Transport for London has unveiled the new trains which will be gradually rolled out over the London Overground network, with features including air conditioning and more space for passengers.
The London Overground system serves stations in north London including Watford Junction, Wembley Central, Stratford and Barking, as well as stations south of the river such as Richmond and Clapham Junction. It will also incorporate the forthcoming extension to the East London line, including stations such as Crystal Palace and West Croydon in south London.
The new fleet will be similar to Tube trains, with flip-down seats and more standing room “reflecting the type of short trips most passengers make on the network”. The trains will also have air conditioning, walkthrough carriages, in-carriage screens with real-time information, and improved CCTV.
The first of the new trains was unveiled at Willesden Junction station today, with a total of 54 due to come online by 2011. The first 24 trains will run on the existing north London, west London and Watford-Euston lines of the Overground network, with another 20 to be delivered for the East London line extension due to be completed next year. A further 10 will also be delivered to run throughout the network by 2011.
The trains will initially run with three carriages, with a capacity of 500 passengers, an 8 per cent increase on the current fleet. From 2011 the trains will increase to four carriages (with a capacity of 700 passengers), when exisitng Overground stations have been extended to accommodate the longer trains.
The new trains form part of TFL’s plan to transform the Overground network into an orbital railway around London by 2012, by connecting existing links at Clapham Junction and Surrey Quays. Click here for the existing and planned London Overground network.
For more information visit tfl.gov.uk.
Report by Mark Caswell
