Contract awarded for work on London's 'orbiting rail line'

Date: 23/5/2011

Work continues apace on the project to construct an Overground rail service that once complete will orbit the UK's capital.

Transport for London has announced that it has awarded a contract to Birse Metro to begin work on the first part of the new network, with the scheme set to cost £75 million in total.

The new link will connect Surrey Quays with Clapham Junction and allow passengers to make journeys that bypass the centre of the city.

Existing National Rail lines will be used for much of the extension, although some construction work will be required, such as on the stretch connecting services at Surrey Quays with the railway at Old Kent Road.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "This small but incredibly significant stretch of track will be the final section of a mighty wheel of Overground services around the capital."

He added that projects like this are the reason he requested more government funding and that Overground services could now soon be faster and more frequent.

Other initiatives aimed at improving London's transport network include an extension and upgrade of the Docklands Light Railway, which includes the construction of a station and the addition of new three-car trains to the route.

Posted by Nick Anderson