East London Line opened

Date: 29/4/2010

Part of a £1 billion London Overground project to link parts of East London with key commercial areas opened this week.

Transport for London's (TfL) new East London Line replaced the old East London Line, providing a line between Dalston Junction and West Croydon.

When the service is fully operational up to 20 trains an hour will run on the line. A full service is due to begin on May 23rd.

Until that date, a limited service of eight trains an hour from 07:00 to 20:00 will run on week days.

Speaking at the launch, London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "In this £1 billion upgrade, the old has been fused with the best of the new - the Victorian genius of Brunel's tunnel under the Thames now comprises part of a network of almost space-age stations, which will soon form an orbital railway around the capital."

It is hoped that the new line will help to ease overcrowding on the Tube network.

Ian Brown, managing director of TfL London Rail, said that the route is due to be connected with London Overground's existing network in the north of the city next year, while in 2012 it will be linked in the south, thereby completing the London Overground orbital railway around city.