Dispute over additional Gospel Oak trains

TRANSPORT for London denies that it is withdrawing capacity-busting additional trains on the Gospel Oak-Barking route.

The London Overground trains leave Barking at 0653, 0811 and 1858, with one eastbound train leaving Gospel Oak at 1728. They are not timetabled, with LO providing them on an ad hoc basis.

They have been running in place of the four-car Class 710/2s that should have been in traffic, but which have yet to run due to delayed completion of the electrification of the route, and the late delivery of the Bombardierbuilt trains ( RAIL 856).

The Barking-Gospel Oak Rail User Group (BGORUG) says the trains have been withdrawn. It issued a statement on July 2 stating that the eight Class 172 diesel multiple units currently used on the line will be removed by November to transfer to West Midlands Railway. It added that a ‘172/0’ had been removed from traffic for assessment by owner Angel Trains and WMR, ahead of the transfer.

BGORUG Secretary Glenn Wallis said: “This is the final kick in the teeth for our passengers. They’ve endured months without trains while Network Rail was electrifying the line, and now the trains are back, they get a reduction in service! BGORUG no longer has any confidence in TfL’s promises.

“Unless Bombardier obtain Network Rail approval for their seven-month-late electric trains straight away, TfL will be lucky to get any into passenger service before the remaining seven diesel trains are withdrawn.”

Rory O’Neill, TfL’s General Manager of London Overground, said: “Additional trains have been temporarily operating on the Gospel Oak-Barking route to manage congestion during the busiest times and ahead of new, longer trains being introduced later this year.

“Typically, during the summer months, we see a drop in demand, but will continue to operate these services as often as we possibly

can. We recommend customers check before they travel and choose a timetabled service when planning a journey to prevent any inconvenience.”

TfL told RAIL that it is working with London Overground, Bombardier and Arriva Rail London (which operates LO) regarding the maintenance of the ‘172s’, and that the DMUs will not be transferred until the ‘710s’ enter traffic, which is expected to be by November.

While electrically powered passenger trains have yet to run on the line, freight trains hauled by electric traction have begun operating.

DAVID ANDREWS. London Overground 172004 arrives at Woodgrange Park on June 7, with the 1333 Barking-Gospel Oak. LO uses ‘172s’ to operate additional peak-time trains, but the local user group has raised concerns that these are being cancelled as LO prepares for the cascade of the trains to the Midlands.