LONDON OVERGROUND is set to have its fleet enlarged by the end of next year, if plans now being considered by Transport for London go ahead.
It’s been revealed that there have been discussions about more trains and vehicles with Bombardier in Derby, which built the present Class 378 fleet a few years ago, and also with the Overground ROSCo, QW Leasing.
The additional investment is being proposed because Overground passenger figures are rising sharply and are projected to increase by another 25 per cent within a decade.
TfL says London Overground passenger figures have risen from 33 million a year on the former Silverlink Metro network to 88 million now. When the modernised East London Line is added, the annual total is almost 128 million.
The TfL Business Plan envisages the lengthening of all 57 Class 378 units to five cars from the December 2014 timetable. There may also be up to five additional trains, which would again be of five cars. The costs have not been revealed, but seem likely to be at least £120 million for the rolling stock, with infrastructure and depot upgrades on top.
A report to be considered by TfL’s Finance and Policy Committee on 23 January says: ‘Extra capacity (longer and more frequent trains) has already been provided, as the level of growth is in line with forecasts, but there is now severe overcrowding on some sections of the network at peak times. Demand is forecast to increase by a further 25 per cent on the existing Overground network by 2021, based on population and employment projections in the London Plan. If left unaddressed, widespread severe overcrowding is expected to occur.’
Upgrades in the plan include additional stabling at Silwood Triangle and Willesden, reconfiguration of the depots at New Cross Gate and Willesden to accommodate a five-car fleet, platform extensions, signalling and associated work. Various infrastructure upgrades would also be needed, particularly the lengthening of turnback sidings.
A planning application for new sidings at Silwood Triangle was submitted to the London Borough of Lewisham on 30 November, and the council has sent TfL a ' positive pre-application advice letter'. The Committee will also be told that negotiations are well advanced to purchase land next to the existing depot at New Cross Gate.
If the Committee gives the green light, the plans will then be passed to the main TfL Board for final approval, probably before the end of the month.
The discussions have been taking place as it was revealed that the new Overground link across south London from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction carried its one millionth passenger on 10 January, having been open exactly a month.
Transport for London's chief operating officer for rail, Howard Smith, said: "The popularity of the new service across south London is as we expected given that it connects the major interchange of Clapham Junction in the west with the developing area of east London. Demand has been growing steadily since it opened."