UK: Transport for London announced on December 14 that Balfour Beatty, Carillion and Volker Fitzpatrick had been shortlisted for the contract to build the proposed 4·5 km Barking to Barking Riverside extension of the Gospel Oak – Barking line in east London.
The electrified extension would run alongside the existing Fenchurch Street – Tilbury line between Barking station and the Renwick Road overbridge, where it would turn south to run over a new viaduct to reach the future terminus. Around 1·5 km of new alignment would be required. The extension is planned to support a redevelopment project which includes 10 800 homes, a school, healthcare services, shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.
An application for a Transport & Works Act Order which would give legal powers to build the line was submitted to the government in March, and if approved construction could begin in late 2017 for opening in 2021. The future services would be operated as part of the London Overground concession.
The extension project is fully funded, with £172m of the £263m cost being met by the Barking Riverside Ltd development joint venture between the Greater London Authority (49%) and London & Quadrant (51%). The remainder is to be provided by TfL.
