UK: Transport for London has begun public consultation on plans to extend London Overground services on the Gospel Oak – Barking line to a new station at Barking Riverside, where up to 10 800 new homes are planned along with commercial and leisure facilities.
The 4 km extension would run alongside the existing London 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 planned station. Around 1·5 km of new alignment would be required, and there would be provision for further extension south in the future.
Subject to funding, TfL hopes to apply for a Transport & Works Act Order giving powers to build and operate the extension by the end of 2015. If approved, construction could start in early 2017 for opening by the end of 2019. It is in envisaged that the Gospel Oak – Barking line would be electrified by the time the extension is completed.
‘This initial consultation is to enable stakeholders and the local community to give us their views on the proposal and influence the design of the scheme going forward’, said TfL’s Managing Director of Planning, Michele Dix on September 8. ‘We will use these to lay the foundations of a full and extensive public consultation in 2015.’
The proposal replaces a previous scheme for an extension of the Docklands Light Railway automated metro from Gallions Reach to Barking Riverside and Dagenham Dock.
