[Below are the noteworthy extractions from the Commissioner’s Report – MWM]
[There are some interesting Surrey Canal Road points in here. Lewisham’s final report/approval paper is due at their next council meeting on the 14th April so we’ll be keeping an eye out for that – JB]
New Trains
Thirty new electric trains have been delivered to TfL for service on the extended East London Line. Seventeen new trains have also been delivered for the existing London Overground network, 12 of which are now in passenger service.
East London Line Extension Phase One
Trial Operations are continuing on the East London Line, with the operator testing the timetable, and conducting staff and driver training.
The opening date for the full service from Dalston Junction in the north to New Cross Gate, West Croydon and Crystal Palace in the south is 23 May, with a further connection to the North London line at Highbury and Islington due to start in January 2011.
Members of the public were also given access to the Brunel Thames tunnel on 12 and 13 March, as part of the East festival.
East London Line Extension Phase Two
The contract for the detailed design of the new 1.3 kilometre rail link between the existing South London Line and Surrey Quays has been awarded to Mott Macdonald. The OJEU notice for the main construction contract will be issued at the end of March, with construction work likely to start in the final quarter of 2010.
A commitment from the DfT for an additional £7m funding contribution towards a new station at Surrey Canal Road station has still not yet been received, although a contribution from the London Borough of Lewisham of £3m as part of its LIPs has been agreed. However TfL understands the Minister of State for Transport has concerns that the case for the station is overly reliant on a single planning application, which has not yet been submitted for approval by the Developer to the London Borough of Lewisham. The DfT has also questioned the station’s demand projections. These issues will be further discussed between the DfT, TfL and the London Borough of Lewisham. The timing of DfT’s contribution is now critical to enable more than passive provision.
North London Railway Infrastructure Project (NLRIP)
The closure between Gospel Oak and Stratford stations for the upgrade of the Richmond to Stratford line started as planned on 20 February, and will last until 31 May. During this period, work will be undertaken to replace tracks, build new platforms, lengthen existing ones, and start undertaking re-signalling work.
A comprehensive communications plan has been put in place to ensure that passengers have access to all the information they need to make their journey, and plan alternative travel options. Rail replacement buses will operate throughout the closure period, and initial indications suggest that the alternative arrangements are operating well.
As a result of the NLRIP upgrade works, passengers will benefit from eight peak trains per hour between Camden Road and Stratford from mid- 2011, as well as longer trains on the Richmond to Stratford, and Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction lines.
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