Passenger numbers double on east London overground

Date: 8/6/2011

During the last year, the number of passengers using the overground service in the east of the UK capital has risen two-fold.

According to Transport for London, the increase follows the extension of the network, which now runs between West Croydon, Crystal Palace and New Cross through the City of London and on to Highbury and Islington.

The line joined with the wider overground system in February 2011 thanks to a new link between Highbury and Islington and Dalston Junction, with passenger numbers increasing 75 per cent within six weeks of the opening.

As a result, the air-conditioned carriages now carry a typical 85,000 individuals daily and has transported 20 million travellers in total.

Mike Brown, Managing Director of London Rail, said: "We expect the new high-capacity trains running on a reliable high-frequency timetable to continue to attract a lot more passengers as word gets around about this turn-up-and-go service."

He adds that the line will also form part of the Olympics legacy due to the link it features to Stratford Station.

Earlier in June, it was announced by the Olympic Delivery Authority that work on Stratford Station carried out as part of the Big Build project has been completed, with ten different rail routes now serving the hub.

Posted by Mary Treen