Gospel Oak and Barking Line train overcrowding

Here, courtesy of Glenn Wallis of the Barking and Gospel Oak Line User Group is an explanation - edited by me - of why it would be difficult if not impossible to have more or longer diesel trains on this line to relieve peak time overcrowding.

Trailer coaches

Just one trailer (ie unpowered) coach added to each unit would seriously affect the performance the resulting 2+1 unit and Network Rail might even levy increased track access charges for the loss of track capacity.

The Turbostar was designed as an all vehicle powered train, so even trailers would require a lot of design work and possibly alterations to the existing power cars as well.


Engine upgrade

There is no diesel engine that meets current EU emissions regulations that can be installed in the Bombardier Turbostar without a costly and difficult redesign which neither Bombardier or Angel Trains are interested in unless there is going to be a big order for the redesigned vehicles.

Leasing costs

TfL do not lease the Overground Turbostars, LOROL do, which complicates matters even more. TfL would have to pay to have the leases transferred to them and then pay vastly increased rental costs to Angel Trains to make it worth their while to pay the high costs of buying 8, or 16 redesigned Turbostar coaches from Bombardier.



Electrification

TfL are now realising that instead of being a 'nice to have', electrification of the B-GO is now becoming essential as the only way to deal with the overcrowding."

New train on Barking & Gospel Oak Line - my first ride

On the 1800 service from Harringay Green Lanes to Barking. The air-conditioning is a delight and the ride is very quiet, though not as quiet as an electric train and a bit noisier at stations when the doors are open.

As we knew from the world of cycle campaigning there is no dedicated cycle accommodation - and Bromptoneers who use Barking and/or Gospel Oak Station will have to find a new place/angle to stash their machines as the vestibule layout is so different. At the moment there are no maps or line diagrams, but I'm sure that will be remedied soon. There are no tube style dangly things to hold onto.

A couple of minor details niggle - they're probably of no consequence, but why not get them right - and more to the point how do they get them wrong. They concern the on train station name announcements. Walthamstow, with a soft 'th' as in 'them' rather than a hard 'th' as in 'theme'  (I'll let them off the authentic 'Wharf-em stow'). And "One stead" Park, whereas the 'Wan' is always pronounced to rhyme with 'John'

New train on Barking & Gospel Oak Line

What I presume to be the first new class 172 "Turbostar" train for the line has arrived - I saw it Gospel Oak bound at 17:45 today at Harringay Green Lanes. I'm looking forward to my first ride on one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_172