Gospel Oak-Barking wiring must be NR priority, says user group
Network Rail is being urged to re-commit to the planned introduction date for new electric multiple units on the Gospel OakBarking line, following its failure to complete electrification of the route during a phased eightmonth blockade.
NR finished most of the civil works required to achieve the clearances needed for overhead line equipment (OLE), during a blockade running between June 2016 and February ( RAIL 820). However, it could not install all of the OLE due to incorrect designs and late delivery of materials.
NR has indicated that more blockades will now be required in order to complete the work later in the year, before new four-car Bombardier Class 710s can be introduced in early 2018.
A Network Rail spokesman told RAIL that these dates would be known by “the end of April”, but Glenn Wallis, secretary of the Barking-Gospel Oak Rail User Group, says it is critical that the finishing works are completed sooner rather than later. The new EMUs are needed to tackle chronic overcrowding on the line’s current two-car Class 172 DMU stock.
Wallis told RAIL: “There is a dogged acceptance of more pain over the summer, but Network Rail had better deliver energised catenary by the turn of the year or passengers will really lose their patience.”
The user group is also pressing Transport for London to provide more generous refunds and compensation to passengers during any further blockades. It claims more than half of regular users failed to qualify for any refunds for additional travel expenses incurred during the last line closure.