Network Rail and TfL need to explain further disruption for Gospel Oak-Barking passengers

As Transport for London announced that the London Overground line between Gospel Oak and Barking will now reopen to passengers on Monday 27 February, but that the installation of all of the overhead wires has not been completed on time and more work is required, Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, criticised the way the work has been executed and communicated:

“The fault for these delays rests with some appalling errors made by Network Rail, who have many questions to now answer.

“However I think TfL also need to explain why they were not aware of the significant problems until so recently. Their excuse that they were kept in the dark by Network Rail has a schoolboy sound to it, as anyone living close to the line could see that the electrification work had fallen behind schedule.

“It is bad enough that passengers in north London now face further closures over a series of weekends and almost certainly another full closure for a period of time later in the year. However it adds insult to injury to have Network Rail and TfL squabbling in public when their only priority should be minimising disruption for passengers.”