Yet more closures for Gospel Oak electrification

The Gospel Oak-Barking line is being closed on eight consecutive weekends to enable the completion of late-running electrification works.

In a letter sent by Network Rail to local residents, and seen by The Evening Standard, notice was given that the 14-mile line would shut on June 4, 11, 18, 25 and July 2, as well as July 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23.

In a statement, Network Rail’s Anglia Route Managing Director Richard Schofield said: “We will continue the electrification work during weekends in June and July while we finalise our full schedule. We will share our full plans, including details of future closures with customers as soon as they are confirmed.

“I’d like to say thank you again to passengers and lineside neighbours for their continued patience and understanding and apologise for the delay in finishing this work.”

The line reopened in February after an eight-month phased blockade during which NR completed most of the civil works required to achieve clearance for overhead line equipment. However, it failed to install all of the OLE, due to construction materials not arriving on schedule, design errors and the breaching of sewers by piling equipment ( RAIL 820).

New four-car electric multiple units are due to be introduced by London Overground on the route in early 2018.