London Overground’s Gospel Oak to Barking line is scheduled to reopen next week following the installation of new overhead electric lines.
Transport for London (TfL) is expected to be able to operate longer electric trains along the network following the integration of the new lines, which was carried out by Network Rail.
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The new trains will feature air-conditioning, walk-through carriages and live network information screens, and are intended to provide customers with increased capacity and comfort.
Current services will continue to be provided by the existing two-car diesel trains, while the latest four-car electric trains are now set to undergo a testing programme on the line.
The new electric trains are expected to become fully operational during the first half of this year following the completion of the testing process.
TfL Rail and Sponsored Services director Jonathan Fox said: “A period of testing of the new electrified line will now take place ahead of introducing new, more reliable and longer electric trains in the spring.”
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By GlobalDataThe testing of the new locomotives and electrical infrastructure will be conducted between normal services and at night in order to minimise impact on customer journeys.
Network Rail Anglia route managing director Meliha Duymaz said: “Passengers travelling on the Gospel Oak to Barking line are set to benefit from a transformational, once-in-a-generation upgrade with a new fleet of longer electric trains so that twice as many people can travel comfortably once line testing is complete.”
The electrification work on the Gospel Oak to Barking London Overground line forms part of TfL’s wider network improvement initiative, as well as Network Rail’s London Railway Upgrade plan to create new connections and increase existing capacity.
