Silverlink
Encyclopedia
Silverlink Train Services Ltd was a train operating company
in the United Kingdom
. It operated routes in North London
and from London
to Northampton
(and until 2004, to Birmingham via Coventry). It was owned by National Express Group
plc.
sector of British Rail began to be prepared for privatisation on 1 April 1994. The franchise began on 3 March 1997 and was due to end on 15 October 2006, but on 11 August 2006 the DfT
extended the franchise to finish on 11 November 2007.
The company's name was changed to Silverlink in September 1997. The name is taken from the first of the LNER A4 steam locomotives (a member of which holds the world speed record for steam traction) which was called Silver Link. Ironically, Silverlink trains operated on the route to the north of the old LMS, the LNER's greatest rival.
Note: Changes during the franchise period are noted but changes to the lines before and after the franchise are not.
North London Line
† At the end of service on Saturday 9 December 2006 the line between Stratford and North Woolwich closed, as much of the route is duplicated by the Docklands Light Railway
and the Jubilee Line
, leaving Stratford as the eastern terminus of the North London Line.
West London Line
Shepherd's Bush
station on the West London Line was due to open under the franchise (with signage in Silverlink colours installed), but platform widening work meant that it finally opened in September 2008 under London Overground
management, the signage being replaced with the London Overground roundels by that time.
Watford DC Line
† = also served by the Bakerloo Line
.
Gospel Oak to Barking Line
.
† Services north of Northampton were taken over by Central Trains
from 2005. The route shared rolling stock and parent company
with Silverlink, and some through services remained.
St Albans Abbey Line
Marston Vale Line
report described the service as "shabby, unreliable, unsafe and overcrowded".
The recent transfer of the service to Transport for London
(TfL) has the potential to improve the quality of the service due to upgrade plans which coincide with the extension of the East London line
.
A report on the future of the line can be found on the London Assembly website.
25kV AC/750 V DC electric multiple units on the electrified routes, with three Class 508/3
750 V DC electric multiple units used exclusively on the Euston-Watford Junction service. Class 150
Sprinter diesel multiple unit
s were used on the non-electrified Gospel Oak-Barking route. They replaced elderly Class 121
and Class 117
units in 2000.
County services to Northampton were operated by Class 321/4
electrical multiple units introduced in 1988. They were joined by new Class 350/1
Desiro
units built by Siemens AG
in summer 2005, which operate as a shared fleet with Central Trains
.
The St Albans Abbey line was operated for many years by Class 313
electric multiple units, but were usually operated by Class 321
units with Silverlink Metro drivers and Silverlink County guards.
The non-electrified County Marston Vale Line used Class 150
diesel units. Prior to the year 2000 this rout was also worked by Class 121 and 117 units.
and the new West Midlands franchise. Therefore, Silverlink County and Silverlink Metro have become Defunct UK Train Operating companies (sub-brands).
, the West London Line
, the Watford DC Line
and the Gospel Oak to Barking line
) have come under the control of Transport for London
under the banner of the London Overground.
Four prospective operators were initially pre-selected for the London Overground concession:
In December 2006, Govia and MTR Laing were selected to submit "best and final offers" for the concession. MTR Laing was selected on 19 June 2007 and began operations from 11 November 2007.
to form the new West Midlands franchise. The Department for Transport
announced on 19 September 2006 that three parties had pre-qualified for the new franchise.
Subsequently, MTR withdrew (it was suggested in the press at the time that this was part of a gentleman's agreement with Govia to divide this with the Overground franchise). In June 2007, the Government announced that Govia had been awarded the franchise, to be operated under the name London Midland
.
had proposed to withdraw from the Willesden train maintenance depot. Closure would have left the Class 313 trains homeless. On 12 May 2007, Silverlink took over direct running of the depot and its staff for the final six months of its franchise. Alstom will continue to operate four depots on the West Coast Main Line
, at Wembley
, Oxley
, Longsight
, and Polmadie
.
|-
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
in the United Kingdom
Rail transport in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and previously consisted of Great Britain and the whole of Ireland. Rail transport systems developed independently on the two islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and most of the railway construction in the Republic of Ireland was...
. It operated routes in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
and from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
(and until 2004, to Birmingham via Coventry). It was owned by 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...
plc.
History
The franchise was awarded to National Express on 7 February 1997, when it was agreed they would take over North London Railways Ltd, a shadow franchise created when the Network SouthEastNetwork SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
sector of British Rail began to be prepared for privatisation on 1 April 1994. The franchise began on 3 March 1997 and was due to end on 15 October 2006, but on 11 August 2006 the DfT
DFT
DFT may stand for:*Discrete Fourier transform*Decision field theory*Density functional theory*Demand Flow Technology*The United Kingdom's Department for Transport*Design For Test*Deareating Feed Tank*Digital Film Technology maker of the Spirit DataCine...
extended the franchise to finish on 11 November 2007.
The company's name was changed to Silverlink in September 1997. The name is taken from the first of the LNER A4 steam locomotives (a member of which holds the world speed record for steam traction) which was called Silver Link. Ironically, Silverlink trains operated on the route to the north of the old LMS, the LNER's greatest rival.
Sub-brands
Silverlink trains had two sub-brands:- Silverlink County-operating services between London Euston and Northampton, Watford Junction and St Albans AbbeySt Albans Branch LineThe Abbey Line is a railway line from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey railway station. The route passes through town and countryside...
, and Bletchley and Bedford; and
- Silverlink Metro -operating services between Stratford and Richmond, Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction, London Euston to Watford Junction via Queen's Park and Willesden Junction, and Gospel Oak and Barking.
Silverlink Metro
Silverlink Metro operated the following services.Note: Changes during the franchise period are noted but changes to the lines before and after the franchise are not.
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...
| Richmond Richmond station (London) Richmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains.... (change for District Line 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... ) |
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| Kew Gardens (change for District Line 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... ) |
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| Gunnersbury (change for District Line 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... ) |
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| South Acton South Acton railway station South Acton railway station is in the London Borough of Ealing in South Acton, west London. It is on the North London Line, and the station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It is in Travelcard Zone 3... |
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| Acton Central Acton Central railway station Acton Central railway station is on the North London Line, between and , in Travelcard Zone 3. It is also where trains change power supply from OHLE to 3rd Rail or from 3rd rail to OHLE depending on direction of travel.-History:... |
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| Willesden Junction (change for Bakerloo Line 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... , 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 Watford DC Line) |
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| Kensal Rise Kensal Rise railway station Kensal Rise railway station is on the North London Line on Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise in north west London. The station is in Travelcard Zone 2.... |
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| Brondesbury Park Brondesbury Park railway station Brondesbury Park railway station is on the North London Line in Travelcard Zone 2, between and . It is close to Queen's Park, and opened in 1908.-History:... |
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| Brondesbury Brondesbury railway station Brondesbury is on the North London Line, on a viaduct crossing Kilburn High Road in the Brondesbury area of Kilburn in north-west London.It is approximately 200 metres south-east of station and half a mile north-west of station.... |
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| West Hampstead West Hampstead railway station West Hampstead interchange is a proposal by Chiltern Railways to connect three existing railway stations and two lines now without platforms, on West End Lane in West Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden in London, England. Although physically separate, they are near each other and the... (change for Jubilee Line 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... and 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... ) |
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| Finchley Road & Frognal Finchley Road & Frognal railway station Finchley Road & Frognal railway station is on Finchley Road in the London Borough of Camden in North London. It is on the North London Line, and the station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It is in Travelcard Zone 2... |
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| Hampstead Heath Hampstead Heath railway station Hampstead Heath railway station is in London on the North London Line, between and stations. Since 11 November 2007 it and the service there have been run by London Overground.The typical service at the station in trains per hour is:... |
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| Gospel Oak Gospel Oak railway station Gospel Oak railway station is in the borough of Camden in north London. It is on the North London Line and is also the western passenger terminus of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line... (change for Gospel Oak - 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... ) |
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| Kentish Town West Kentish Town West railway station Kentish Town West railway station, on the North London Line, is in Prince of Wales Road in the London Borough of Camden. It is in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It opened on 1 April 1867 as "Kentish Town", was renamed "Kentish Town West"... |
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| Camden Road Camden Road railway station Camden Road railway station is in the London Borough of Camden in North London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It is on the North London Line and in Travelcard Zone 2.... |
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| Caledonian Road & Barnsbury Caledonian Road & Barnsbury railway station Caledonian Road & Barnsbury railway station in the London Borough of Islington in North London is on the North London Line and is in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. The station opened in 1870 as "Barnsbury" replacing the 1852 Caledonian... |
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| Highbury & Islington Highbury & Islington station Highbury & Islington station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is served by the Victoria line, London Overground's East and North London Lines and First Capital Connect's Northern City Line.... (change for 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... ) |
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| Canonbury Canonbury railway station Canonbury railway station serves the district of Canonbury within the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is on London Overground's North London Line and East London Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground, and the station is in Travelcard Zone 2... |
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| Dalston Kingsland Dalston Kingsland railway station Dalston Kingsland railway station is a railway station on the North London Line in London, England. It is in the Dalston area of the London Borough of Hackney, on the western side of Kingsland High Street and opposite Ridley Road Market. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London... |
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| Hackney Central Hackney Central railway station Hackney Central railway station is a railway station on the North London Line in an area of the London Borough of Hackney known as Hackney Central in east London. It is between and , in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground.The station is a... |
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| Homerton Homerton railway station Homerton railway station is in the London Borough of Hackney in east London. It is on the North London Line, and the station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground... |
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| Hackney Wick Hackney Wick railway station Hackney Wick railway station is on the North London Line in the London Borough of Hackney, on the northern side of the boundary between Hackney and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in east London. It is in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground... |
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| Stratford (change for 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... , Jubilee Line 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... , 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... , c2c C2c c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway... (limited services - early morning, late night and during engineering works only) and National Express East Anglia) |
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| West Ham † | |
| Canning Town Canning Town station Canning Town station is an inter-modal transport interchange in Canning Town, northeast London, England. It is served by the London Underground Jubilee line, the Docklands Light Railway and local buses operated for London Buses. It is in Travelcard Zone 3... † |
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| Custom House † | |
| Silvertown Silvertown railway station Silvertown railway station was a station in Silvertown, east London. It was in Travelcard Zone 3, and located between Custom House and , the eastern terminus of the North London Line until the line closure from Stratford to North Woolwich on 9 December 2006.... † |
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| North Woolwich North Woolwich railway station North Woolwich railway station in North Woolwich in east London was the eastern terminus of the North London Line. It was in Travelcard Zone 3. The next station was .-History:... † |
† At the end of service on Saturday 9 December 2006 the line between Stratford and North Woolwich closed, as much of the route is duplicated by 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...
and the Jubilee Line
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...
, leaving Stratford as the eastern terminus of the North London Line.
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...
| Willesden Junction (change for 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... , Watford DC Line and Bakerloo Line 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... ) |
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| Kensington (Olympia) Kensington (Olympia) station Kensington station is a station in West London managed and served by London Overground and also served by Southern and London Underground. It is in Travelcard Zone 2... (change for District Line 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... and Southern Southern (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... ) |
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| West Brompton West Brompton station West Brompton is a Network Rail West London Line and London Underground District Line station in west London. It is located on Old Brompton Road immediately south of Earls Court Exhibition Centre and to the west of Brompton Cemetery.... (change for District Line 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... and Southern Southern (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... ) |
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| Clapham Junction Clapham Junction railway station Clapham Junction railway station is near St John's Hill in the south-west of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Although it is in Battersea, the area around the station is commonly identified as Clapham Junction.... (change for South West Trains South West Trains South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight... and Southern Southern (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... ) |
Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush railway station
Shepherd's Bush station is a railway station located in the district of Shepherd's Bush in west London, England, UK. It opened in 2008 on the West London Line and is served by London Overground and Southern rail services...
station on the West London Line was due to open under the franchise (with signage in Silverlink colours installed), but platform widening work meant that it finally opened in September 2008 under London Overground
London Overground
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...
management, the signage being replaced with the London Overground roundels by that time.
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....
| London Euston (change for Northern Line 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... , 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... , 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.... and Virgin Virgin Trains Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland... ) |
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| South Hampstead South Hampstead railway station South Hampstead railway station is on Loudoun Road in the London Borough of Camden. It is about 500 metres south west of Swiss Cottage tube station. It opened in 1879 as "Loudon Road station" and acquired its present name in 1922. Two platforms on the Euston to Watford DC Line remain; those on the... |
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| Kilburn High Road Kilburn High Road railway station Kilburn High Road railway station is a London Overground station situated near the south end of the Kilburn High Road, London NW6 in the London Borough of Camden.-History:... |
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| Queen's Park † | |
| Kensal Green † | |
| Willesden Junction † (change for 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... and 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... ) |
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| Harlesden † | |
| Stonebridge Park † | |
| Wembley Central † (change for Southern Southern (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... during the peaks) |
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| North Wembley † | |
| South Kenton † | |
| Kenton † | |
| Harrow & Wealdstone † (change for Northampton Line and Southern Southern (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... ) |
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| Headstone Lane Headstone Lane railway station Headstone Lane is a railway station near Headstone, in the London Borough of Harrow. The station is in Travelcard Zone 5.-Services:The typical off-peak service is three trains per hour to London Euston, and three trains per hour to Watford Junction, calling at all stations... |
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| Hatch End Hatch End railway station Hatch End railway station is in the London Borough of Harrow, in north London, and in Travelcard Zone 6.It is located at .The station has two platforms. The northbound platform is on the side of the ticket office and cafe. The southbound platform is reached via a footbridge... |
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| Carpenders Park Carpenders Park railway station Carpenders Park railway station is in between the Hertfordshire suburb of Carpenders Park and the South Oxhey housing estate. It is south of Watford Junction on the Watford DC Line.... |
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| Bushey Bushey railway station Bushey railway station serves the towns of Bushey and Oxhey and is situated on the Watford DC Line, north of Harrow & Wealdstone. The station was renamed from "Bushey & Oxhey" to "Bushey" on 6 May 1974, even though it is actually sited in the neighbouring town of Oxhey, and the nearest part of... |
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| Watford High Street Watford High Street railway station Watford High Street railway station is a railway station in Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. It is served by the Watford DC Line on the London Overground network.-Location:... |
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| Watford Junction Watford Junction railway station On 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers... (change for Northampton Line, St Albans Abbey Line, Virgin Virgin Trains Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland... and Southern Southern (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... ) |
† = also served by the Bakerloo Line
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...
.
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...
| Gospel Oak Gospel Oak railway station Gospel Oak railway station is in the borough of Camden in north London. It is on the North London Line and is also the western passenger terminus of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line... (change for 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... ) |
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| Upper Holloway Upper Holloway railway station Upper Holloway railway station is in Holloway, North London, near Archway . It is on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, between and . It is operated by London Overground, and the service is usually one train every 20 to 30 minutes in each direction... |
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| Crouch Hill Crouch Hill railway station Crouch Hill railway station is a railway station on Crouch Hill between Stroud Green and Crouch End, North London. It is on the Gospel Oak to Barking line between Upper Holloway and Harringay Green Lanes.... |
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| Harringay Green Lanes Harringay Green Lanes railway station Harringay Green Lanes railway station is a railway station in Harringay, North London. It is on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line between and .-Service:... |
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| South Tottenham South Tottenham railway station South Tottenham is a railway station on the east-west Gospel Oak to Barking Line. It is located on the eastern side of the north-south A10 High Road in Tottenham, North London, between and... |
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| Blackhorse Road Blackhorse Road station Blackhorse Road station is a London Overground and London Underground station on the junction of Blackhorse Road with Forest Road in the Walthamstow neighbourhood of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. The station below ground is on the Victoria Line of the London Underground... (change for 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... ) |
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| Walthamstow Queens Road | |
| Leyton Midland Road Leyton Midland Road railway station Leyton Midland Road is a railway station in Leyton, on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, between and stations.The station is managed by London Overground, and is in Zone 3... |
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| Leytonstone High Road Leytonstone High Road railway station Leytonstone High Road station is a railway station in Leytonstone, London in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, between and . It has two platforms that are elevated approximately 20 feet above ground level, each of which contains a metal shelter, covered but... |
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| Wanstead Park Wanstead Park railway station Wanstead Park is a railway station in Forest Gate, London. It is on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line in Zone 3, between and . It is operated by London Overground.... |
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| Woodgrange Park Woodgrange Park railway station Woodgrange Park is a railway station in Manor Park, east London, England. The station is on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line 3 km west of . The station is in both zones 3 and 4. It was opened 9 July 1894.... |
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| Barking Barking station Barking station is a railway station served by National Rail and London Underground services. It is located in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England. The station is in Zone 4, has nine platforms, and is managed by c2c. It has been proposed that ownership of... (change for District Line 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 Line 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... and c2c C2c c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway... ) |
Northampton Line
Northampton Line services ran on the slow lines of the West Coast Main LineWest Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
.
| London Euston (change for Watford DC Line and Virgin Virgin Trains Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland... ) |
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| Harrow and Wealdstone Harrow and Wealdstone station Harrow & Wealdstone station is in Wealdstone, Greater London. It is served by London Overground, London Midland, Southern and London Underground Bakerloo Line services. The station is located between The Bridge, Wealdstone, and Sandridge Close, Harrow with entrances leading to both... (change for Watford DC Line and Southern Southern (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... ) |
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| Bushey Bushey railway station Bushey railway station serves the towns of Bushey and Oxhey and is situated on the Watford DC Line, north of Harrow & Wealdstone. The station was renamed from "Bushey & Oxhey" to "Bushey" on 6 May 1974, even though it is actually sited in the neighbouring town of Oxhey, and the nearest part of... |
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| Watford Junction Watford Junction railway station On 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers... (change for Watford DC Line, St Albans Abbey Line, Virgin Virgin Trains Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland... and Southern Southern (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... ) |
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| Kings Langley Kings Langley railway station Kings Langley railway station is just under the M25 motorway at Junction 20. It serves the village of Kings Langley, and the nearby villages of Abbots Langley and Hunton Bridge. The station is 34 km north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line... |
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| Apsley Apsley railway station Apsley railway station is in Apsley, on the southern outskirts of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England.The station is north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line... |
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| Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead railway station Hemel Hempstead railway station is on the West Coast Main Line, on the western edge of the town of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. The station is 39 km north-west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line... |
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| Berkhamsted Berkhamsted railway station Berkhamsted railway station is in the town of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in the United Kingdom. It is located just beside Berkhamsted Castle, overlooking the Grand Junction Canal. The station is north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line... |
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| Tring Tring railway station Tring railway station is 1.5 miles outside the small town of Tring, close to the Grand Union Canal and actually nearer the village of Aldbury in Hertfordshire, England. The former Royal Station Hotel and Restaurant has been converted into residential accommodation and beyond that is a small... |
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| Cheddington Cheddington railway station Cheddington railway station serves the village of Cheddington, near Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, England. It also serves a number of surrounding villages, most notably Ivinghoe. The station is 58 km/36 miles north west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line. It is operated by London Midland,... |
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| Leighton Buzzard Leighton Buzzard railway station Leighton Buzzard railway station serves the Leighton Buzzard and Linslade area of Bedfordshire and nearby parts of Buckinghamshire. Actually situated in Linslade, the station is north west of London Euston and is served by London Midland local services from Northampton to London on the West Coast... |
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| Bletchley Bletchley railway station Bletchley is a railway station that serves the southern districts of Milton Keynes , and the north-eastern parts of the Buckinghamshire district of Aylesbury Vale.... (change for Marston Vale Line) |
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| Milton Keynes Central Milton Keynes Central railway station Milton Keynes Central railway station serves Central Milton Keynes and the surrounding area of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The station is located on the West Coast Main Line between the stations of Bletchley and Wolverton, both of which are also within Milton Keynes. The station is served by... |
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| Wolverton Wolverton railway station Wolverton railway station serves northern Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, especially Stony Stratford, Wolverton and New Bradwell.The station is served by London Midland local services from Northampton to London on the West Coast Main Line. It is one of the five stations serving Milton Keynes... |
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| Northampton Northampton railway station Northampton railway station is a railway station serving the large town of Northampton and other parts of Northamptonshire in England. Other parts of South Northamptonshire are better served by Kings Sutton, Banbury and Milton Keynes Central stations.... (change for Central Trains) |
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| Long Buckby Long Buckby railway station Long Buckby railway station is a small railway station that serves the village of Long Buckby in Northamptonshire, England. The station is 15 km north west of Northampton.... † |
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| Rugby Rugby railway station Rugby railway station serves the town of Rugby in Warwickshire, England. It opened during the Victorian era, in 1885, replacing earlier stations situated a little further west... † |
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| Coventry Coventry railway station Coventry railway station is situated about 250 yards to the south of junction 6 of the inner ring road in the city of Coventry, West Midlands, England... † |
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| Birmingham International † | |
| Birmingham New Street Birmingham New Street Station Birmingham New Street is the main railway station serving Birmingham, England, located in the city centre. It is an important hub for the British railway system, being served by a number of important long-distance and cross-country lines, including the Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line,... † |
† Services north of Northampton were taken over by Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
from 2005. The route shared rolling stock and parent company
National Express
National Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
with Silverlink, and some through services remained.
St Albans Abbey LineSt Albans Branch LineThe Abbey Line is a railway line from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey railway station. The route passes through town and countryside...
| Watford Junction Watford Junction railway station On 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers... (change for Northampton Line, Virgin Virgin Trains Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland... , 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.... and Southern Southern (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... ) |
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| Watford North Watford North railway station Watford North railway station serves the North Watford area of Watford in Hertfordshire, England. It is the first station on the Abbey Line 1.2 km north east of Watford Junction. Originally opened in October 1910 as 'Callowland', the station was built to serve a developing residential and... |
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| Garston Garston (Hertfordshire) railway station Garston railway station serves the Garston area of Watford in Hertfordshire, England. It is the second station on the Abbey Line after leaving Watford Junction... |
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| Bricket Wood Bricket Wood railway station Bricket Wood railway station serves the village of Bricket Wood in Hertfordshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by London Midland. It is on the Abbey Line 5 km east of Watford Junction.-History:... |
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| How Wood How Wood (Hertfordshire) railway station How Wood is a railway station in the village of How Wood, Hertfordshire, England.It is the fourth station on the Abbey Line 7 km after leaving Watford Junction. Like all the other stations on the branch , How Wood is a simple unstaffed halt... |
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| Park Street Park Street railway station Park Street railway station serves the village of Park Street in Hertfordshire, England. It is the penultimate station on the Abbey Line. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by London Midland.-History:... |
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| St Albans Abbey St Albans Abbey railway station St Albans Abbey railway station serves the city of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England, being situated about 1 km south of the city centre in the St Stephen's area of the city. It is the terminus of the Abbey Line from Watford Junction, which is part of the London Midland franchise... |
Marston Vale LineMarston Vale LineThe Marston Vale Line is the railway line from Bletchley to Bedford in England. It is one of two surviving passenger-carrying sections of the "Varsity Line" between Oxford and Cambridge....
| Bletchley Bletchley railway station Bletchley is a railway station that serves the southern districts of Milton Keynes , and the north-eastern parts of the Buckinghamshire district of Aylesbury Vale.... (change for Northampton Line) |
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| Fenny Stratford Fenny Stratford railway station Fenny Stratford is a railway station that serves the Fenny Stratford area of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It is on the Marston Vale Line that links Bletchley and Bedford.This station is one of five serving Milton Keynes. The others are , , and .... |
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| Bow Brickhill Bow Brickhill railway station Bow Brickhill railway station is a railway station that serves the village of Bow Brickhill in the Borough of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, and the Caldecotte, Tilbrook and Walton areas of south-east Milton Keynes itself. It is on the Bletchley — Bedford Marston Vale Line.The station is served by... |
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| Woburn Sands Woburn Sands railway station Woburn Sands railway station serves the villages of Woburn Sands and Wavendon in the borough of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, England. It is on the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley... |
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| Aspley Guise Aspley Guise railway station Aspley Guise railway station is a railway station that serves the village of Aspley Guise in Bedfordshire, England. It is on the Bletchley — Bedford Marston Vale Line.The station is served by London Midland Bletchley — Bedford local services... |
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| Ridgmont Ridgmont railway station Ridgmont railway station is a small unstaffed railway station that serves the villages of Ridgmont in Bedfordshire , Brogborough and Husborne Crawley. It also serves the large Amazon.com warehouse next door... |
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| Lidlington Lidlington railway station Lidlington railway station serves the village of Lidlington in Bedfordshire, England. The station's two platforms once faced each other, either side of the double tracks... |
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| Millbrook Millbrook (Bedfordshire) railway station Millbrook railway station serves the villages of Millbrook and Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, England. It is on the Marston Vale Line, between Stewartby and Lidlington... |
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| Stewartby Stewartby railway station Stewartby railway station serves the Bedfordshire village of Stewartby in England. It is also the nearest station to the Marston Vale Millennium Country Park.-Services:... |
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| Kempston Hardwick Kempston Hardwick railway station Kempston Hardwick railway station serves the village of Kempston Hardwick in Bedfordshire, England. It is not to be confused with the nearby town of Kempston. The station has two platforms next to a half-barrier level crossing.-Services:... |
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| Bedford St Johns Bedford St Johns railway station Bedford St Johns is the smaller of two railway stations that serve the town of Bedford in Bedfordshire. It is on the Marston Vale line from Bletchley to Bedford Midland.The station is unstaffed, and is operated by London Midland.... |
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| Bedford (change for 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... and East Midlands Trains East Midlands Trains East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London... ) |
Performance
Silverlink was categorised as a London and South East operator by the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR) and was one of the best performing TOCs in this sector with a PPM (Public Performance Measure) of 90.8% for the last quarter of the financial year 2006/7. This figure is for the whole of the day, as opposed to just peak services for which their performance is lower. The figures are slightly down from last year, but remain above the sector level of 89.0%.Silverlink Metro service levels
Despite published performance figures the Silverlink Metro franchise on the North London Line was regarded by frequent travellers as offering a poor service, with extremely congested trains and an unreliable service with some trains cancelled shortly before they are due to arrive. A recent London AssemblyLondon Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
report described the service as "shabby, unreliable, unsafe and overcrowded".
The recent transfer of the service to 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) has the potential to improve the quality of the service due to upgrade plans which coincide with the extension of 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...
.
A report on the future of the line can be found on the London Assembly website.
Rolling stock
Metro services were operated by Class 313British 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...
25kV AC/750 V DC electric multiple units on the electrified routes, with three 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...
750 V DC electric multiple units used exclusively on the Euston-Watford Junction service. Class 150
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 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:...
s were used on the non-electrified Gospel Oak-Barking route. They replaced elderly Class 121
British Rail Class 121
Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...
and Class 117
British Rail Class 117
The British Rail Class 117 diesel multiple units were built by Pressed Steel from 1959 to 1961.When first introduced, these three-car units were all based with the similar Class 121 single carriage units on British Railway's Western Region for suburban work out of London Paddington, as well as...
units in 2000.
County services to Northampton were operated by Class 321/4
British Rail Class 321
The British Rail Class 321 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-91. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express respectively...
electrical multiple units introduced in 1988. They were joined by new Class 350/1
British Rail Class 350
The British Rail Class 350 "Desiro" is class of electrical multiple unit built by Siemens AG from 2004–05 and 2008–09. Thirty of these units, designated Class 350/1, were built for use by Central Trains and Silverlink on regional express services and services on the southern section of the West...
Desiro
Desiro
The Siemens Desiro is a family of diesel or electric multiple unit passenger trains. The main variants are the Desiro Classic, Desiro ML, Desiro UK and the future Desiro City and Desiro RUS. The trains are mostly used for commuter and regional services, and their rapid acceleration makes them...
units built by Siemens AG
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
in summer 2005, which operate as a shared fleet with Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
.
The St Albans Abbey line was operated for many years by Class 313
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 units, but were usually operated by Class 321
British Rail Class 321
The British Rail Class 321 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-91. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express respectively...
units with Silverlink Metro drivers and Silverlink County guards.
The non-electrified County Marston Vale Line used Class 150
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 :...
diesel units. Prior to the year 2000 this rout was also worked by Class 121 and 117 units.
Fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Routes operated | Built | Period used | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| Class 121 Bubble Car British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes... |
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:... |
70 | 112 | 4 | Gospel Oak - Barking Line Marston Vale Line |
1960 | ?-2001 | Replaced by Class 150 | |
| Class 150/1 Sprinter 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 :... |
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 | Silverlink Metro: Gospel Oak - Barking Line Silverlink County: Marston Vale Line |
1984–1987 | 2000–2007 | ||
| Class 313 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 | 21 | Silverlink Metro: North London Line West London Line Watford DC Line |
1976-1977 1997 - 2001 (Refurbished) |
1983-2007 | ||
| Class 321/4 British Rail Class 321 The British Rail Class 321 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-91. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express respectively... |
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... |
100 | 160 | 37 | Silverlink County: Northampton Line St Albans Abbey Line |
1989-1990 | 1989-2007 | ||
| Class 350/1 Desiro British Rail Class 350 The British Rail Class 350 "Desiro" is class of electrical multiple unit built by Siemens AG from 2004–05 and 2008–09. Thirty of these units, designated Class 350/1, were built for use by Central Trains and Silverlink on regional express services and services on the southern section of the West... |
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... |
100 | 160 | 30 | Silverlink County: Northampton Line |
2004–2005 | 2004–2007 | Built for Central Trains and Silverlink regional express services and Central Trains CityLink services on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line | |
| 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 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 | 3 | Silverlink Metro: Watford DC Line |
1979 - 1980 2003 (Refurbished) |
2003–2007 | Replaced by Class 313 |
Silverlink in the News
- On Tuesday 24 January 2006, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Mayor Ken LivingstoneKen LivingstoneKenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
called for all Silverlink stations to be staffed after the murder of City lawyer Thomas Rhys Pryce near Kensal Green stationKensal Green stationKensal Green station is a Network Rail station served by London Underground Bakerloo line and London Overground trains. It is located in College Road, London NW10 close to the junction with Harrow Road...
. - On Friday 16 July 2004, Virgin TrainsVirgin TrainsVirgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
announced that it was withdrawing most of its stops at Milton Keynes CentralMilton Keynes Central railway stationMilton Keynes Central railway station serves Central Milton Keynes and the surrounding area of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The station is located on the West Coast Main Line between the stations of Bletchley and Wolverton, both of which are also within Milton Keynes. The station is served by...
, which were used by up to 6000 passengers a day. Commuters became unhappy at the prospect of switching to older Silverlink trains, a longer journey. Silverlink countered this with the temporary usage of ex-Virgin stock, still in Virgin colours. - On Monday 7 June 2004, a Silverlink train carrying about 50 passengers derailed as it entered NorthamptonNorthampton railway stationNorthampton railway station is a railway station serving the large town of Northampton and other parts of Northamptonshire in England. Other parts of South Northamptonshire are better served by Kings Sutton, Banbury and Milton Keynes Central stations....
. No-one was injured.
Reorganisation of former Silverlink Services
The Silverlink franchise ended in November 2007. Henceforward, Silverlink's operations were split between Transport for LondonTransport 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...
and the new West Midlands franchise. Therefore, Silverlink County and Silverlink Metro have become Defunct UK Train Operating companies (sub-brands).
London Overground
Silverlink Metro services (the North London LineNorth 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...
, 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....
and 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...
) have come under the control 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...
under the banner of the London Overground.
Four prospective operators were initially pre-selected for the London Overground concession:
- GoviaGoviaGovia 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...
- MTR Laing (a joint venture between MTR CorporationMTR CorporationMTR 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) - National Express GroupNational Express GroupNational 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 then current operators) - NedRailwaysAbellio (transport company)Abellio is a public transit operator in Germany which operates both bus and rail networks. The headquarters of the company are in Essen. Abellio Germany is part of the Abellio Group , the international expansion arm of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.-History:Abellio was formed by the Essen public...
(now called Abellio)
In December 2006, Govia and MTR Laing were selected to submit "best and final offers" for the concession. MTR Laing was selected on 19 June 2007 and began operations from 11 November 2007.
West Midlands Franchise
Silverlink County services were merged with part of Central TrainsCentral Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
to form the new West Midlands franchise. 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 on 19 September 2006 that three parties had pre-qualified for the new franchise.
- London & Birmingham Railway Limited (GoviaGoviaGovia 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...
) - MTR Corporation (UK) Limited (MTR CorporationMTR CorporationMTR 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...
of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) - Serco NedRailways West Midlands Limited (a Joint Venture between Serco and NedRailwaysAbellio (transport company)Abellio is a public transit operator in Germany which operates both bus and rail networks. The headquarters of the company are in Essen. Abellio Germany is part of the Abellio Group , the international expansion arm of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.-History:Abellio was formed by the Essen public...
)
Subsequently, MTR withdrew (it was suggested in the press at the time that this was part of a gentleman's agreement with Govia to divide this with the Overground franchise). In June 2007, the Government announced that Govia had been awarded the franchise, to be operated under the name 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....
.
Willesden depot
AlstomAlstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
had proposed to withdraw from the Willesden train maintenance depot. Closure would have left the Class 313 trains homeless. On 12 May 2007, Silverlink took over direct running of the depot and its staff for the final six months of its franchise. Alstom will continue to operate four depots on the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
, Oxley
Oxley, Wolverhampton
Oxley is a suburb of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, and a ward of Wolverhampton City Council. Its area code is WV10. It is situated in the north of the city, bordering South Staffordshire and the Bushbury North, Bushbury South and Low Hill, St Peter's and Tettenhall Regis wards...
, Longsight
Longsight
Longsight is an area of Manchester, England, about south of the city centre. Its population is about 16,000.-History:Longsight has been known over the past for its gang related violence, similar to that of nearby Moss Side. Most of the violence came from tensions between 2 gangs; The Longsight...
, and Polmadie
Polmadie
Polmadie is a district of Glasgow, a city in Scotland. Polmadie is situated south of the River Clyde, and adjacent to the Gorbals....
.
External links
- Silverlink Trains website (now redirects to London MidlandLondon MidlandLondon 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....
) - National Express Group website
- Transport for London website
- Department For Transport Railways page
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