In The Beginning
Four coach London Overground class 710 unit sits at the newly opened Barking Riverside station having arrived with a train from Gospel Oak.
Prior to London Overground taking over the Gospel Oak to Barking ('GOB' or 'GOBLIN' route) in 2007, the line had seen little TLC. The first major change was new station signage and sprucing up of the facilities at stations along the line. Two coach class 172 diesel units then replaced the ageing 150 'Sprinter' units, and then after electrification, came the four coach 'Aventra' units currently in service. Although the transition from diesel to electric traction wasn't without it's hiccups the service has settled down to be very reliable.
Last Monday saw the opening of the extension from Barking to Barking Riverside with the new line diverging from the Grays route at Ripple Lane West Junction. A new flyover carries the new route over Ripple Lane Yard to it's destination.
From the elevated island platform it can be seen that a lot of building work is taking place, and will continue to take place, over the next few months and years. Passenger numbers are bound to grow as Barking station provides rail (c2c) and London Underground links into the central part of London. This is just the beginning........
In The Beginning
Four coach London Overground class 710 unit sits at the newly opened Barking Riverside station having arrived with a train from Gospel Oak.
Prior to London Overground taking over the Gospel Oak to Barking ('GOB' or 'GOBLIN' route) in 2007, the line had seen little TLC. The first major change was new station signage and sprucing up of the facilities at stations along the line. Two coach class 172 diesel units then replaced the ageing 150 'Sprinter' units, and then after electrification, came the four coach 'Aventra' units currently in service. Although the transition from diesel to electric traction wasn't without it's hiccups the service has settled down to be very reliable.
Last Monday saw the opening of the extension from Barking to Barking Riverside with the new line diverging from the Grays route at Ripple Lane West Junction. A new flyover carries the new route over Ripple Lane Yard to it's destination.
From the elevated island platform it can be seen that a lot of building work is taking place, and will continue to take place, over the next few months and years. Passenger numbers are bound to grow as Barking station provides rail (c2c) and London Underground links into the central part of London. This is just the beginning........