Contractor appointed to prepare London Overground network for longer trains

• Longer trains to provide a 25 per cent increase in capacity by end of 2015
• Contractor will extend or modify station platforms on the Clapham Junction/Richmond to Stratford London Overground routes

Transport for London (TfL) today appointed leading construction and civil engineering firm Dyer and Butler as the contractor to lengthen and modify some of the station platforms on the Clapham Junction/Richmond to Stratford London Overground route.

The work is part of a huge upgrade programme to deliver an additional 25 per cent capacity to meet increasing demand on the capital’s fastest growing railway. Since TfL took over the network in 2007, London Overground has become one of the UK’s most reliable rail services and passenger numbers have quadrupled – from 2.5m in a typical 4 week period in 2008 to 11.2m.

The longer platforms will accommodate longer London Overground trains, which are being increased from four to five carriages. The first of these longer trains will run on the Highbury & Islington to New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon/Clapham Junction routes from the end of 2014, followed by the Clapham Junction/Richmond to Stratford routes by the end of 2015.

The work is part of the £320m London Overground Capacity Improvement Programme (LOCIP), which continues TfL’s investment in this highly successful railway. TfL has already delivered more frequent and punctual services, a new fleet of air-conditioned, high capacity trains and most recently the completion of the London Overground orbital network around London – the first orbital rail network in the capital for 128 years.

TfL’s Director of London Overground, Mike Stubbs, said: “Although still in its infancy, London Overground services have proved to be hugely popular with passengers, with numbers quadrupling during the first six years of service. As London’s population continues to grow, so too will the demand on London Overground, which is why we’re carrying out vital work such as this to help provide the extra capacity that will be needed. We’re really pleased to be working with Dyer and Butler on this crucial project and will work closely with them to ensure the minimum of disruption to services.”

TfL will take over routes that run from Liverpool Street station to Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) and Chingford, which include 25 stations in total across six London Boroughs. This follows work by the Mayor and TfL to set out the benefits of devolution as demonstrated by the London Overground model.

Work at the first London Overground stations on the Clapham Junction/Richmond to Stratford route is expected to begin in February 2014 while work on the Highbury & Islington to New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon/Clapham Junction routes will begin later this month.