London Overground
London Overground is an urban rail service in London, United Kingdom. It is operated by London Overground Rail Operations as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London (TfL). Since the start of operations in 2007, it has consisted of five routes; the East London Line, Gospel Oak to Barking Line, North London Line, West London Line and Watford DC Line.
Background
Rail services in Great Britain are run on a system of rail franchises and operated by a number of private train operating companies, marketed together as National Rail. The London Underground, owned and run by TfL, is not part of this system.
A pilot scheme was launched in 2003 to bring National Rail services operated by multiple companies under one branding umbrella within London. Using the Overground Network brand, TfL introduced consistent information displays, station signage and maps on selected routes in South London. Although this pilot was purely an exercise in branding, this was the first instance of TfL having a visible influence over National Rail services in London. The Overground Network pilot has since been withdrawn.
In January 2004 the Department for Transport announced a review of the rail industry in the United Kingdom. As part of that review, proposals were put forward by Transport for London for a "London Regional Rail Authority" to be established, which would give TfL regulatory powers over rail services in and around Greater London.
A result of this consultation was the transfer of part of the Silverlink rail franchise over to TfL control. This is to date the only agreed movement towards establishing a London-wide rail authority.
The Silverlink franchise had two areas of operation: Silverlink County (regional services from Euston to Northampton, St Albans Abbey, Bletchley and Bedford); and Silverlink Metro (services mostly within the London urban area). When the franchise was split up in 2007, County services were taken over by the London Midland franchise, and the Metro services came under TfL control.
Launch
On 11 November 2007, TfL took over the franchise for the operation of trains on North London Railway routes formerly of Silverlink Metro.
The official launch ceremony was on 12 November 2007 at Hampstead Heath station by the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, with a later media event on the disused bay platform at Willesden Junction station.
The launch was accompanied by a marketing campaign entitled "London's new train set", with posters and leaflets carrying an image of a model railway retail package containing the new Overground trains, tracks and staff.
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 to be used throughout the network from the outset.
All stations were "deep-cleaned" following the TfL takeover, and the Silverlink branding was removed. Station signage is being gradually replaced with Overground-branded signs using TfL's corporate 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 Overground roundel as station refurbishment progresses.
On 15 April 2009, the North London Line platforms at Stratford moved to new high-level platforms 1 & 2 from the old low-level platforms 1 & 2, the latter being made available for the DLR's upcoming Stratford International service (due open 2010). Platforms 1 and 2 comprise an island platform with step-free links to platform 12 and the subway linking to platforms 3 to 11.
On 27 September 2009, Imperial Wharf station opened on the West London Line, between West Brompton and Clapham Junction.
East London Line Extension
On 27 April 2010 the East London Line became part of the London Overground network when the Phase 1 extension to the line was completed. The former London Underground line has been extended northwards (mostly along the former Broad Street viaduct) to the re-opened Dalston Junction, and southwards to new termini at Crystal Palace and West Croydon by utilising part of the existing Brighton Main Line.
The service began with a limited "preview" service between Dalston Junction and New Cross/New Cross Gate, with the line coming into full operation between Dalston Junction and West Croydon/Crystal Palace on 23 May.
The incorporation of the East London Line to the London Overground network has added substantial sections of line that are in tunnels, including the historic Thames Tunnel, the oldest tunnel under a navigable river in the world. An peculiarity of this part of the network is that at Whitechapel the deep-level London Overground line runs below the London Underground line.
Operator
The Overground is operated by a private company, LOROL. Following a model similar to that already used for the Docklands Light Railway, TfL invited tenders for operation of the 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 NedRailways. In December 2006, this was narrowed to Govia and MTR Laing, who were selected to submit their ‘best and final offers’, and on 19 June 2007 it was announced that MTR Laing had been selected.
The contract was signed on 2 July 2007, for seven years with the option of a two-year extension. In preparation for the launch of the Overground, MTR Laing renamed itself 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 April 2008, Laing Rail was bought by the German Government's rail operator Deutsche Bahn, which now holds a 50% stake in LOROL. The price was said to be around €170 million.
Current System
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 Zone 2. The network also uses Euston in central London, the southern terminus of the Watford DC Line.
Ticketing
Ticketing on the Overground uses a mix of paper and the Oyster Card electronic smart card. As with all National Rail and TfL services in London, passengers may use a Travelcard (daily, seven-day, monthly or annual), and as on other National Rail Services in London, paper single, return and cheap day return tickets priced under the zonal fare scheme are available. In addition, TfL permits the use of Oyster "pay-as-you-go" (PAYG).
As part of an effort to improve safety and protect revenue, TfL has announced that it will introduce ticket barriers at a number of stations. The stations that did not have barriers when TfL took over the line have been fitted with standalone Oyster Card readers similar to those at ungated Underground and DLR stations. The validator at Blackhorse Road which previously was needed to enter/exit the Oyster card system when using the line is now disused.
The ticket stock for the Overground continues to be common National Rail stock, as 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.
Pricing
Paper tickets are charged at the old Silverlink prices, which are generally lower than National Rail London zonal fares and 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 London Underground fares.
Oyster PAYG is charged on the same zone-based rules as for the Underground and the 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 2 January 2008 (from 2 to 3, 3 to 2 and 3 to 2/3 respectively), which will also reduce some zone-based fares.
Performance
Although branded as a TfL service, the Overground remains as, and is monitored for performance as, part of the National Rail network, unlike the Underground. The most recent figures released by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), for October to December 2009, showed that it had achieved 92.3% of the Public Performance Measure (PPM) target for punctuality and reliability set by the ORR. This was very similar to the average PPM for all London and the South East railway companies. The MAA of the PPM for the 12 months to 31 December 2009 was 92.6%. TfL, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has investigated the use of data from the Oyster smartcard ticketing system to measure the performance of the Overground explicitly from the passenger perspective.
In the Spring 2010 National Passenger Survey, conducted by Passenger Focus, London Overground received the lowest overall satisfaction rating of any UK train operating company, at 72%.
Rollingstock
Since London Overground took over operations from the previous franchisee, Silverlink, Transport for London has carrying out a programme of rolling stock replacement over three to five years. From 2009, brand new Class 378 Capitalstars built by Bombardier Transportation have been introduced on the electrified lines. The North London Line has been provided with 24 three-car units, and following a programme of platform extension, the North London Railway fleet will be extended to four cars in 2011. The East London Line is being initially operated with 20 four-car units, with three extra trains due to be introduced.
The new Class 378 electric trains were officially unveiled at Willesden Junction station on 13 July 2009. They include a number of "Tube-style" features, including sideways seating (upholstery in Misha Black's District-line-style moquette) and more standing room to fit in with a high-capacity metro service. The trains also introduce new walk-through open carriage interiors and air conditioning. The new fleet is currently undergoing testing on the network and is graudally being brought into service. The first Capitalstars began passenger operation in July 2009.
The new trains are leased from a newly-formed Rolling Stock Operating Company (ROSCO) named QW Rail Leasing, with the lease running until 2027. TfL had originally planned to buy the new Class 378 EMU fleet outright, but in February 2008, TfL announced that it would lease rather than purchase the trains. 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.
The new rolling stock is gradually replacing the older Class 313 EMUs, Class 508 EMUs and Class 150 DMUs units previously operated by Silverlink, and apart from the three Class 508 units which were withdrawn in late 2008, many of these units remain in operation on several London Overground routes (not the East London Line). These older units retain Silverlink green and purple livery, although the Silverlink name has been removed and temporary London Overground branding applied.
The East London line, previously operated with London Underground A60 and A62 Stock, was temporarily closed and has is now operated with the new Class 378 Capitalstar units.
Old Class 150 diesel units continue in service on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBLIN) as this line is not electrified and therefore not suitable for the electric Class 378 stock. Eight two-car Class 172/0 units were ordered by Angel Trains on behalf of TfL in November 2007, and London Overground will lease the units from a ROSCO. Electrification of the GOBLIN line is advocated by TfL, local boroughs and passenger groups, but it has not been included as part of Network Rail's Route Utilisation Strategy for the Cross London Route. TfL has indicated that it intends to use new two-car Class 172 Turbostar diesel trains from 2009.
If the plan to replace the Watford DC Line with a Bakerloo line service to Watford Junction goes ahead, the 1972 Stock fleet on the Bakerloo line could be augmented by newly-retired Victoria line 1967 Stock trains, although these would need modification.
Branding
The public presentation of the Overground is visually associated with existing TfL design standards, using similar graphic design elements to those used on Underground publicity, signage and other elements, drawing on the design heritage of Frank Pick. These design standards will be applied to the new fleet of trains.
The routes are branded with a new version of the roundel, the iconic bar-and-circle symbol associated with transport services in London. The Overground version consists of an orange ring with a blue bar. The roundel was adopted from an earlier design by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933 and which has spawned many variations applied to succeeding operations. The current TfL versions use a hollow circle or ring rather than the original solid circle.
In common with other TfL services, the Overground is denoted by a designated sector colour, a vivid orange (Pantone 158C). Similarly to the presentation of the DLR, the Overground is shown on Tube maps as a double stripe rather than a solid line, to denote its status as a service that is not an Underground line.
Corporate signage, stationery and literature use the New Johnston typeface in common with other TfL services. A small number of refurbished stations on the reopened East London line now display the station name in large orange three-dimensional upper-case letters.
Livery
New rolling stock has been painted with new London Overground livery. The design is similar to Underground standard livery, with light grey coaches, a longtitudinal thick blue stripe and a thin orange stripe along the bottom, London Overground roundels at mid-points along the coaches and orange doors. The fronts and backs are painted yellow to comply with National Rail standards.
Older rolling stock inherited from Silverlink retains Silverlink's purple and lime green livery with yellow doors. Silverlink logos have been removed and 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.
Future Developments
The expansion of the Overground network has been widely publicised by TfL as part of its transport strategy, and involves the addition of two new lines to the network which will eventually link to form a ring around London. To date, the East London Railway is almost complete, and funding for the conversion of the South London Line was secured in 2009. Prospective 2010 Tube maps were released in 2008 to the press illustrating the potential full extent of the planned network.
North London Line
Passenger services running on the North London Line are currently operated with three-car trains. TfL is running a project to introduce four-car trains on the network. To enable this, the North London Line has been closed between Gospel Oak and Stratford to allow the extension of 30 platforms and the installation of a new signalling system. Track renewal work and refurbishment of some stations is also being undertaken. The engineering work is running from February 20 until May 31 2010. On the rest of the North London Line, reduced services are operating and Sunday services are suspended.
East London Line
Since its 2010 reopening, northbound East London Line services only run as far as Dalston Junction. The original East London Line extension plans only made provision for extending the line as far north as Dalston Junction, terminating just south of the North London Line. In September 2006, the then Mayor, Ken Livingstone, committed to extending the line as far as Highbury & Islington via Canonbury.
The Highbury extension is now scheduled to open in May 2011. Service frequencies are advertised as running every seven or eight minutes, with a six-minute journey time from Dalston Junction to Highbury and Islington. This will provide a new interchange between the East London Line and the North London Line, the Victoria Line and First Capital Connect Northern City Line services.
Watford DC Line
TfL has proposed re-extending the Bakerloo Line to Watford Junction. It has been suggested that most or all of the line from Queen's Park to Watford Junction would be used exclusively by the Underground, and Overground services would be withdrawn.
As part of this change, Overground services would be diverted at Primrose Hill Junction via the currently freight-only route through Primrose Hill (closed since 1992) to Camden Road, providing a new service running between Queen's Park and Stratford.[citation needed] As a result of this service change, Kilburn High Road and South Hampstead would no longer have direct services to central London and the Overground would lose its only presence at a London Terminus.
However, the Watford line is still shown as part of the Overground on prospective Tube maps issued by TfL, so this proposal appears uncertain.
South London Line
The Phase 2 plans of the East London Line extension incorporate an extension from Surrey Quays along the South London Line to Clapham Junction. This would then create an orbital network around Central London, fulfilling the Orbirail concept. The extension is scheduled to open in May 2012.
The South London route will branch off from the East London line south of Surrey Quays and will involve the re-opening of a stretch of disused East London Railway Company line. The line will be conveyed via a bridge over Surrey Canal Road to Old Kent Road Junction where it will join the South London line at Queens Road Peckham. The line will then follow the existing National Rail route via Denmark Hill as far as Wandsworth Road, then branch off at Factory Junction, passing through Battersea towards Clapham Junction, where it will connect with the existing West London line Overground services. The West London services arrive and depart from platform 2 on the north side of the station, but no information has yet been published about platform provision for the South London line services.
Funding for the South London extension project was secured in February 2009, including £64 million, which was received from the DfT, and £15 million from TfL.
TfL had previously suggested that the South London line project should be funded as part of the Thameslink Programme, due to capacity constraints at London Bridge station once the Thameslink upgrade has taken place. Network Rail's South London Route Utilisation Strategy has also very strongly emphasised the need for this extension to the ELL, particularly in respect of the even more restricted capacity during the reconstruction of London Bridge.
The planned South London route passes over both Loughborough Junction and Brixton stations, without stopping. The proposals have been criticised for not including new interchange stations with Thameslink and the London Underground Victoria lines. 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.
In the March 2008 edition of The Londoner newspaper TfL announced an intention to take over more routes in South London when Southern's franchise runs out in 2009. However, this plan was not included in the franchise tender documents, nor in the 2008 ten-year plan.
Old Oak Common Interchange
A long-term plan exists to create interchange facilities with future High Speed 2 railway services at the proposed Old Oak Common railway station. Planning documents issued by the Department for Transport suggest that the new station, to be located on a site just south of Willesden Junction, could open by 2025 and offer connections with London Overground on both the North London and West London lines.
The station would also be served by the forthcoming Crossrail line, Great Western Main Line services and Heathrow Express, and the proposals additionally indicate the possibility of including interchange facilities with the Bakerloo and Central lines. The Old Oak Common plans are supported by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.