London Overground

This article or section contains information about a planned or expected London Transport infrastructure. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the infrastructure approaches, and more information becomes available.

Franchise(s):	Not subject to franchising; service begins 11 November 2007
Main Region(s):	Greater London
Other Region(s):	Hertfordshire
Fleet size:	Unconfirmed
Stations called at:	57
Parent company:	Transport for London
Web site:	www.tfl.gov.uk

London Overground
Colour on map	Double Orange stripe
Year opened	2007
Line type	Primarily surface
Rolling stock	Unconfirmed
Stations served	57 (initial network)
Length (km)	86 (initial network)
Length (miles)	54 (initial network)
Depots
Journeys made	(not yet operational) (per annum)
Rail lines of Transport for London
London Underground lines   Bakerloo   Central   Circle   District   East London   Hammersmith & City   Jubilee   Metropolitan   Northern   Piccadilly   Victoria   Waterloo & City Other lines   Docklands Light Railway   Tramlink   Overground (starts November 2007)
London Transport Portal

London Overground^[1] is a train operating company owned by Transport for London (TfL). From 11 November 2007 it will take over the North London Railway routes of Silverlink Metro. The extended East London Line will fall under the control of the network upon completion of its Phase 1 extension in 2010, as the East London Railway.^[2]

Although the train operating license will be held by TfL's Rail for London Ltd ^[3], daily operation of the services will be contracted out to London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL), formerly MTR Laing.

History

For the early history of some of the lines making up the London Overground, see East London Line, North London Railway, North London Line, Watford DC Line, West London Line and Gospel Oak to Barking Line.

On 20 February 2006, it was announced that TfL would take over the services then provided by Silverlink Metro. Tenders were invited from potential contractors to operate the service under the provisional name of the North London Railway. On 5 September 2006 the London Overground branding was announced, and it was confirmed that the extended East London line would be included.

Although the routes cover many areas of London, there are reasons why TfL would see them as attractive for direct control, including that:

• There is some concentration in the north-east, including services to Stratford, which are expected to support the 2012 Summer Olympics;
• They pass through less affluent areas, and the services are seen as part of the regeneration of these areas;^[4] and
• The North London and Gospel Oak to Barking lines have been considered by some to be neglected and not developed to their full potential.^[5]

TfL hope to revamp the routes by improving service frequencies, staffing all stations, introducing new rolling stock and by allowing Oyster card pay as you go to be used throughout the network from the outset.

Network

Scope

As the name implies, the majority of the network will be above ground, mostly consisting of railway lines connecting areas outside Central London, with a considerable portion of the network in Zone 2. However, there are sections of the East London line that are in tunnel (including the Thames Tunnel), and the initial network will also use Euston Station in central London, as it is the southern terminus of the Watford DC Line.^[2]

The routes will be branded with a version of the London Underground roundel (coloured orange with a blue bar)^[2] and will be shown on Underground maps^[1] with a double orange stripe.^[2]. The lines will continue to be owned and maintained by Network Rail, apart from the Dalston-New Cross section of the East London Railway, which will remain TfL property. TfL will control the overall service, with daily operation contracted to MTR Laing.

Routes

The initial routes of the London Overground network from November 2007 (orange) and with the addition of the East London Line in 2010 (light orange).

The network with all proposed changes in place

Initially, London Overground will consist of the following lines:

• North London Line - Richmond to Stratford (the Stratford to North Woolwich section closed on 9 December 2006).^[6]
• West London Line - Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction
• Gospel Oak to Barking Line
• Watford DC Line - Watford Junction to Euston

This initial network will interchange with the Bakerloo, Central, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Northern and Victoria lines and also the Docklands Light Railway.

Although the exact nature of operation on these lines is still to be announced, it is likely that there will be a number of through services from Clapham Junction to Stratford.^[7]

East London Railway

Main article: East London Line

The East London Railway will become part of the network when the Phase 1 extensions to the East London line - to the new southern termini at Crystal Palace and West Croydon and the northern extension (mostly along the Broad Street viaduct) to the re-opened Dalston Junction - are completed in 2010. When the extension opens, the London Overground will use the oldest tunnel under the Thames, the Thames Tunnel, and so will be below the London Underground part of Whitechapel tube station. As of May 2007 the work is due for completion ahead of schedule on 19 October 2009.^[8]

In the original Phase 1 plans, East London Railway would terminate just south of the North London Line, at Dalston Junction. The Mayor, Ken Livingstone, has since stated that Phase 1 of the East London Railway project would be extended to Highbury & Islington, in order to make a connection with the North London Railway, the Victoria Line and First Capital Connect services. However, this is not planned to open until 2011.^[1]

Other proposed routes

• It is projected that by 2026 the Bakerloo Line will be re-extended to Watford Junction.^[9] If this happens, the entire section from Queens Park to Watford Junction would be taken over by the London Underground. London Overground services would most likely be diverted at Primrose Hill Junction away from Euston to Camden Road, via the currently freight-only route via Primrose Hill station, and there could be a through service from Queen's Park to Stratford. The DC line from Primrose Hill Junction to Euston would then see no passenger service.
• The Phase 2 plans of the East London line extension incorporate an extension from Surrey Quays to the South London Line, and along this line to Clapham Junction. This would then create an orbital network around central London, fulfilling the Orbirail concept. However, this extension is currently unfunded.

Ticketing

Ticketing on London Overground will use a mix of paper and the electronic smart card known as the Oyster Card. As with existing National Rail services in London, passengers will be able to use a Travelcard (daily, three-day, seven-day, monthly and annual) as well as paper single, return and cheap day return tickets priced under the zonal scheme. In addition, TfL have committed to the introduction of Oyster "pay-as-you-go" which allows passengers to load a cash value onto their Oyster card, and have the relevant fare deducted at the end of their journey.

As part of an effort to improve safety and revenue protection, TfL have also announced that they will introduce ticket barriers at a number of stations. The remaining stations will be fitted with standalone Oyster Card readers similar to those found at ungated London Underground and DLR stations.

Rolling stock

The service will begin operation using the rolling stock currently in use. Silverlink operates all routes, except the East London Line, using a fleet of Class 313 EMUs, Class 508 EMUs and Class 150 DMUs, and London Overground will inherit these.^{[citation needed]} However, TfL committed to introducing brand new rolling stock to the service, including the East London Line, over three to five years. From 2009, the electrified lines will be operated by a fleet of Class 378 Electrostars to be built by Bombardier Transportation. The East London Railway will initially have 20 four-car units and the North London Railway 24 three-car units.^[10] In 2011, the North London Railway fleet will be extended to four cars and the East London Railway will gain three extra trains.^[11]

The Class 378 stock will not be able to operate over the Gospel Oak to Barking Line as it is not electrified. While electrification is advocated by Transport for London, local boroughs and passenger groups, it has not been included as part of Network Rail's Route Utilisation Strategy for the Cross London Route.^[5] Instead, TfL has indicated that it intends to use new two-car Class 172 Turbostar diesel trains on this route from 2009.^[12] MTR/Laing will lease 8 two-car units of this stock from a ROSCO, rather than them being purchased by TfL direct, as with the Class 378 units.^[13]

The Watford DC line may be operated by newly-retired Victoria Line 1967 Stock trains before it is transferred to the Bakerloo Line.^[14]

Current stock

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Cars per set	Seat layout	Number of seats	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 150/1		diesel multiple unit	75	120	Unconfirmed	2	2+3 (high density)	146	Gospel Oak-Barking	1985-86
Class 313/1		electric multiple unit	75	120	23	3	2+2/2+3 (high density)	228	North London; Watford DC; West London	1976-77 (Refurbished 1997-2002)
Class 508/3		electric multiple unit	75	120	3	3	2+2/2+3 (high density)	230	Watford DC Line	1979-1980 (Refurbished 2003)

Note: The current fleet of Class 150s consists of 8 units. Under Silverlink these were shared with the Marston Vale Line. It is unclear whether the fleet will be split between the two services or continue to be operated as a shared fleet.

Future stock

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Cars per set	Seat layout	Number of seats	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 172 Turbostar		diesel multiple unit	75	120	8	2	2+2	?	Gospel Oak-Barking	2009-
Class 378 Electrostar		electric multiple unit	75	120	44	3 or 4	Longitudinal	?	East London; North London; West London; Watford DC	2007-2010

Operator

Logo of LOROL

London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL), a 50/50 joint venture between MTR Corporation and Laing Rail, will provide daily operation of the services. The venture was known as MTR Laing during the bidding process. Unlike a National Rail franchisee, they will not be responsible for setting fares, procuring rolling stock or deciding service levels, which will be instead be done by TfL.

Bidding process

Four prospective operators were initially pre-selected for the London Overground operating concession:

• Govia
• MTR Laing
• National Express Group
• Nedrail

In December 2006, Govia and MTR Laing were selected to submit "best and final offers" for the concession.^[15] On 19 June 2007 it was announced that MTR Laing were the successful bidder, and the formal contract signing took place on 2 July 2007.^[16] Operations will commence on 11 November 2007 with the contract due to last 7 years with the option for a 2 year extension.^[17]

See also

• London Underground
• Overground Network
• Orbirail
• Crossrail

References

External links

• London Overground Rail Operations Ltd
• Tube map showing London Overground routes
• Transport for London press release
• Always Touch Out on the topic

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