The Anonymous Widower

Have Transport for London Other Plans For The Overground?

It is now widely-publicised that Transport for London have started the process to get Class 378 trains delivered for the Lea Valley and Gospel Oak to Barking Lines. This article in Rail News gives full details.

But the History section in the Wikipedia entry for the Class 378 trains has this paragraph.

On 19 June 2015 it was announced that Bombardier had won a contract to supply a further 45 units, with an option for a possible 249 additional vehicles. The 45 units would comprise of 30 sets to replace class 315 and 317 units on the recently taken-over former Greater Anglia routes, one unit for use between Romford and Upminster, six to strengthen the existing London Overground fleet and eight units to replace the class 172 diesel units on Gospel Oak to Barking services.

So what are TfL proposing to do with the optional 249 vehicles, if it eventually is part of the order?

If they are four-car trains that would be over sixty sets, which as they need thirty sets for the current Lea Valley operation, would mean they could support two similar services of the same size.

It is an open secret,that Transport for London wants to be responsible for Dartford services from London, so that would probably require thirty to forty sets, which still leaves enough to takeover another service or perhaps add an extra car to all the five-car sets on the North and East London Lines.

Or could they be looking at the Great Northern services out of Moorgate and Kings Cross? These currently use forty-four rather clapped-out Class 313 trains, comprising 132 vehicles.

It just seems that we’re going to get a Big Orange!

June 22, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Class 378 Train, London Overground