London Overground – News, Closures and Works

London Overground is pressing on with its £326 million upgrade under full power, with the promised better services due to be implemented on 22nd May 2011.

As many will know, new timetables came into affect on all lines except the Gospel Oak to Barking on Sunday 12 December. These are all online and at stations.
The main difference is that there will be no service between Richmond and Stratford, and Shepherd’s Bush and Willesden Junction on Sundays during the upgrade work. Although there is a slight twist to that with some slightly confusing contradictions, more on which later).

There will be closures of up to 2 ½ weeks next year on some sections, more details below.

Below is what is due to happen line by line over the next few months:

1. Richmond/Clapham Junction to Stratford

See above for timetabling arrangements on Sundays. Other services remain the same as thus:

  • Monday – Friday peak hours: 6 trains per hour (tph) Willesden Junction to Stratford, 3tph on branches
  • Monday – Friday off-peak and Saturday: 4tph Richmond to Stratford, 2tph Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction.
  • Sunday: 2tph Shepherd’s Bush to Clapham Junction

For those who don’t know, the line will be partially or fully closed for the whole festive period:

  • 18th – 24th December: Service between Richmond and Gospel Oak & No service between Gospel Oak & Stratford.
  • 27th December – 3rd January 2011: No service between Richmond and Stratford, and Shepherd’s Bush and Willesden Junction.

In more detail…

  • 18th December: Service between Gospel Oak and Stratford, and Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction
  • 19th December: Normal service until 12:30. Afterwards, no service between Willesden Junction and Stratford (contrary to what was said earlier!)
  • 20th – 24th December: No more exceptions to the above
  • 24th December: Last westbound train (Gospel Oak to Richmond) – 20:18, last eastbound trains (Richmond to Gospel Oak) – 20:55, (Richmond to Willesden Junction) – 21:15
  • 25th and 26th December: Whole line closed
  • 27th December – 3rd January 2011: Replacement bus services will be in operation, using the same calling points as the ones on Sundays, i.e. Gunnersbury to Gospel Oak (not stopping at South Acton) and Hampstead Heath to Stratford (not stopping at Caledonian Road & Barnsbury but making an additional stop at Holloway Road LU
  • 27th and 27th December: Service between Clapham Junction and Shepherd’s Bush between 08:55 and 20:55
  • 28th – 30th December: A Saturday service will run on the open section
  • 31st December: A Saturday service will run, until the close of service. Unlike most other modes of transport, there will be no overnight service on LO
  • 1st January 2011: A normal Saturday service will run, starting later at 08:45
  • 2nd January: A normal Sunday service will run.
  • 3rd January: A Saturday service will run.
  • 4th January: Normal service resumes, please check the TfL website for further future weekend closures.
  • 19th – 27th February: No service between Richmond and Camden Road, and Shepherd’s Bush and Willesden Junction (subject to confirmation, may change)

2. Watford Junction to Euston

There will be 3tph throughout the line.

  • 24th December: A weekday service will run, with last trains as follows: Northbound (Euston to Watford Junction) – 21:17, southbound (Watford Junction to Euston) – 21:21
  • 25th and 26th December: Whole line closed
  • 27th – 30th December: A Saturday service will run
  • 31st December: A Saturday service will run, until the close of service. Unlike most other modes of transport, there will be no overnight service on LO
  • 1st January 2011: A normal Saturday service will run, starting at 06:45
  • 2nd January: A normal Sunday service will run.
  • 3rd January: A Saturday service will run.
  • 4th January: Normal service resumes, please check the TfL website for further future weekend closures.
  • 19th February – 27th February: No service between South Hampstead and Euston
  • 22nd April – 8th May: No service between Watford Junction and Euston

3. Gospel Oak to Barking

The new timetable starts on 4th January 2011, where there will be 4tph Monday – Saturday and 2tph on Sunday.

  • 24th December: Normal weekday service, with reduced services in the evening. Last train departing around 20:00
  • 25th and 26th December: Whole line closed
  • 27th – 30th December: A Saturday service will run
  • 31st December: A Saturday service will run, until the close of service. Unlike most other modes of transport, there will be no overnight service on LO
  • 1st January 2011: A normal Saturday service will run, starting at 06:45
  • 2nd January: A normal Sunday service will run.
  • 3rd January: A Saturday service will run.
  • 4th January: Normal service resumes, please check the TfL website for further future weekend closures: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/default.html
  • 19th February – 27th February: No service between Gospel Oak and Upper Holloway (subject to confirmation, may change)

4. Dalston Junction to New Cross/Crystal Palace and West Croydon

As a result of many people requesting it (including this author), the whole timetable has been printed out this time.

There is a reduction in train frequency during some parts of the day, probably to suit demand and to work accordingly with Southern and First Capital Connect (see comments in Crossrail tunnelling contracts awarded post)

The new link to connect Highbury & Islington and Canonbury to the line is still on track to open by May 2011, but may well open earlier. Trains will run through to West Croydon and Crystal Palace. Trains to New Cross will start from Dalston Junction.

Summary of train frequencies:

Trains run less frequently early mornings and late evenings.

Dalston Junction to Surrey Quays
Monday – Saturday 06:30-22:00 – Every 5 minutes
Sunday 09:00-12:45 – About every 10 minutes
12:45-21:45 – Every 5 minutes

Surrey Quays to New Cross
Monday – Saturday 06:45-22:00 – Every 15 minutes
Sunday 09:00-22:00 – Every 15 minutes

Surrey Quays to Sydenham
Monday – Saturday 06:30-22:00 – Every 5-10 minutes
Sunday 07:15-13:00 – Every 15 minutes
13:00-22:00 – Every 5-10 minutes

24th December: Normal weekday service, with reduced services in the evening. Last train departing around 20:00

25th and 26th December: Whole line closed

27th – 30th December: A Saturday service will run

31st December: A Saturday service will run, until the close of service. Unlike most other modes of transport, there will be no overnight service on LO

1st January 2011: A normal Saturday service will run, starting at 06:45

2nd January: A normal Sunday service will run.

3rd January: A Saturday service will run.

4th January: Normal service resumes, please check the TfL website for further future weekend closures.

Customer Charter Performance Report

Below are the figures for train reliability over the last period available (Period 8) which ran from 17th October – 13th November 2010. London Overground Public Performance Measure (PPM) means that:

  • All trains reach their destination within five minutes of their scheduled time
  • It includes every train
  • There no exclusions

LO PPM target applies only to the 12 month average for all services:

Route Previous four weeks (%) Average over past 12 months (%)
Richmond – Stratford 90.18 91.07
Clapham Junction – Willesden Junction 93.49 95.03
Watford Junction – Euston 97.1 95.13
Gospel Oak – Barking 86.88 94.0
Dalston Junction – West Croydon 97.26 95.82
All lines 94.53 94.3
Target 93.2

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