The Anonymous Widower

Missing Links on the Overground

Late this year, the extension of the East London line of the London Overground to Clapham Junction station will be opened. I say “will be opened” as given Transport for London‘s record, they usually hit their own targets.

You will then be able to do all sort of circular journeys around London, but there will still be a couple of missing links in the complete circle or if you include Stratford, the circle and stub. But it’s never been intended that you get on one train and go all the way round.

Here are the missing links.

Passing through Clapham Junction from east to north

Passing through Clapham Junction from north to east

These two have been solved by an elegant solution, where the northbound trains use one end of the platform and the eastbound the other. So passengers just walk a few metres to their next train or where it is expected.

East London line stations to Stratford

The standard way is to change from the East London  line to the North London line at Canonbury or Highbury and Islington, which involves a lift-assisted bridge crossing. But you can always go to Canada Water and then take the Jubilee line to Stratford.  They might rebuild the Eastern Curve at Dalston, but I think that will only happen, if they need to send significant traffic from Stratford to South London.

Stratford to East London line stations

The standard way is to change from the North London  line to the Line London line at Canonbury or Highbury and Islington, which involves just a walk across the platform.

East London line stations to Richmond

Richmond to East London line stations

These two will again need a lift assisted walk over the tracks at  Canonbury or Highbury and Islington. I’d take the second as you have a bigger choice of direct stations without changing when travelling from Richmond.

To show how I use it, I’ll give a simple example.  Say, I’ve been to the Eastfield John Lewis at Stratford and I’m bringing home a heavy parcel, I’ll get off at Canonbury and take the first train to Dalston Junction, where I’ll often take the first bus home, to avoid carrying the parcel. It’s also step-free all the way.

The reinstatement of the Dalston Eastern Curve would save a few minutes, but then you’d probably have to wait a couple for a suitable train at Stratford. So from a passenger point of view, it’s probably not worth building, especially, as you can use the Jubilee line as a by-pass to South London. In fact the Jubilee is very much circular tube through South London.

February 12, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | East London Line, Jubilee Line, London Overground, North London Line