TfL to control overland line

12:00pm Thursday 23rd February 2006

TRANSPORT for London (TfL) will take control of the overland Barking to Gospel Oak railway line next year.

The move, which has been welcomed by members of local travel watchdog the Barking to Gospel Oak Line Users Group, will see TfL take over from the Government in managing and funding the line.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said people in Waltham Forest would benefit from better security and extra staff at Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow Queens Road, Leyton Midland and Leytonstone High Road.

He added: "Stations that are currently often understaffed or empty all together will be staffed adequately, offering passengers a more visible and reassuring presence.

"Stations and trains will be improved with additional security enhancements including CCTV at stations and on trains."

Services are currently run by franchise operator Silverlink, whose contract ends next year. The line is managed and funded by the Department of Transport.

From autumn 2007, once TfL takes over control, the franchise will be put out to tender with the successful bidder announced in November 2007.

Mr Livingstone said other improvements passengers will see included extra train services earlier in the morning and later in the evening and the use of Oyster pay-as-you-go.

In the long term TfL says it plans to spend £25 million on upgrading all the stations on North London Railway, which is made up of the Barking to Gospel Oak line, the North London Line, London Euston to Watford Junction services and the West London line from Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction via Kensington Olympia.

Graham Larkbey, secretary of the Barking Gospel Oak Line User Group, said: "This is the news we have been waiting for and it signals the start of a whole new era for our time.

"TfL has already helped bring about improvements to the service and its aspirations for the route are the same as ours."

A spokesman for Silverlink also welcomed the proposed improvements.

He said: "Anything that is going to bring more train services to the area will be welcomed by us.

"We hope to have the opportunity to provide this service."