Electrification of Gospel Oak to Barking line set to be complete for new double-length trains
Posted: 26 July 2017 | Global Railway Review | 2 comments
Network Rail has set out the plan for delivering the remaining electrification of the Gospel Oak to Barking line ahead of the introduction of brand-new double-length trains from 2018.
Network Rail’s electrification installation will be completed in January 2018, enabling testing of the new electric trains and driver training to begin.
Current diesel services will continue to run as normal until replaced by new double-length trains.
“The Gospel Oak to Barking line is set to benefit from a transformational upgrade with better services provided by a new fleet of longer electric trains, doubling the current capacity,” said Meliha Duymaz, route managing director. “This project has not been without its difficulties and we’d like to apologise for the continued disruption and thank both passengers and neighbours for their patience while we finish our work.
“We still have a lot to do but with a new team in place to finish off the project, I’m confident that the immense benefits of this once-in-a-lifetime investment will be realised in the months ahead, and the benefits enjoyed for years to come.”
Trains are set to start entering passenger service from spring 2018.
Ironic that this scheme is allowed to be fully developed but the section from Bedford to Leicester/Nottingham/Derby/Sheffield and Leeds is cancelled to be replaced by diesel bi-modal trains. This seems to demonstrate a major metro-centric bias in terms of electrification schemes and a failure to link up energy, transport and spatial planning issues at a national level.
The DfT and Network Rail have demonised electrification through massive incompetence. (see NAO GW report 2016). It is even more ironic that the government is revving up pressure on the use of diesel vehicles and seeking to develop electric vehicles when railway electrification potentially has the ability to move passengers and freight more efficiently and reliably than diesel. The final irony was that on the day the SofS cancelled schemes here Caltrain embarked on electrification of its network.
It’s refreshing to see such an open and frank approach to the delay. The trains were never going to be delivered before January , so apart from the added cost and inconvenience, the project remains on course.
The following interrelated issues arise:-
1. The Barking Riverside Project is funded and they are ordering trains for the line. Will those trains be built whilst the production line is set? Thus saving money towards an additional unit
2. These trains could be introduced into the regular timetable, in May 2018, providing a 1/2 hourly peak time service ( 7-10am- 4-7pm) between Kensal Rise Sidings and Blackhorse Road Station, if an additional unit were purchased as well, from one of the budgets, it could be Kensal to Woodgrange Park. The trains need only stop at Gospel Oak , on the way to Kensal. The Freight paths just need to be out of peak. Blackhorse would need a crossover until the station is rebuilt to reflect the huge increase in passengers.
3. Junction Road Station could benefit from separate funding sources , such as the one that reopened Lea Bridge Station and the main structural work undertaken during the 2 month closure. Make an Application?
4. The current furore concerning Crossrail 2 leaves me wondering why the full potential of this line is not being utilised. Connections to South West London exist through Thameslink at Kentish Town and there’s space to reinstate the 2 platforms there and restore the link from Upper Holloway.
5. What is stopping this line being re signalled and made into a 3 minute Metro between Gospel Oak- Willesden Junction providing the service Blackhorse to Clapham Junction originally proposed in 1974.
6. It’s clear that the Lea Valley Line will be 4 tracked, why not open a Station opposite the Ferry Boat in, on the old Thanes Water site with an entrance on the ground west of the Bridge and a subway from Tottenham Hale.
7. Can the Harringey Curve be twin tracked and provide an opportunity to run trains to Kentish Town from New Southgate?
Yours Sincerely
Geoff Demprunt