Passengers have praised improvements made by Transport for London on a vital commuter line one year since it became part of the Overground network.

Commuters were left “frustrated” at cancellations and major delays when TfL took over the line between Chingford and Liverpool Street on May 31, last year.

TfL blamed “defective” 30-year-old trains inherited from former operator Greater Anglia for the disruptions and promised a roll-out of 30 new electric trains by the end of 2018.

Rail users outside Chingford and Highams Park stations today (June 1) pointed out some of the improvements after TfL’s shaky takeover.

Rob French has run The Bloom Room in Chingford Station for four years and admitted “it does get crazy at night” with rush hour bringing “floods of people”.

He said: “At the start of the takeover you could see customers complaining every day but I haven’t heard one complaint now.

“They’ve definitely improved, I think they are really good to be honest.”

Speaking on her way to work, Cassandra Mills, 31, said: “I’ve only lived here six months but the Overground hasn’t been too bad, the buses are far worse."

Chudi Eze of Station Road, Chingford, 35, said: “It has been terrible, but in the last few months it has improved.

“There is definitely more staff at the platform which is good for the passengers.”

Part-time worker, Paul Carter, 20, said: “It is not too bad, it gets me to Liverpool Street in 28 minutes but the 210 pound monthly pass is a rip-off.”

Passengers at Highams Park, who are one stop from the beginning of the line, called the service an “absolute nightmare” when TfL took over last year.

When asked about TfL’s shaky start, Stephen Sullivan from Highams Park, said: “That was all the other lot (Greater Anglia) who left them the rubbish trains, it’s much better now.

“I’m quite happy because I’m not commuting every day but when I do have to it is always busy."

Risk consultant from Highams Park, Michael Kearsey, 25, said: “It was very chaotic at the start but it’s definitely improved since then.

“At the start there was a load of cancellations and significant delays.

“Now there are only slight delays, it’s not too bad.”

Matt Cook, 30, who normally gets on the train to Liverpool Street at 8am, said: “I’ve only lived in the area for a few months so I don’t know how it was before but it’s pretty good now."

Director of London Overground, Mike Stubbs, said TfL is “committed to continuing to improve things” and make the line “one of the most reliable railways in the UK”.