How to get to Stratford

The sign at Barking Station at the top of the stairs down to platform 1 (London Overground) says "change at Gospel Oak for trains to Stratford and Richmond". Its a traditional railway style piece of information, but pretty silly in context as the rail route to Stratford from Barking is West Ham (c2c or Underground) then the Jubilee Line, or possibly B&GO to Wanstead Park, walk to Forest Gate then Stratford on that line. It's extra silly at the moment as the line between Gospel Oak and Stratford is closed.

The Forest Gate and West Ham routes can take as little as 19 minutes - the Gospel Oak route will take an hour longer! The quickest route to Richmond is via West Ham and Waterloo - at least 12 minutes quicker than District line all the way.

Barking & Gospel Oak Line User Group

http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/

The users' group for this line (now part of the London Overground) rightly say their work is not yet done. There's plenty still on the agenda not least electrification and rush-hour overcrowding. Subs are currently due for the New Year - anyone who can spare £3 can be a member of the group for a year and help its valuable work. Cheques payable to Barking-Gospel Oak Line User Group should be sent to The Secretary at 35 Carr Road, LONDON, E17 5ER

New B&GO ticket machines

A new ticket machine is working at Harringay Green Lanes, so I take it others are. It does not seem to be Fastticket compatible (ie able to print tickets ordered on thetrainline.co.uk), neither does it offer any Oyster products, though there is a blanking plate which I suspect may be for an Oyster reader/writer.

The presence of these machines makes the notice on the trains even more nonsensical - it seems to suggest that you must buy your ticket in advance at Gospel Oak or Barking.

Paying before you travel on Silerlink Metro

The posters on B & GO trains warn you that you must pay in advance if possible when travelling on Silverlink Metro if you can. If you don't or can't you won't be able to buy certain reduced fares.

But the posters suggest that you have to buy your ticket in advance at Barking or Gospel Oak. These are possibilities, but there's also the internet for Oyster products and individual train tickets.