London Overground

London Overground is the designation for a tram -like railway network in the British capital London, has been in operation since 11 November 2007. Operating company is London Overground Rail Operations, the (TfL ) conducts on behalf of the umbrella organization Transport for London passenger services on six lines. The network includes routes that have been taken over by the former railway company Silverlink. Since 2010, the East London Line is one of them, which was part of London Underground to her three- year-long renovation.

The network mainly comprises railway lines that drive around the city center of London. The largest part is located in the Travelcard Zone 2 As the name implies, the tracks are almost entirely above ground (English overground ). However, a section of the East London Line runs in a covered incision and through the Thames Tunnel, the world's oldest railway tunnel passing under a river.

History

Planning

Rail passenger transport is carried out in the UK by numerous rail operating companies that acquire one or more franchises, which are marketed as National Rail together. Run by TfL London Underground is not part of this system. 2003, there was a first attempt to unite the rail of National Rail in London under one umbrella brand. TfL introduced the Overground Network brand, with consistent information displays, station labels and networks on selected routes in South London. Although this pilot study only covered the branding, this was the first time that TfL exercised a visible influence on deals by National Rail in London.

2004, announced the Ministry of Transport on a review of the British railway system. As part of this review, TfL proposed the creation of a London Regional Rail Administration ( London Regional Rail Authority ), with the TfL should be given authority to issue directives on rail traffic in and around Greater London. After two years of negotiations, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced on 20 February 2006 that TfL will take over the franchise from Silverlink Metro. On 5 September 2006, TfL introduced the new brand name of London Overground and confirmed at the same time that to be extended East London Line is involved in the new concept.

Implementation

The franchise went into the possession of TfL on 11 November 2007. The next day, the official handover ceremony attended by Mayor Ken Livingstone took place on Hampstead Heath station. The transfer was accompanied by a marketing campaign. TfL then began to improve the supply significantly. These included increasing the clock frequency, improvements to infrastructure, filling all stations with staff and the introduction of new rolling stock and the Oyster card.

As part of a program to introduce four-car trains on the Overground network, the North London Line was closed between the stations Gospel Oak and Stratford from 20 February to 31 May 2010. This was necessary to allow the installation of a new signaling system to renew tracks to rehabilitate some stations and to extend 30 platforms. The work lasted until May 2011, which resulted in a reduced operating and on Sundays the complete closure result.

The East London Line is since 27 April 2010 Part of the Overground network. The line was extended to the north of Whitechapel on the Kingsland Viaduct by Dalston Junction. Four weeks later, 23 May 2010, followed in the south extension to Crystal Palace and West Croydon, mainly on existing routes. By December 2007, the East London Line had been part of the network of London Underground and was subsequently closed almost two and a half years for renovation. On 28 February 2011 was in the north followed by a further extension of Dalston Junction to Highbury & Islington. This is a link to the North London Line, Victoria Line and Northern City Line.

The second phase of the East London Line was opened on December 9, 2012. It includes an extension from Surrey Quays along the South London Line to Clapham Junction. This line was a ring around the center of London. Used is in part a railway between Surrey Quays and Peckham, which was no longer in operation since 1911.

Operator

The London Overground is operated on behalf of TfL from private companies London Overground Rail Operations ( LOROL ). LOROL is a joint venture in which the MTR Corporation and Arriva are involved half each. The following example, which had already arrived at the Docklands Light Railway to the application, TfL had conducted a tender for the operational management. In contrast to the franchises by National Rail, TfL would set fares and schedules as well as procure rolling stock.

At the tender, Govia MTR Laing ( joint venture between MTR Corporation and Laing Rail ), the previous operator National Express Group and the Nederlandse Spoorwegen involved. In December 2006, Govia and MTR Laing came known in the second round of tenders and on 19 June 2007 TfL announced that MTR Laing had been awarded the contract. The operation contract is seven years with an option for two more years. In December 2007, the Henderson Group announced that it would get out of the railroad business. It sold its subsidiary Laing Rail in April 2008 for about 70 million euros to the German railway. The operation was transferred to its subsidiary Arriva By a further restructuring.

Route network

The trails from which London Overground was composed in the first phase were previously operated by the National Express Group, under the brand name Silverlink Metro. They are still involved in the company -wide route network of National Rail and also appear on the network map of the subway. On 27 April 2010 the East London Line was added, an earlier line of the London Underground.

The network includes the following routes:

  • East London Line: Highbury & Islington to West Croydon / Crystal Palace; Dalston Junction to New Cross
  • Railway Gospel Oak - Barking: from Gospel Oak to Barking
  • North London Line, from Richmond to Stratford ( the easternmost section to North Woolwich was decommissioned in 2006 and is now partly used by the Docklands Light Railway )
  • Watford DC Line: Watford Junction to London Euston
  • West London Line: Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction
  • South London Line: Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction

There are a number of reasons why TfL looked at the direct control of these railway lines to be useful:

  • Although the Overground network opens up large parts of London, there is a certain concentration of routes in the north- east of the city and trains to Stratford, which was mainly in regard to the taking place there 2012 Summer Olympics important.
  • The routes through less affluent areas of the city and the strongly improved offer will be considered as part of an urban renewal process.
  • The North London Line and the Gospel Oak - Barking railway line were considered ruined and not drew their full potential from.

Rolling stock

Since the acquisition of the franchise by TfL rolling stock of the predecessor Silverlink continues to be used. It involves electric railcar types of British Rail Class 313 and British Rail Class 508 diesel multiple units as well as to the type British Rail Class 150 The 508er trains were asked in late 2008 out of service. Since July 2009, new electric railcars of the type British Rail Class 378 ( Capital Star ) Bombardier delivered. These new features can not be used on the railway line Gospel Oak - Barking, since it is not electrified. There, new diesel railcars of the type British Rail Class 172 will be used from 2010.

Future Development

East London Line

After the reactivation of passenger transport via Primrose Hill the ELL trains could then be performed to Willesden Junction.

Watford DC Line

Plans, the Bakerloo Line on Harrow & Wealdstone also extend to the existing line to Watford Junction ( as was 1917 to 1982 ), have been approved in principle, but there is still no fixed time horizon. Should this be implemented in the entire distance between Queen's Park and Watford Junction is transferred to London Underground. The Overground trains would passed in this case on the route via Primrose Hill, which is not currently used for passenger traffic. This would allow direct trains between Queen 's Park and Stratford. The section towards Euston would be closed for transport.

Gospel Oak - Barking

In addition to platform extensions are also reconstructions in the Gospel Oak railway station to the debate to extend the Overground trains from Barking on the NLL after Willesden Junction and then to integrate into the WLL train route to Clapham Junction. So far, the route from Barking to Gospel Oak ends at a terminal platform, direct freight trains to the North London Line drive around the station and open only at Hampstead Heath in the NLL. Equally, the extension of the Overground to Dagenham Dock station or even Rainham for discussion.

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