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New London Overground stock

There is some concern about this order for what could be 39 Class 378 clones. There has been so much criticism of the existing trains on the North London and East London lines, being described as cattle trucks with hard seats. The seats are hard, bad if the passenger has a lumbar spine problem as I do. There are no transverse seats so it is impossible to see out of the windows, and when these trains are crowded they can become claustrophobic, as a standing passenger could be standing with, literally, their back-side in a seated passenger's face! This is not peasant, and on these trains it seems worse than on Underground stock.

TfL is now obsessed with maximising the capacity of their trains, not by increasing the number of 'bums on seats' but feet on the floor. It is time to change the policy here to include in each coach some transverse seats, as has been done on the S8 trains which replaced the 1960s vintage A stock on the Metropolitan Line, which offered passengers travelling out to Bucks and Herts a chance of a seat.

The need for compromise is recognised, as TfL is, in effect, treating its farepayers with contempt, showing little concern for passenger comfort. The existing diesel trains on the Gospel Oak – Barking line are much more comfortable for passengers off peak, with good seats. However the severe overcrowding shows that fewer seats, to give more space around door openings is sense, but a compromise must be reached. TfL must meet passengers to ensure their needs are met as far as possible.

They failed to do this with the NLL 378s, and TfL's attitude was endorsed by Hackney's Mayor and staff, who wanted Overground to look like the Underground. This was very unsatisfactory but there has been little attempt by TfL to listen to passengers and correct this error.

Re: TfL issues tender for new London Overground EMUs