The plan for Transport for London’s introduction of electric trains on the Gospel Oak-Barking line remains unclear, with two of the Class 172 diesel multiple units currently used on the route already taken off-lease from its operator Arriva Rail London for transfer to West Midlands Trains.
London Overground was due to put new Bombardier Class 710 electric multiple units into traffic on the route from March 2018, with a full rollout by May. However, problems with the Train Control Management System (TCMS) has so far prevented this.
TfL then said at the unveiling of a Class 710 at Willesden in June last year that they would enter traffic in autumn, but that deadline was missed. The last date given was mid-December.
A four-car Class 378 electric multiple unit (reduced in length from five coaches owing to platform length limitations) has now been tested on the line as a stop-gap measure to cover for the delayed introduction of the Class 710s planned for the route, seven of which are at Willesden undergoing testing (710261-263/265-267/269). A decision on whether to introduce the Class 378s was due to be made in the week beginning January 14.
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AndrewJG8918 - 14/01/2019 14:58
Why not allow London Overground to bring in some of their Class 317s to work on the Gospel Oak-Barking Line for a short term. As the Class 710s are still aren't ready for service because of software technical issues. At least the Class 317s can deliver reliable service on the Gospel Oak-Barking Line aswell inheriting few Class 378s aswell to be operated on the Gospel Oak-Barking Line. Before London Overground can start using the Class 710s in service that it was suppose to enter service in December last year.
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AndrewJG8918 - 14/01/2019 14:59
And to transfer the rest of the Class 172/0 London Overground Turbostar stocks to West Midlands Trains so they can start using them on various services including the Coventry-Nuneaton and Coventry-Leamington Spa routes.
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P bateman - 15/01/2019 01:41
Has everyone forgotten the original problem, of the cock up with overhead cables etc. These lates excuses seem to be an attempt of deflecting blame
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Graham Aldridge - 15/01/2019 13:54
As a temporary expedient, why not use redundant 315s?
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