Olympic rail route gets 'huge boost'

Date: 24/5/2011

The Overground rail network in the capital has undergone upgrades designed to increase the number of services offered to passengers in time for the 2012 Games.

Funding for the project came from Transport for London, the Olympic Delivery Authority, Network Rail, the Stratford City Implementation Group and the Department for Transport.

Following the work, travellers will be able to benefit from four services running from Richmond and Clapham Junction to Stratford every hour.

At peak times, there will be eight trains journeying between Willesden Junction and Stratford every 60 minutes - an increase from the four that currently operate during this timeframe.

Furthermore, a station refurbishment initiative has been carried out on the route, while seven kilometres of track have been renewed across London and 200 signals have been replaced.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "We have transformed [the Overground] into one of the nation's top performing railways - running double the number of trains - and it has been named the most punctual service in the country."

Other work underway on the transport network ahead of the Olympics next summer includes plans to introduce Wi-Fi to Underground stations.

Posted by Mary Treen