Transport for London (TfL) has named Cleshar Contract Services Ltd as the contractor responsible for lengthening station platforms on the London Overground network to accommodate longer trains.
The work, which will take place along the Overground’s East London and South London routes, is part of a £320 million programme of improvements designed to boost capacity on the network by 25 per cent.
New five-car Overground trains are to be introduced on the East London route between Highbury & Islington to New Cross, Crystal Palace, West Croydon and the South London route from Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction from the end of 2014.
Platform lengthening works are due to start on the first of 13 Overground station in the autumn.
TfL’s director of rail Jonathan Fox said: “Although not yet six years old, London Overground must continue to grow its capacity. It’s hugely popular, with passenger numbers increasing by 87 million in its first four years of existence.
“While that rate will slow, we must still be ready to provide for the 810,000 new residents who will come to London by 2021.”
“We are pleased to be working with Cleshar on this crucial project and these upgrade works will be completed with the absolute minimum of disruption to services.”
Work will be carried out at Highbury & Islington, Canonbury, Hoxton, Haggerston, Dalston Junction, Shoreditch, Shadwell, Wapping, Canada Water, Surrey Quays, Wandsworth High Street, Clapham High Street and Clapham Junction.
Overground has been such a success! It is a pity that this was not predicted as many stations that had platform alterations on both the East London and North London Lines were not rebuilt with the extra carriage in mind. Even those people who promoted the initial concept and lobbied the politicians before the first GLA elections in 2000 did not anticipate such inordinate growth. But why were the platforms not built in anticipation of the longer trains.
Passengers are waiting for the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak Line to start as this line has only 2 coach trains which are hopelessly overcrowded at peak hours, and at the moment may not be completed until 2017.
Wandsworth Road, not Wandsworth High Street (no such station).