02.02.16
TfL tries to reduce line-closure time for GOBLIN electrification
Network Rail and Transport for London have confirmed that the coming months will see “extensive disruption” on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line as a vast amount of structures, track and OLE work is done to electrify the line and lengthen platforms.
From early June to late September 2016, the line will be part-closed, with trains running between Gospel Oak and South Tottenham on weekdays, but none from South Tottenham onto Barking, and no services at all on weekends.
The 14-mile line will be completely closed from October 2016 to early February 2017, with rail replacement buses operating instead. Once the line reopens, there will be further evening and weekend works until late June 2017, then four months of commissioning works before the wires go live.
Mike Stubbs, TfL’s director of London Overground, said: “We recognise that eight months is an extensive disruption for our customers, but this is minimised for the first four months by being a partial closure during the week, followed then by a full line closure. We continue to work with Network Rail to see if the timescales they set out can be reduced.”
It is understood that negotiations over the disruption are what has delayed the official announcement about the works.
The Barking – Gospel Oak Rail User Group says the overcrowding on the line is “intolerable” and the additional capacity cannot come soon enough.
The works, funded by TfL and the DfT and costing more than £130m, will allow the introduction of eight four-car electric trains from early 2018, replacing two-car diesels. Last summer, Bombardier won the contract to supply a version of its Aventra train for the line, as well as on West Anglia routes.
Four sections of track have to be lowered and four bridges rebuilt, with less extensive work required to a further six bridges. Network Rail has already started work on the foundations for the OLE gantries, working with contractor J Murphy & Sons, which won a £56.9m contract last autumn. Half of this amount will be passed onto subcontractors, it was said then.
Network Rail’s route managing director, Richard Schofield, said: “This is a vital project to keep pace with continued growing demand for rail. This investment will transform the service on this route, doubling capacity with cleaner, quieter electric trains and is a key element of the Railway Upgrade Plan.”
The works will also enable the extension to Barking Riverside.
Rail minister Claire Perry MP said: “In the short term there will be disruption, but Network Rail and TfL are doing all they can to keep passengers informed and ensure any inconvenience is kept to a minimum.”
Network Rail has released this video explaining more about the project: