Spring start for Gospel Oak-Barking electric trains
London Overground’s Gospel OakBarking line reopened in time for the start of service on January 15, following an eight-week closure by Network Rail to complete electrification of the route.
Possession was given up at approximately noon on January 14 for a ghost service to run, before the first timetabled train departed from Barking at 0633 the following morning.
Newly energised overhead line equipment (OLE) will now be fully tested in between normal services and at night, ahead of new fourcar Class 710 electric multiple units entering traffic in the spring.
These trains will replace the current stock of two-car Class 172 diesel multiple units, which will remain in service until driver training and route testing is completed. RAIL understands that they will be phased out until all ‘710s’ become available, meaning that for a period EMUs and DMUs will run concurrently.
Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s Anglia Route Managing Director, said: “Passengers travelling on the line are set to benefit from a transformational once-in-ageneration upgrade with a new fleet of longer, electric trains so that twice as many people can travel comfortably, once line testing is complete.”
Network Rail has confirmed that passengers must endure a further full line closure over the weekend of April 7/8, in order to finish raising the height of Crouch Hill Bridge.
Last year NR admitted that the work to electrify the 14-mile route had “not been without its difficulties”, after incorrect designs and the late delivery of materials forced it to revise its schedule.
OLE had originally been due to be installed along the entire length of the route during a phased eight-month closure of the line that ended on February 27 2017. However, further blockades were needed for outstanding work on weekends only between July 29 and September 10, and then for a full five weeks between September 17-October 22 prior to the most recent closure that commenced on November 18.