. From 2009, brand-new Class 378 CapitalstarsElectrostar
Electrostar is the name given to a series of related electric multiple-unit passenger trains manufactured by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England...
built by Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
have been introduced on the electrified lines. The North London Line has 24 three-car units, and after platform extensions the North London Railway fleet will be extended to four cars in 2011. The East London Line is being initially operated with 20 four-car units, with three extra trains due to be introduced.
The new Class 378 electric trains were officially unveiled at station on 13 July 2009. They include a number of "Tube-style" features, including longitudinal seating and increased standing room to provide a high-capacity metro service. The trains have walk-through open carriage interiors and air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
. The first Capitalstars began passenger operation in July 2009.
The new trains are leased from a newly-formed Rolling Stock Operating Company
Rolling Stock Operating Company
In the United Kingdom, a Rolling Stock Operating Company owns and maintains railway engines and carriages which are leased to Train Operating Companies who actually operate the trains....
(ROSCO) named QW Rail Leasing
QW Rail Leasing
QW Rail Leasing is a Rolling Stock Operating Company formed in 2008 to fund the purchase of rolling stock in the United Kingdom, which would then be leased to train operating companies or TOCs...
, the lease running until 2027. TfL had planned to buy the new Class 378 EMU fleet outright, but in February 2008 it announced that it would lease the trains instead in order to free up the £250 million capital cost of purchase, combined with reducing the risk of making a loss through any future sell-on of the fleet.
The class 378s were introduced with success on most of the London Overground but there were some issues and delays. The 4-car 378 units for the Watford DC Line were delayed due to problems operating the trains as driver-only operated, due to safety concerns about blind spots on the CCTV system that allows the driver to see the passenger doors close. The Class 170 had technical issues that have now been resolved. But as of October 2010, the new rolling stock has completely replaced the older Class 313 EMU, Class 508 EMU
British Rail Class 508
The British Rail Class 508 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works in 1979-80. They were the fourth variety of BR's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes...
and Class 150 DMU
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
units previously operated by Silverlink, apart from the three Class 508 units withdrawn in late 2008. All the older rolling stock has been cascaded to other train operating companies, such as First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
, First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
and Merseyrail
Merseyrail
Merseyrail is a train operating company and commuter rail network in the United Kingdom, centred on Liverpool, Merseyside. The network is predominantly electric with diesel trains running on the City Line. Two City Line branches are currently being electrified on the overhead wire AC system with...
.
The East London line, previously operated with London Underground A60 and A62 Stock, was temporarily closed for rebuilding and is now operated with new Class 378 Capitalstar units.
Eight two-car Class 172/0 units were ordered by Angel Trains
Angel Trains
Angel Trains is an English Rolling Stock Operating Company created in 1994 as part of the privatisation of British Rail. It was one of three ROSCOs...
on behalf of TfL in November 2007, and London Overground will lease the units from them. Electrification
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
of the GOBLIN line is advocated by TfL
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
, local boroughs and passenger groups, but has not been included as part of Network Rail's
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
Route Utilisation Strategy for the Cross London Route. From 2010, TfL started using new two-car Class 172
British Rail Class 172
The Class 172 is a type of diesel multiple unit of the Turbostar family, similar to the Class 168, Class 170 and Class 171.-Technical details and variants :There will be four sub-types:*Class 172/0 - two-car units in operation with London Overground...
Turbostar
Turbostar
Turbostar is the name given to a family of diesel multiple units built by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England...
diesel trains.
All of the 172/0 units (numbers 172001 to 172008) have entered service for London Overground.
If the plan to replace the Watford DC Line with a Bakerloo line service to goes ahead, the 1972 Stock
London Underground 1972 Stock
The London Underground 1972 stock is a fleet of trains used on the London Underground. The 1972 Stock was ordered to make up the shortfall in trains on the Northern line's 1959 Tube Stock fleet...
fleet on the Bakerloo line could be augmented by newly-retired Victoria line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
1967 Stock
London Underground 1967 Stock
The 1967 Stock was a fleet of deep-level tube stock which operated on the Victoria line between 1 September 1968 and 30 June 2011, and was the original rolling stock provided from the line's opening...
trains, although these would need modification.
Current fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Cars per set | Seat layout | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| Class 172/0 Turbostar British Rail Class 172 The Class 172 is a type of diesel multiple unit of the Turbostar family, similar to the Class 168, Class 170 and Class 171.-Technical details and variants :There will be four sub-types:*Class 172/0 - two-car units in operation with London Overground... |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 8 | 2 | 2+2 | Gospel Oak-Barking Gospel Oak to Barking line The Gospel Oak – Barking Line is a railway line in north and east London which connects Gospel Oak in North London and Barking in East London as part of the London Overground network. It is sometimes known as the Goblin , although this is a nickname rather than an official title... |
2010 | |
| Class 378 Capitalstar British Rail Class 378 The Class 378 Capitalstar is a type of electric multiple-unit train, part of Bombardier Transportation's Electrostar family. These trains are operating on the new London Overground network... |
electric multiple unit Electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages... |
75 | 120 | 57 | 4 | Longitudinal | East London East London Line The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London... North London North London Line The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail... Watford DC Watford DC Line The Watford DC Line is a commuter railway line from London Euston to Watford Junction. Services on the line are operated by London Overground.... West London West London Line The West London Line is a short railway in inner West London which links lines at in the south to lines near Willesden Junction in the north. It has always been an important cross-London link especially for freight services... |
2008–2011 | |
 |
|||||||||
Past fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Cars per set | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||||
| Class 150/1 British Rail Class 150 The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :... Sprinter Sprinter (train) The Sprinter is a family of diesel multiple unit trains in use on the UK railway system. They were built in the 1980s and early 1990s by BREL, Metro Cammell and Leyland. Most are based around a Cummins engine with Voith hydraulic transmission, although some class 158s have a Perkins engine... |
 |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
75 | 120 | 6 | 2 | Gospel Oak-Barking Gospel Oak to Barking line The Gospel Oak – Barking Line is a railway line in north and east London which connects Gospel Oak in North London and Barking in East London as part of the London Overground network. It is sometimes known as the Goblin , although this is a nickname rather than an official title... |
1984–1987 |
| Class 313/1 British Rail Class 313 British Rail Class 313 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York Works between February 1976 and April 1977 and were the first second-generation EMUs to be constructed for British Rail... |
electric multiple unit Electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages... |
75 | 120 | 8 | 3 | Watford DC Line Watford DC Line The Watford DC Line is a commuter railway line from London Euston to Watford Junction. Services on the line are operated by London Overground.... |
1976–1977 (Refurbishment 1997–2001) |
|
 |
||||||||
| Class 508/3 British Rail Class 508 The British Rail Class 508 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works in 1979-80. They were the fourth variety of BR's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes... |
 |
electric multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 2 | 3 | Watford DC Line Watford DC Line The Watford DC Line is a commuter railway line from London Euston to Watford Junction. Services on the line are operated by London Overground.... |
1979–1980 (Refurbished 2003) |
Livery
New rolling stock has been painted with new London Overground livery. The design is similar to UndergroundLondon Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
standard livery, with light grey coaches, a longtitudinal thick blue stripe and a thin orange stripe along the bottom, London Overground roundels at mid-points along the coaches and orange doors. The fronts and backs are painted yellow to comply with National Rail standards. The seat upholstery features a moquette by fabric designers Wallace Sewell.
Older rolling stock inherited from Silverlink retained its Silverlink's purple and lime green livery with yellow doors until the stock was replaced. The Silverlink logos were removed and Overground banners were added.
Current developments
The expansion of the Overground network has been widely publicised by TfL as part of its transport strategy, and involves the addition of two new lines to the network which will eventually link to form a ring around London. The East London Railway is now complete, and funding for the conversion of the South London Line was secured in 2009. Prospective 2010 Tube maps were released in 2008 to the press illustrating the potential full extent of the planned network.South London Line
Funding for the project was secured in February 2009, including £64 million from the DfT and £15 million from TfL, and work is scheduled for completion by late 2012.
The route passes over both and stations without stopping. The proposals have been criticised for not including new interchange stations with Thameslink
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
and the London Underground Victoria line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
s. No stations are planned at these locations as the line is on high railway arches, making the cost of any station construction prohibitive.
A new station at Surrey Canal Road was also planned, but this was put on hold in 2009, though a suitable station 'box' is being built to facilitate later possible implementation.
Proposed Developments
As with all of London transport, there have been a number of proposal regarding extensions and changes to the Overground network. None of these have been confirmed to date.Watford DC Line move to Bakerloo
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, and London Overground services would be withdrawn.
As part of this change, Overground services would be diverted at Primrose Hill Junction via the currently freight-only route through (closed to passenger traffic since 1992) to , providing a new service between Queen's Park and Stratford. If this change takes place, and will no longer have direct services to central London, and the Overground will lose its only presence at a London terminus (Euston).
The Watford line is still shown as part of the Overground on prospective Tube maps issued by TfL, so this proposal appears uncertain.
Further Extension in South London
In the March 2008 edition of The Londoner newspaper, TfL announced an intention to take over more routes in South London when SouthernSouthern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
's franchise expired in 2009. However, this plan was not included in the franchise tender documents, nor in the 2008 ten-year plan.
Old Oak Common interchange
A long-term plan exists to create interchange facilities with future High Speed 2High Speed 2
High Speed 2 is a proposed high-speed railway between London and the Midlands, the North of England, and potentially at a later stage the central belt of Scotland. The project is being developed by High Speed Two Ltd, a company established by the British government...
railway services at the proposed station. Planning documents issued by the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
suggest that the new station, on a site just south of , could open by 2025 and offer connections with London Overground on both the North London
North London Line
The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail...
and West London Lines.
The station would also be served by the forthcoming Crossrail
Crossrail
Crossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...
line, Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
services and Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express is an airport rail link from London Heathrow Airport to London Paddington station in London operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authority, a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA. It was opened by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998...
, and the proposals additionally indicate the possibility of including interchange facilities with the Bakerloo
Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo line is a line of the London Underground, coloured brown on the Tube map. It runs partly on the surface and partly at deep level, from Elephant and Castle in the south-east to Harrow & Wealdstone in the north-west of London. The line serves 25 stations, of which 15 are underground...
and Central line
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
s. The Old Oak Common plans are supported by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is a London borough in West London, and forms part of Inner London. Traversed by the east-west main roads of the A4 Great West Road and the A40 Westway, many international corporations have offices in the borough....
.
See also
- London UndergroundLondon UndergroundThe London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
- Overground NetworkOverground NetworkOverground Network was a branding initiative launched in 2003 by the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London, the public transport authority in London, UK. Its aim was to encourage use of National Rail services in South London...
- OrbirailOrbirailOrbirail was a name for a suggested orbital railway route around London. It would involve connecting the extended North London Line, East London Line, the Inner South London Line and the West London Line, possibly including the Gospel Oak to Barking Line. The combined line would orbit London in...
- CrossrailCrossrailCrossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...