London Overground set to benefit from 25% capacity boost

Date: 8/5/2013

The London Overground system is set to see the introduction of new rail carriages as (TfL) Transport for London looks to increase the capacity of the network by 25 per cent. 

It was announced yesterday (May 7th) that TfL has placed an order for 57 carriages with Derby-based firm Bombardier Trains, with the £88 million deal seeing existing Class 378 electric trains upgraded on the majority of lines -  the only exception being on the diesel-powered route from Gospel Oak to Barking. 

With the trains currently comprised of four carriages, this will step up to five once the overhaul is complete, and the Mayor of London praised the performance of the Overground. 

"London Overground has been a truly dazzling success and more and more Londoners are now using the vastly improved service," Boris Johnson said. 

"Not only will these new carriages help us meet passenger demand, but they will also support jobs and growth at their birthplace in Derby." 

And Jonathan Fox, Acting Director for TfL London Rail, revealed that the aim is for the longer trains to be introduced from the end of 2014, with the East London line being the first to benefit. 

"With this order, the London Overground Capacity Improvement Programme is firmly underway to meet the demands of increasing numbers travelling on our network," he explained. 

The order forms a part of TfL's scheme to boost capacity, which also involves the investment of £320 million to extend station platforms and carry out various other upgrades to infrastructure across the network. 

Indeed, with London's population set to continue to grow in the coming years, TfL's project is designed to ensure the capital's transport network is capable of dealing with the increasing number of residents expected in the city in the coming years. 

Posted by Mary Treen

Transport News, Transport Consulting News and TRL Ltd