Green light given for new line to Barking Riverside
EXTENSION of London Overground’s Gospel Oak-Barking line can begin, after Transport and Works Act powers were granted for a new line to Barking Riverside. Construction is to start next year, with the first trains to run in late 2021.
The scheme includes building a mile of new railway, while the remainder of the 2.8-mile route from Barking will share London, Tilbury and Southend (LTS) metals with c2c services.
The new line is to diverge from existing LTS metals alongside the Renwick Road bridge in Barking.
Some £172 million of the expected £263m cost is to come from Barking Riverside Ltd, the developer that is to build 10,800 new homes on the northern bank of the Thames. Part of the remainder will come from Transport for London’s Growth Fund.
Expansion of the Overground to Barking Riverside will give the new housing development access to the UK capital’s wider transport network, through connections at Barking with c2c services to Fenchurch Street and Essex, and Tube services on the District and Hammersmith & City lines.
The service is to be four trains per hour. It will be provided by the Class 710 Bombardier Aventra units that are to be introduced on the remainder of the line when electrification is completed early next year.
Describing the granting of powers as “fantastic news”, Barking and Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell said Barking Riverside “is on track to become Barcelona-on-Thames. It’s also yet another sign that Barking and Dagenham is at the epicentre of London’s eastward shift.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Barking Riverside has huge potential to deliver thousands of much-needed affordable homes. The extension of the Overground will ensure residents have the highquality transport links they need, both to the surrounding area and commuting into central London.”