London Overground
5328241
225998627
2008-07-16T11:23:48Z
Ivanberti
5082702
/* Future developments */ New subheading and text re Autumn 2008 closure
{{Infobox Public transit
|name = London Overground
|image = London_Overground_logo.svg
|imagesize = 150px
|locale = [[Greater London]]; [[Three Rivers (district)|Three Rivers]]; [[Watford]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
|transit_type = [[Regional rail]]
|began_operation = 2007
|ended_operation =
|system_length = 86 km (53.4 Miles)
|lines = 4 (5 by 2012)
|vehicles =
|stations = 55
|ridership =
|track_gauge = [[Standard gauge|Standard]]
|reporting marks = LO ([[National Rail]])
|operator = [[MTR Laing|London Overground Rail Operations Ltd]]<br>(until 2014 or 2016)
|owner = [[Transport for London]]
}}
{{Tubeportal}}
'''London Overground'''<ref name="TfL">
{{cite news | title = Introducing London Overground - a new era for London Rail | publisher = [[Transport for London]] | date = [[2006-09-05]] | url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3489.aspx | accessdate = 2008-04-23}}
</ref> is a [[train operating company]] that provides railway services in north, west and east [[London]].
On [[November 11]] [[2007]] it took over the ''[[North London Railway]]'' routes formerly of [[Silverlink|Silverlink Metro]]. The [[East London line]] will form part of the network, as the ''East London Railway'', upon completion of its Phase 1 extension in 2010.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news | title = London Overground plans unveiled | work = [[BBC News]] | publisher = [[bbc.co.uk]] | date = [[2006-09-05]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5316358.stm | accessdate = 2007-06-19}}</ref> London Overground services remain part of the National Rail network, but the contracting authority is [[Transport for London]] (TfL) rather than central Government. This arrangement is similar to the model adopted for [[Merseyrail]].
The routes are branded with a version of the [[London Underground]] [[roundel]] coloured orange with a blue bar<ref name="BBC"/> and are shown on Underground maps<ref name="TfL"/> with a double orange stripe.<ref name="BBC"/> The lines continue to be owned and maintained by [[Network Rail]], although the Dalston-New Cross section of the East London Railway will remain [[TfL]] property when it becomes part of the Overground. The Overground is best described as a [[commuter rail]] system, especially as many of the lines share traffic with freight services, although there is an intention to introduce metro frequencies eventually on all routes.
== History ==
{{Infobox Rail companies
| bgcolor = FFFFFF
| image_filename =West Brompton sign2.jpg
| widthpx = 300px
|logo_filename = london overground type.PNG
|abbr=LO
| franchise = London Overground<ref>London Overground is not an ordinary franchise - all elements of train operation are under the control of [[Transport for London]], with services contracted out to MTR/Laing</ref><br />[[11 November]] [[2007]] - 2014<br>(optional 2016)
| nameforarea = Region
| regions = [[Greater London]]
| secregions = [[Hertfordshire]]
| stations = 55
| fleet = 32 (current)
| parent_company = [[Transport for London]]
| website = www.tfl.gov.uk/overground
}}
[[Image:LOROLlogo.gif|right|Logo of LOROL|thumb|London Overground Rail Operations Limited]]
{{for|the early history of some of the lines making up the London Overground|East London line|North London Railway|North London Line|Watford DC Line|West London Line|Gospel Oak to Barking Line}}
===Initial announcements===
On [[February 20]] [[2006]] the Department for Transport announced that TfL would take over management of 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 [[September 5]] [[2006]] London Overground branding was announced, and it was confirmed that the extended [[East London Line]] would be included.
The routes cover many areas of [[London]], and reasons why TfL would see them as attractive for direct control include:
* There is some concentration in the north-east, including services to [[Stratford station|Stratford]], to support the [[2012 Summer Olympics]];
* They pass through less affluent areas, and are seen as part of the regeneration of these areas;<ref>{{cite web | title = Response to Network Rail's Draft Cross London Route Utilisation Strategy | publisher = [[Transport for London]] | date = February 2006 | url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/network-rail-rus-response.pdf | format = [[PDF]] | accessdate = 2007-01-10}}</ref> and
* The [[North London Line]] and the [[Gospel Oak to Barking Line]] have been considered by some to be neglected and not developed to their full potential.<ref name="assembly">{{cite web | title = London's Forgotten Railway: The Transport Committee's Review of the North London Railway | publisher =[[Greater London Authority]] | date =March 2006 | url = http://mayor.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/transport/n-london-line.pdf | accessdate = 2007-03-17 | format = [[PDF]]}}</ref>
===Operator===
Following a model similar to that already used for the [[Docklands Light Railway]], TfL invited tenders for operation of the London Overground. Unlike [[National Rail]] franchisees, TfL would set fares, procure rolling stock and decide service levels. The operator would take an element of revenue risk: TfL take 90% of the revenue risk, 10% of revenue is retained by the operator, and the operator is responsible for revenue collection.
The tenderers were [[MTR Laing]], a 50/50 joint venture between [[MTR Corporation]] and [[Laing Rail]], [[Govia]], [[National Express Group]] (the operator of Silverlink), and [[Nederlandse Spoorwegen|NedRailways]]. In December 2006, this was narrowed to [[Govia]] and [[MTR Laing]], who were selected to submit their ‘best and final offers’,<ref>
{{cite news | title = Transport for London confirms next bid stage for London Overground services | publisher = [[Transport for London]] | date = [[2006-12-15]] | url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3748.aspx | accessdate = 2008-04-23}}</ref> and on [[June 19]] [[2007]] it was announced that MTR Laing had been selected.<ref>{{cite news | title = Milestone reached in transformation of London's overland rail network as operator is announced | publisher = [[Greater London Authority]] | date = [[2007-06-19]] | url = http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=12398 | accessdate = 2007-06-19}}</ref>
The formal contract was signed on [[July 2]] [[2007]]. The contract is due to last seven years, with the option of a two-year extension.<ref>{{cite web | title = MTR Laing beats Go-Ahead unit Govia to win North London rail franchise | publisher = Hemscott | url = http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=45163729017190 | accessdate = 2007-06-19}}</ref> In preparation for the launch of London Overground, MTR Laing renamed itself as London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL).
In December 2007, [[Henderson Group]], the parent company of John Laing plc announced the sale of the Laing Rail division, which comprises half of LOROL, [[Chiltern Railways]] and a stake in the [[Wrexham & Shropshire]] open-access railway operator. In January 2008 [[Deutsche Bahn]] announced it had bought Laing Rail. The price is said to be around [[Euro|€]]170 million.
===Launch===
[[Image:London overground newtrainset.png|right|thumb|A poster promoting the newly-launched London Overground]]
[[Image:Kilburn High Road station Entrance.jpg|thumb|Kilburn High Road station with Overground signage]]
[[Image:London Overground 2007.png|thumb|300px|right|Initial London Overground network from November 2007 (orange) and the East London line in 2010 (light orange).]]
[[Image:Information.svg|20px|info]] '''''[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/resources/corporate/media/pressimages/rez-high/h-London-Overground.jpg Diagrammatic map of London Overground, November 2007]'''''
London Overground started operating on [[November 11]] [[2007]]. The launch was accompanied by a marketing campaign entitled "London's new train set", with posters and leaflets carrying an image of a [[Rail transport modelling|model railway]] retail package containing the new Overground trains, tracks and staff.<ref name="trainset">{{cite web|url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/introduction-to-london-overground.pdf|title = London's new train set|accessdate =2007-11-11|publisher= Transport for London|date= 2007-11-11|format=PDF leaflet}}</ref>
The official launch was on [[November 12]] [[2007]] at [[Hampstead Heath railway station]] by [[Mayor of London]] [[Ken Livingstone]], with a later media event on the disused bay platform at [[Willesden Junction station]].
At the launch TfL undertook to revamp the routes by improving service frequencies, staffing all stations, improving station facilities, introducing new rolling stock and by allowing [[Oyster card (pay as you go) on National Rail|Oyster card pay as you go]] to be used throughout the network from the outset.<ref name="buildingLO">{{cite web|url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/creating-london-overground.pdf|title = Creating London Overground|accessdate =2007-11-11|publisher= Transport for London|date= 2007-11-11|format=PDF leaflet}}</ref>
All stations are being "deep-cleaned"<ref name="all change">{{citeweb |work=The Londoner |title=All Change |date=November 2007 |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/07nov/p8a.jsp?nav=around |accessdate=2007-11-04}}</ref> following the TfL takeover and Silverlink branding removed. Station signage is being gradually replaced with London Overground-branded signs using TfL's corporate [[Johnston (typeface)|New Johnston]] typeface. There are temporary adhesive signs at some stations, to be replaced with full-size enamel platform name signs using the orange and blue London Overground roundel as station refurbishment progresses.<ref name="all change" /><ref name="designStandards">{{cite web|url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/creating-london-overground.pdf|title = London Overground Signs Standard|accessdate =2008-02-17|publisher= Transport for London|date= December 2007|format=PDF guide}}</ref>
== Current system ==
=== Introduction ===
The initial network, service levels and timetables are a continuation of Silverlink Metro services. As the Overground name implies, the vast majority of the network is above ground, mostly consisting of railway lines connecting areas outside [[Central London]], with a considerable portion of the network in [[Travelcard Zone 2|Zone 2]]. The network also uses [[Euston railway station|Euston]] in central London, the southern [[terminal station|terminus]] of the [[Watford DC Line]] <ref name="BBC"/><ref>The fastest route between Clapham Junction and Stratford is still via [[Waterloo station|London Waterloo]], using [[South West Trains]] services and the [[Jubilee line]]. The operation of direct services on this route will mainly benefit passengers joining or alighting at intermediate stations and those who do not wish to travel via [[Travelcard Zone 1|Zone 1]]</ref>.
=== Routes ===
London Overground consists of the following lines:
* [[North London Line]] - [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]] to [[Stratford station|Stratford]] (the Stratford to [[North Woolwich railway station|North Woolwich]] section closed on [[9 December]] [[2006]]).<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Standard-Tube-map.pdf Latest Tube Map]</ref>
* [[West London Line]] - [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]] to [[Willesden Junction station|Willesden Junction]]
* [[Gospel Oak to Barking Line]]
* [[Watford DC Line]] - [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] to [[Euston railway station|Euston]]
The network interchanges with the [[Bakerloo Line|Bakerloo]], [[Central Line|Central]], [[District Line|District]], [[Hammersmith & City Line|Hammersmith & City]], [[Jubilee Line|Jubilee]], [[Northern Line|Northern]] and [[Victoria Line|Victoria]] lines and also the [[Docklands Light Railway]]. TfL has issued a [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/resources/corporate/media/pressimages/rez-high/h-tube-map-2010.jpg diagrammatic map of London Overground] in the familiar [[Tube map]] style, showing these interchanges.
{{clear}}
===Stations===
London Overground serves the following stations:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! North London Line
! West London Line
! Watford DC Line
! Gospel Oak - Barking Line
|-
| valign="top" width=25%|
*[[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Access icon}}
*[[Kew Gardens station (London)|Kew Gardens]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{Access icon}}
*[[Gunnersbury railway station|Gunnersbury]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[South Acton railway station|South Acton]] {{Access icon}}
*[[Acton Central railway station|Acton Central]] {{Access icon}}
*[[Willesden Junction railway station|Willesden Junction]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{Access icon}}
*[[Kensal Rise railway station|Kensal Rise]]
*[[Brondesbury Park railway station|Brondesbury Park]]
*[[Brondesbury railway station|Brondesbury]]
*[[West Hampstead railway station|West Hampstead]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
*[[Finchley Road & Frognal railway station|Finchley Road & Frognal]]
*[[Hampstead Heath railway station|Hampstead Heath]]
*[[Gospel Oak railway station|Gospel Oak]]
*[[Kentish Town West railway station|Kentish Town West]]
*[[Camden Road railway station|Camden Road]]
*[[Caledonian Road & Barnsbury railway station|Caledonian Road & Barnsbury]]
*[[Highbury & Islington station|Highbury & Islington]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
*[[Canonbury railway station|Canonbury]]
*[[Dalston Kingsland railway station|Dalston Kingsland]]
*[[Hackney Central railway station|Hackney Central]] {{Access icon}}*
*[[Homerton railway station|Homerton]] {{Access icon}}
*[[Hackney Wick railway station|Hackney Wick]] {{Access icon}}
*[[Stratford railway station|Stratford]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Access icon}}
<small><nowiki>* Step-free access on eastbound platform only</nowiki></small>
| valign="top" width=25%|
*[[Willesden Junction railway station|Willesden Junction]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{Access icon}}
*[[Shepherd's Bush railway station|Shepherd's Bush]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{Access icon}}<small>(under construction)</small>
*[[Kensington (Olympia) station|Kensington (Olympia)]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}} {{Access icon}}
*[[West Brompton station|West Brompton]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Access icon}}
*[[Imperial Wharf railway station|Imperial Wharf]] <small>(proposed)</small>
*[[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]] {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
| valign="top" width=25%|
*[[London Euston]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Access icon}}
*[[South Hampstead railway station|South Hampstead]]
*[[Kilburn High Road railway station|Kilburn High Road]]
*[[Queen's Park railway station|Queen's Park]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[Kensal Green railway station|Kensal Green]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[Willesden Junction railway station|Willesden Junction]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{Access icon}}
*[[Harlesden railway station|Harlesden]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[Stonebridge Park railway station|Stonebridge Park]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[Wembley Central railway station|Wembley Central]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
*[[North Wembley railway station|North Wembley]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[South Kenton railway station|South Kenton]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[Kenton railway station|Kenton]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[Harrow & Wealdstone station|Harrow & Wealdstone]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Access icon}}
*[[Headstone Lane railway station|Headstone Lane]]
*[[Hatch End railway station|Hatch End]]
*[[Carpenders Park railway station|Carpenders Park]] {{Access icon}}
*[[Bushey railway station|Bushey]] {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}
*[[Watford High Street railway station|Watford High Street]]
*[[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Access icon}}
| valign="top" width=25%|
*[[Gospel Oak railway station|Gospel Oak]]
*[[Upper Holloway railway station|Upper Holloway]] {{Access icon}}
*[[Crouch Hill railway station|Crouch Hill]]
*[[Harringay Green Lanes railway station|Harringay Green Lanes]] {{Access icon}}
*[[South Tottenham railway station|South Tottenham]]
*[[Blackhorse Road station|Blackhorse Road]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
*[[Walthamstow Queens Road railway station|Walthamstow Queens Road]] {{Access icon}}
*[[Leyton Midland Road railway station|Leyton Midland Road]]
*[[Leytonstone High Road railway station|Leytonstone High Road]]
*[[Wanstead Park railway station|Wanstead Park]]
*[[Woodgrange Park railway station|Woodgrange Park]]
*[[Barking station|Barking]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Access icon}}
|}
=== Ticketing ===
[[Image:LO ticket.png|thumb|right|London Overground ticket based on same design as National Rail tickets but with a Transport for London roundel in the background/relief]]
Ticketing on London Overground uses a mix of paper and the [[Oyster Card]] electronic smart card. As with existing National Rail services in London, passengers may 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 permits the use of Oyster "pay-as-you-go" (PAYG), 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 has announced that it will introduce ticket barriers at a number of stations. The remaining stations have been fitted with standalone Oyster Card readers similar to those at ungated London Underground and DLR stations.
The ticket stock for London Overground continues to be common National Rail stock, as London Overground services remain part of the National Rail network, but with a large TfL roundel in the centre and the repeated legend "[[Rail Settlement Plan]]" in a light green background.
=== Ticket pricing ===
Paper tickets are charged at the old [[Silverlink]] prices, which are generally lower than [[National Rail]] London zonal fares and London Underground fares. For example, the ticket above shows that the adult single fare between Harrow & Wealdstone (Zone 5) and Hatch End (Zone 6) is £1.50. This would be £1.90 under the National Rail zonal fare system and £3.00 under the London Underground fares.
Oyster PAYG is charged on the same [[Oyster_Card#Pricing|zone-based rules]] as for the [[London Underground]] and [[Docklands Light Railway]]. Oyster is generally cheaper than paper tickets: for example, the fare between Harrow & Wealdstone and Hatch End is £1.00 with Oyster PAYG. Stations outside [[Greater London]], except for Watford Junction, are included in the newly created [[Travelcard Zones 7-9]], while Acton Central, Hampstead Heath and Willesden Junction were re-zoned on [[January 2]] [[2008]] (from 2 to 3, 3 to 2 and 3 to 2/3 respectively), which will also reduce some zone-based fares.<ref name=fares_2008>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/guide-to-fares-and-tickets-08-01-02.pdf|title=Your guide to fares and tickets (2 January 2008 until further notice)|date=November 2007|publisher=Transport for London|accessdate=2008-07-10|format=PDF}}</ref>.
==Branding==
The public presentation of London Overground is visually associated with existing TfL design standards, using identical graphic design elements to those used on London Underground publicity, signage and other elements, drawing on the design heritage of [[Harry Beck]]. These design standards will be applied to the new fleet of trains.
The Overground uses the familiar [[London_Underground#Image|Tube roundel]], originally devised for London Underground and now established as the corporate branding for all TfL services. The roundel is a blue bar on an orange circle. In common with other TfL services, London Overground is denoted by a sector colour, a vivid orange ([[Pantone]] 158C). This colour was inherited from the former East London line, whose operations are to be incorporated into the Overground system.
London Overground appears on the [[Tube map]] in its corporate orange. Similarly to the presentation of the DLR, London Overground is shown as a double stripe rather than a solid line, to denote its status as a franchised line operating within the TfL network.
Corporate signage, stationery and literature use the [[Johnston (typeface)|New Johnston]] typeface in common with other TfL services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/media/designstandards/default.asp?standard=rail|title=Design standards|accessdate=2008-04-24|publisher=Transport for London}}</ref>
==Performance==
Although the Overground network has TfL branding, it is monitored for performance as part of the national rail network, unlike [[London Underground]] services. The first figures released by the [[Office of Rail Regulation]] (ORR), for October to December 2007, showed that it had achieved 89.3% of the Public Performance Measure (PPM) target for punctuality and reliability set by the ORR. This was 1% better than the equivalent quarter the year before and 2.9% better than the average PPM for all regional railway companies<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/356.pdf|title=National Rail Trends 2007-2008 Quarter Three: October 07 - Decemeber 07|publisher=Office of Rail Regulation|accessdate=2008-07-10|format=PDF}}</ref>.
== Rolling stock ==
[[Image:Overground Branding on 508303.jpg|thumb|Overground branding on a [[British Rail Class 508|Class 508]] coach in [[Silverlink]] livery]]
On all routes except the [[East London line]], services began using [[British Rail Class 313|Class 313 EMUs]], [[British Rail Class 508|Class 508 EMUs]] and [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150 DMUs]] inherited from [[Silverlink]]. 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 [[British Rail Class 378|Class 378]] [[Electrostar]]s 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.<ref name="TfL"/> In 2011, the North London Railway fleet will be extended to four cars and the [[East London Railway]] will gain three extra trains.<ref>{{cite news | title = £36m contract to bring extra rail carriages for London Overground | publisher = [[Transport for London]] | date = 2007-07-04 | url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/5432.aspx | accessdate = 2008-04-23}}</ref>
The Class 378 stock will not be able to operate over the [[Gospel Oak to Barking Line]] (GOBLIN) as the line 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|Network Rail's]] Route Utilisation Strategy for the Cross London Route.<ref name="assembly"/> TfL has indicated that it intends to use new two-car [[British Rail Class 172|Class 172]] [[Turbostar]] diesel trains from 2009.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/temp_page2.htm|title=New Plans|publisher=The Barking - Gospel Oak Line User Group}}</ref> MTR/Laing will lease 8 two-car units from a ROSCO, rather than their being purchased by TfL, as was planned with the Class 378 units.<ref>{{cite journal |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007|month= September|title= The Underground Roundel moves Overground|journal= Today's Railways (UK)|volume= |issue= 70|pages= 24–30 |id= |url= |accessdate= 2007-09-17 |quote= }}</ref> The 8 Class 172/0 units were ordered by [[Angel Trains]] on behalf of TfL in November 2007.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.therailwaycentre.com/New%20DMU%20Tech%20Data%20/DMU_172.html|title=Class 172 Turbostar|publisher=The Railway Centre}}</ref> In February 2008, TfL announced that it would lease rather than purchase its Class 378 EMUs. This will be done through a newly formed [[ROSCO]] named [[QW Rail Leasing]], with the lease running until 2027. TfL took this option to free up the £250 million capital cost of purchase, combined with reducing the risk of making a loss through any future sell-on of the fleet.<ref>{{cite news | title = Transport for London signs new train leasing contract | publisher = [[Transport for London]] | date = 2007-07-04 | url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7525.aspx | accessdate = 2008-04-23}}</ref>
If the plan to replace the [[Watford DC Line]] with a [[Bakerloo line]] service to [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] goes ahead, the [[London Underground 1972 Stock|1972 Stock]] fleet on the Bakerloo line could be augmented by newly-retired [[Victoria line]] [[London Underground 1967 Stock|1967 Stock]] trains, although these would need modification.<ref>{{cite web | title = London Overground & Orbirail | publisher = alwaystouchout.com | date = 2006-12-07 | url = http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/43#WatfordDC | accessdate = 2007-01-10}}</ref>
{{clear}}
=== Current fleet ===
{| class="wikitable"
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
! rowspan="2" | Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" | Top speed
! rowspan="2" | Number
! rowspan="2" | Cars per set
! rowspan="2" | Seat layout
! rowspan="2" | Number of seats
! rowspan="2" | Routes operated
! rowspan="2" | Built
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
! mph
! km/h
|-
|[[British Rail Class 150|Class 150/1]]
|[[Image:Class-150.jpg|100px]]
|[[diesel multiple unit]]
|75
|120
|6 {{Fact|date=November 2007}}
|2
|2+3 (high density)
|146
|[[Gospel Oak to Barking Line|Gospel Oak-Barking]]
|1981-83
|-
|[[British Rail Class 313|Class 313/1]]
|[[Image:31311 at Euston.jpg|100px]]
|[[electric multiple unit]]
|75
|120
|23
|3
|2+2/2+3 (high density)
|228
|[[North London Line|North London]];<br>[[Watford DC Line|Watford DC]];<br>[[West London Line|West London]]
|1975-78 <br>(Refurbished 1997-2002)
|-
|[[British Rail Class 508|Class 508/3]]
|[[Image:508301 at Euston.jpg|100px]]
|[[electric multiple unit]]
|75
|120
|3
|3
|2+2/2+3 (high density)
|230
|[[Watford DC Line]]
|1979-1980 (Refurbished 2002-04)
|}
=== Future fleet ===
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Cars per set
! rowspan="2" |Seat layout
! rowspan="2" |Routes operated
! rowspan="2" |Built
|-
!mph
!km/h
|-
|[[British Rail Class 172|Class 172/0 ''Turbostar'']]
|[[Image:Class 172.jpg|100px]]
|[[diesel multiple unit]]
|75
|120
|8
|2
|2+3
|[[Gospel Oak to Barking Line|Gospel Oak-Barking]]
|2009
|-
|[[British Rail Class 378|Class 378 ''Electrostar'']]
|[[Image:Ldn Ovrgrd Train.jpg|100px]]
|[[electric multiple unit]]
|75
|120
|54
|4
|Longitudinal
|[[North London Line|North London]]<br>[[Watford DC Line|Watford DC]]<br>[[West London Line|West London]]<br>[[East London Line|East London]]
|2007-2010
|-
|}
=== Livery ===
All London Overground trains remain in [[Silverlink]]'s purple and lime green livery with yellow doors. Silverlink logos have been removed and London Overground banners have been added to most units. It is not expected that any more cosmetic changes will be made to the livery and interiors until the delivery of the new rolling stock.
TfL's artist impressions of the future stock show them in a new livery, similar to [[London Underground]]'s, which has blue and white coaches with orange doors and yellow fronts
{{wide image|Class 378 London Overground Diagram.PNG|685px|Artist's impression of new rolling stock livery.|800px}}
== Future developments ==
=== Partial closure, Autumn 2008 ===
Various parts of the London Overground system are to be shut down between Monday 1 September and Sunday 16 November 2008 to allow major planned engineering in anticipation of later enhanced services. The North London Line will be closed between Willesden Junction and Gospel Oak for the whole duration, as will the Watford DC Line between South Hampstead and Euston, except on Sundays. The Gospel Oak to Barking line (GoBLin) will be shut from 1 September to Sunday 28 September 2008. Additionally the North London Line will be closed between Gospel Oak and Camden Road from Monday 22 September to 28 September 2008.
Alternative services will consist of a diversion of the Watford DC Line and various bus services. Watford DC Line services will not serve Euston, except on Sundays, but will instead be diverted from South Hampstead to Camden Road and on to Stratford, thus providing an alternative route for journeys between stations west of Willesden Junction and stations east of Camden Road. Gospel Oak and stations on the closed section of the North London Line (except Finchley Road and Frognall) will be served by one bus service interlinking with selected stations on the parallel Watford DC Line; however, Willesden Junction is not scheduled to be served by this bus. An additional bus service will link Gospel Oak, Kentish Town West and Camden Road when that section is closed. While the GoBLin is closed, separate buses will serve stations west and east of Blackhorse Road, linking at the latter station.
Perhaps fortuitously, the diverted Watford DC Line service will provide an opportunity for Tfl to directly judge the market between Queen's Park and Stratford, as in the proposed service described under the Watford Line heading below.
[[Image:London overground future.png|300px|right|thumb|The network with all proposed changes in place]]
=== East London Railway ===
{{main|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 railway station|Crystal Palace]] and [[West Croydon railway station|West Croydon]] and the northern extension (mostly along the [[Broad Street railway station (London)|Broad Street]] viaduct) to the re-opened [[Dalston Junction railway station|Dalston Junction]] are completed in 2010. When the East London line is added to the network, this will add substantial sections of line that are in tunnels (including the [[Thames Tunnel]]) (the oldest tunnel under the Thames), and will create the anomaly that the Overground will be below the London Underground part of [[Whitechapel tube station]].
The line was closed on [[December 22]] [[2007]] in preparation for its extension and incorporation into the London Overground. As of [[June 2008]], work is due for completion ahead of schedule on [[19 October]] [[2009]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/5-Ops-and-Finance-Report-Quarter-4.pdf|title=TfL Operational and Financial Performance Report and Investment Programme Report - Fourth Quarter 2007/08 |date=2008-06-25|publisher=Transport for London|accessdate=2008-06-27|format=PDF}} at p. 66, para. 2.7: East London Line Extension</ref>.
In the original Phase 1 plans, the [[East London Railway]] terminated just south of the [[North London Line]], at [[Dalston Junction railway station|Dalston Junction]]. The former [[Mayor of London|Mayor]], [[Ken Livingstone]], has since stated that Phase 1 of the East London Railway project would be extended to [[Highbury & Islington station|Highbury & Islington]], in order to make a connection with the [[North London Railway]], the [[Victoria line]] and [[First Capital Connect]] services. This is not planned to open until 2011.<ref name="TfL"/>
===Watford line===
TfL has had an aspiration for the [[Bakerloo line]] to be re-extended to [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Scenario Testing for the Further Alterations to the London Plan | publisher = [[Greater London Authority]] | date = March 2006 | url = http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/further-alts/docs/scenarios.pdf | format = [[PDF]]| accessdate = 2007-06-19}}</ref> If this happens, most or all of the line from [[Queen's Park station|Queen's Park]] to Watford Junction would be used exclusively by [[London Underground]].
London Overground services would most likely be diverted at Primrose Hill Junction away from Euston, via the currently freight-only route through [[Primrose Hill railway station|Primrose Hill station]] to [[Camden Road railway station|Camden Road]], providing a new service running between Queen's Park and Stratford.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} This would mean that [[Kilburn High Road railway station|Kilburn High Road]] and [[South Hampstead railway station|South Hampstead]] would no longer having direct services to central London.
===South London Line===
The Phase 2 plans of the [[East London line]] extension incorporate an extension from [[Surrey Quays tube station|Surrey Quays]] along the [[South London Lines|South London Line]] to Clapham Junction<ref name="2010tubemap">{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/resources/corporate/media/pressimages/rez-high/h-tube-map-2010.jpg|title=The Tube in 2010 |author=Transport for London|date=2006
|accessdate=2007-11-03}} (map illustrating future development phases as proposed by TfL in 2006, subject to change)</ref>. This would then create an orbital network around [[Central London]], fulfilling the [[Orbirail]] concept.
This extension is currently unfunded and is at the proposal stage; as it would also involve the withdrawal of the current [[South London Line]] service between Victoria to London Bridge via Denmark Hill there is the suggestion that this extension could be funded as preliminary works for the [[Thameslink Programme]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/agenda-and-papers-dec-2007.pdf |title=Transport for London Board Meeting|date=2007-12-06|accessdate=2007-12-18|format=PDF}}</ref>, due to capacity constraints at [[London Bridge station]] once the [[Thameslink]] upgrade has taken place.
The proposed south [[London]] route would follow the line currently served by [[National Rail]] from [[Queens Road Peckham railway station|Queens Road Peckham]] as far as [[Wandsworth Road railway station|Wandsworth Road]], then branch off at Heathbrook Park, passing through [[Battersea]] towards [[Clapham Junction]]. This proposal has attracted criticism, as the route will cross over [[Loughborough Junction railway station|Loughborough Junction]] and [[Brixton railway station|Brixton]] stations <ref name="2010tubemap"/>, missing opportunities to create new interchange stations with [[Thameslink]] services and the [[London Underground]] [[Victoria line]] respectively<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/tm_objectid=14173461&method=full&siteid=50100&headline=junction-joy-south-name_page.html|title=Junction joy South|work=South London Press|date=2004-04-24|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060719/halltext/60719h0006.htm#06071968000550|title=Parliamentary Debate: London Orbital Rail Network|author=Martin Linton MP|work=Hansard|date=2006-07-19|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>. Under current proposals, no stations are planned at these locations as the line is on high railway arches, making the cost of any station construction prohibitive<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/3|title=East London Line Extensions - Loughborough Junction
|work=AlwaysTouchOut|date=2006-11-09|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>.
In the March edition of the Londoner newspaper, TfL announced its intention to take over the [[South London Line]] and make it part of London Overground when Southern's franchise runs out in 2009. <ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/08mar/p3b.jsp?nav=around |date=March 2008 |publisher=The Londoner |title=Next stop south London}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{commonscat}}
* [[London Underground]]
* [[Overground Network]]
* [[Orbirail]]
* [[Crossrail]]
== References ==
{{reflist|3}}
== External links ==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/networkandservices/5011.aspx|title=London Overground|publisher=Transport for London|accessdate=2008-07-11}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/rail/default.html|title=Live travel news|publisher=Transport for London|accessdate=2008-07-11}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.journeycheck.com/londonoverground|title=London Overground|publisher=JourneyCheck|accessdate=2008-07-11}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.lorol.co.uk|title=Home Page|publisher=London Overground Rail Operations Ltd|accessdate=2008-07-11}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/images/general/standard-tube-map.gif|title=Tube Map|publisher=Transport for London|accessdate=2008-07-11}}
* {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/05_09_06_tubemap.pdf|title=Tube Map 2010|publisher=Transport for London|accessdate=2008-07-11|format=PDF}}
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/archive/3489.aspx Transport for London press release]{{Dead link|date=July 2008}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/43|title=London Overground & Orbirail|date=2008-02-12|publisher=Alwaystouchout.com|accessdate=2008-07-11}}
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[[Category:Rail transport in London|Overground]]
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