19.09.14
London Overground completes work on new sidings
Work on new sidings at Silwood was completed this week as part of London Overground’s programme to deliver a 25% capacity increase.
The facility at Silwood, near New Cross Gate, will provide overnight sidings for 10 five-car Class 378s.
Work began at the site in April 2013 and was expected to be completed in April this year. The work included revisions to track alignment, new track and walkways, infrastructure for the signalling, and new staff welfare buildings, fencing, car parks and access roads.
RTM spoke to Huw Edwards, London Overground’s head of programme delivery, about its ongoing capacity improvement programme back in December.
The new sidings facility was needed as part of the capacity improvement programme that includes see a fleet extension for the Class 378 Capitalstars, from four-car to five for all London Overground routes.
Edwards called the extension “readily deliverable” – and the £88m order for 57 new carriages was placed with Bombardier in Derby under an option built into the original 2007 rolling stock contract, following approval from the TfL board in February 2013.
The extension to five-trains has also necessitated platform extensions and multiple stations. Work to extend 13 of these has also been completed.
London Overground director, Mike Stubbs, said this week: “Last weekend, the first trains rolled out of passenger service and into the Silwood sidings to be stored overnight following the completion of this brand new facility in just under 17 months.
“The sidings are a key part of London Overground's improvement programme that will enable the introduction of longer trains to carry more passengers and reduce crowding.”
(Image: c. TfL)
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