28.05.14
LOROL to run local services to West Anglia
Transport for London (TfL) has appointed LOROL, the London Overground train operator, on an interim basis to run local services out of Liverpool Street Station to north east London.
In an attempt to improve standards for passengers, LOROL will run the services – currently managed under the Greater Anglia franchise – between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) and Chingford as well as those on the Romford to Upminster line for 17 months starting on 31 May next year.
The London Overground concession, including these latest additions, will then be re-let following an established bidding process.
Under TfL, and from day one of the transfer, passengers will see staff at all London Overground-managed stations while trains are running. Their presence will bring immediate improvements to station security, safety and accessibility.
In a rolling programme, all of the stations will be thoroughly cleaned, and have new, modern ticket machines installed. The trains will also be fully cleaned but TfL has ordered new ones which will carry more people more reliably than before.
Jonathan Fox, director of London Rail, who leads TfL’s mainline rail business, said: “London Overground is coming to West Anglia and will bring more staff, simpler ticketing and, eventually, brand new trains to these lines. LOROL has a proven record on delivery and I'm pleased that this will now extend to West Anglia.”
The delivery of a new fleet of trains for these routes is being planned with the first of the new units arriving in summer 2018. Until then the existing West Anglia train fleet – after deep cleaning – will continue to be used.
LOROL will take over the new routes on 31 May 2015 and run them until November 2016 when the current London Overground concession is due to end.
The DfT had revealed that the Greater Anglia franchise would be extended until 15 October 2016, with Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) continuing to provide services between London Liverpool Street and major towns and cities across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex for the next 27 months. However, it also confirmed that the West Anglia Suburban routes along with the Great Eastern Suburban routes will transfer to TfL operation in 2015.
Commenting on the announcement, Peter Austin, LOROL managing director, said: “We are obviously delighted at TfL’s plans to appoint LOROL to run these new services. This recognises the efforts of the LOROL team in making the London Overground such a success and is an exciting development for us all.
“We have considerable experience in incorporating new routes in to the London Overground having successfully extended the network several times already. Over the next few months we will look at how we can sensibly manage the introduction of these new lines and plan how best to fully integrate them in to the network.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]