Whilst attention has begun to switch to TfL’s plans for West Anglia (a topic which we will cover in more detail later in the month) it is worth remembering that taking over control of that line and associated stations is not the only project currently underway on the London Overground.
The London Overground Capacity Improvement Programme (LOCIP) aims to address the increasing capacity gap to be found on the existing Overground lines (something we wrote about back in 2011 in The Future of the Overground Part 2: Orange Squash). This means platform extension work, where possible, but more importantly extending the existing rolling stock (the Class 378 “Capitalstars”) to five cars, the maximum length for which they can be configured.
Perhaps unusually for such work, breaking apart the current units and inserting the additional carriage is intended to happen “on site” at New Cross Gate Depot (which we visited back in 2010 before the ELL reopened). This is necessary in order to limit the time that the Overground’s 378s spend out of service, as there is limited spare capacity within the fleet. This is one of the key reasons for the expansion and extension work currently underway at New Cross Gate.
Theoretically, this will allow the timescale for individual conversions to be highly aggressive – taking only two days per train to complete. The extra cars will be hauled down, one at a time, from Bombardier’s works at Derby in a number of special freight formations. Once there, the relevant 378 will be pulled from service and static insertion and testing will be completed on day one. Non-passenger dynamic testing (i.e running the train with the new car in place) will be carried out on day two. Assuming the newly configured five-car train passes testing it will then be returned to service on day three.
Before this process can be carried out, however, the first conversion will take place at Derby in order to allow a greater degree of initial testing to be completed. The first additional fifth car (38401) has already been constructed for this and has been under testing (for wiring or sub-system issues) for a short while.
38401 being assembled at Derby
With this stage now nearing completion, the first unit for conversion (378201) was hauled by locomotive up to Derby last Saturday.
378201 heading to Derby from Willesden
378201 arriving at Derby
Once this has been converted to a five-car unit, it will undergo extended dynamic testing at Derby on the test track there, during which time series production will begin on further fifth cars. Once the extended testing is completed, 378201 will return south in November (assuming all goes to schedule) and re-enter passenger service.
The process of converting the rest of the 57 Capitalstars will then begin at New Cross Gate Depot, with the plan being to have all units running in five-car formations by the end of 2015.
TFL has published its report on extending the Overground to Barking Riverside see link below –
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/january/support-for-extension-of-overground-to-barking-riverside
It seems requests for a second station on this extension and further extension across the river to Abbey Wood or Thamesmead seem to be popular suggestions and yet new station is shown as above ground so a need to protect a route from the station to a tunnel entrance will surely also be needed.
The attachments contain maps of how the future Overground will look . However, someone has failed to check step free access is the same on both maps !
Interesting suggestios include using present platform 1 at Barking Station for Hammersmith and City line trains and extentsion of H&C line to Barking Riverside instead of Overground but response to this mentions use of 3RD RAIL(!) system on Underground makes it more difficult !
@WW
I thought it had been decided that the trains on the Overground service from Watford-Euston were also to be lengthened to 5 cars.
@evergreenadam
The report does say that “London Overground services are being increased by 25 per cent through the introduction of a fifth car to trains ACROSS THE NETWORK” (my emphasis) Of course, some of the trains on the routes joining the network in May are already longer than that.
As of 15th January, coaches for units 378135-378148 (13 units) have been delivered to New Cross Gate, with extra coaches 38447 and 38448 delivered today (15/01) for units 378147 and 378148 respectively. I think 378135-378142 are now running as 5 cars, but can’t confirm.
@ Melvyn – I queried the sketch that showed an elevated station with TfL very early on. They said that was illustrative and should not be seen as a firm final design for the station. One thing I don’t know the answer to is why much of the line has to be elevated. Perhaps we’ll find out in the next round of consultation? I wouldn’t be picky about things like MIP symbols on maps. We’re years away from the scheme being implemented and C2C have a commitment to spend a significant sum on improving Barking station so MIP access may be part of that. I do note, though, that C2C have some pertinent concerns about the impact of the extended service on Barking station, their services and at West Ham. I hadn’t thought about West Ham but I understand why they’re concerned.
I am disappointed that the consultation report hasn’t been through the proof reading department given section 4.19 has references to questions clearly from the Dingwall Road tram loop consultation! Too much cutting and pasting methinks.
@ Evergreenadam – it is my understanding that the LOROL plan is to extend the entire class 378 fleet to 5 cars. However these trains would then move to NLL and ELL services to cover for increased services. The Watford DC line would get new 4 car trains that have been added to the GOBLIN / West Anglia order. On a recent ride on the ELL I rode on a 5 car train and saw one heading the other way. The last update I read matches Anonylon’s comment that 8 longer trains are now in service. I’ve also read (possibly here) that the conversion rate may increase very soon to speed up deployment of 5 car trains. Given the reductions on Southern services at London Bridge every extra car will be needed on ELL services.
378143 should have been lengthened by 13/01/2015 and 378144 should be done by some time today 16/01/2015. Unit lengthening takes a few days, so units are booked to be in for that long, e.g from 14/01-16/01.
Melvyn
Along those lines (!)
It is suggested that TfL may be looking favourably at extending the DL over the new Gallions Bridge, if it ever gets built.
SEE:
http://www.wharf.co.uk/2015/01/tfl-looks-at-cross-river-dlr-e.html
Re my earlier post re suggestion that H&C should use platform 1 at Barking Station . Doing this would loose the easy cross platform interchange with C2C and hopefully will not happen !
@WW. We will have to wait and see if design of Barking Riverside is adopted to layout giving opportunity for cross river extension. I think plans should be drawn up to include a design with cross river tunnel in place ready for a future extension.
On another part of the Overground designs of what West Hampstead Station will look like have just been published in a local newspaper and I have attached a link below –
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/photo_gallery_new_west_hampstead_station_designs_submitted_1_3910909#4
Still seems to be no mention of step free access to Jubilee Line Station . a perfect use of recently announced TFL Access funding !
@Anonylon
I hope priority allocation for the lengthened trains is given to the West Croydon and Crystal Palace routes.
@Evergreenadam,
Unfortunately I don’t think this is possible. You can give priority to either the West Croydon or the Crystal Palace route. As I understand it, The service is operationally in two parts with the Dalston terminators being West Croydon/New Cross trains. They come in as one and go out as the other. I am presuming the same thing happens at Highbury & Islington with Crystal Palace/Clapham Junction trains.
The best you can do is to prioritise the West Croydon/New Cross service with 5 car trains which is – what I think happens. As Dalston Junction to New Cross is a short run (22 minutes) and the trains do not continue to Highbury & Islington this ensures that a greater portion of the trains time is spend relieving the critical Sydenham – Canada Water section.
It might also be the case that a few longer distance Southeastern Passengers are enticed to change their route to work now that SouthEastern at stopping a lot of long distance trains at New Cross. So the 5-car trains on the New Cross may not be wasted. I would be interested to know what current loadings are like and whether they have recently increased.
[Comment modified in light of Slugabed’s correction (below) PoP]
PoP
Just a minor point….the Crystal Palace services terminate at Highbury and Islington (one of my local stations) where they alternate with the Clapham Jct ELL trains.
Presumably the alternation at Dalston Jct is between West Croydon and New Cross services.
Greg Tingey 16 January 2015 at 09:17
” It is suggested that TfL may be looking favourably at extending the DLR over the new Gallions Bridge, if it ever gets built. ”
The British Colombia skytrain, using Bombardier technology similar to DLR, crosses a very large river in the suburbs of Vancouver on a suspension bridge.
@Slugabed,
I am virtually certain you are correct. I think it changed when LO trains started running to Clapham Junction. I have trains from Norwood Junction to Highbury & Islington imprinted on my mind because it used to be like that. I have taken the liberty of correcting my previous comment.
This morning, surveyors were visible checking along the track & station @ Walthamstow C, data-logging everything before the handover to TfL, later this year.
It also appears that a new side-entrance/exit is being cut in to the wall at the back of the down platform, to allow people to go directly to/from Selbourne Rd
http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/new-footbridge-and-second-entrance-completed-at-shepherds-bush-station
“London Overground has completed work on a second entrance and a new footbridge at Shepherd’s Bush station.
“The £1.35m upgrade includes two new ticket machines, improved customer information screens and a new pedestrian footbridge – enabling customers to cross from one platform to the other without using the main station entrance.
“Mike Stubbs, director of London Overground, said: “This will be a great improvement for passengers by helping to reduce their journey times and relieving congestion at the main station entrance and exit by providing alternative access to and from this popular and busy station. During peak times the new exit, combined with the new pedestrian footbridge, will allow a quicker and more convenient route to Westfield shopping centre.” “
TFL have issued a notice on their site re new entrance to Shephereds Bush Overground see –
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/april/01-base-page-40036
Given escalators or lifts are not mentioned in both TFL and @ LBM notice I take new entrance to major shopping destination has neither ?
I have visited Shepherds Bush Station since my last report and can say the new exit only has stairs between platforms and indeed stairs from the Northbound ( Westfields ) side to exit the station despite plenty of platform length for a ramp exit to have been built for use of the many passengers with prams as well as wheelchair users .
News on the TFL Site of a new consultation on the Barking Riverside extension of GOBLIN see link below –
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/rail/barking-riverside-extension/consult_view
The consultation contains two options based on the extension either having seperate lines or a 2 track alignment . Only the 2 track option would allow for a second station to be added at a future date .
Platform 1 would be retained for emergency backup and therefore would need to be electrified. While the main service would use the platforms at Barking that freight trains and some C2C services now use.
This would mean the loss of cross platform interchange between Districr and GOBLIN trains while the only platform that currently has a lift will no longer have regular trains !