Editing Gospel Oak to Barking line

{{Short description|Railway line in London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 
| name                            = Gospel Oak to Barking line
| color                           = 
| logo                            = 
| logo_width                      = 
| image                           = Unit 710262 at Crouch Hill station.jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| caption                         = A [[British Rail Class 710|London Overground Class 710 ''Aventra'']] departing {{rws|Crouch Hill}} in 2019
| type                            = [[Commuter rail|Suburban rail]] and [[Freight train|goods]]
| system                          = [[National Rail]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = [[Greater London]]
| start                           = {{rws|Gospel Oak}}
| end                             = [[Barking Riverside station|Barking Riverside]]
| stations                        = 13
| routes                          = 1
| daily_ridership                 = 
| open                            = 
| close                           = 
| owner                           = {{ubl|[[Network Rail]]}}<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.railstaff.co.uk/2017/09/12/focus-london-overgrounds-barking-riverside-extension/ |title = In focus: London Overground's Barking Riverside Extension |last = Johnson |first = Marc |date = 12 September 2017 |website = railstaff.co.uk |language = en-GB |access-date = 15 April 2020}}</ref>
| operator                        = [[London Overground]]
| character                       = 
| depot                           = 
| stock                           = [[British Rail Class 710|Class 710 "Aventra"]]
| linelength                      = {{convert|13|mi|58|chain|km}}
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = 2
| gauge                           = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = Series 2 [[25 kV AC]] [[Overhead lines|OHLE]] <!-- <br />() -->
| speed                           = 
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = [[File:Gospel Oak to Barking line.png|300px]]<br />([[:commons:File:Gospel Oak to Barking line.png|Click to expand]])
| map_state                       = uncollapsed
}}
{{Gospel Oak to Barking Line}}

The '''Gospel Oak to Barking line''',<ref>{{Cite web |title = What we do |url = https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do |access-date = 7 September 2022 |website = Transport for London |language = en-GB}}</ref> also shortened to '''GOBLIN''',<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/mayor/london-overground-renamed-sadiq-khan-diversity-b930046.html |title = London Overground lines to be renamed to reflect capital's diversity |publisher = The Standard |first = Ross |last = Lydall |date = 16 April 2021}}</ref> is a [[railway]] line in London. It is {{convert|13|mi|58|chain|km|lk=in}} in length and carries both through [[Freight train|goods trains]] and [[London Overground]] passenger trains, connecting [[Gospel Oak railway station|Gospel Oak]] in north London and [[Barking Riverside railway station|Barking Riverside]] in east London. The line is part of [[Network Rail Route 6 (North London Line and Thameside)|Network Rail Strategic Route 6]], and is classified as a London and South East Commuter line.<ref name=NRR6>{{cite web |url = http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%206%20-%20North%20London%20Line%20and%20Thameside.pdf |title = Route 6 – North London Line and Thameside : 2009 Route Plan |publisher = [[Network Rail]] |year = 2009 |access-date = 28 May 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104905/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%206%20-%20North%20London%20Line%20and%20Thameside.pdf |archive-date = 7 June 2011 |url-status = dead}}</ref>

On 15 February 2024, Transport for London announced that the Overground service which runs on the line will be branded as the '''Suffragette line''', with the new name coming into use in November 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2024 |title=London Overground: New names for its six lines revealed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68296483 |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvzp272pe9o</ref>

For much of its existence the line has played a minor role in London's transport system; however, in recent years it has received significant investment to increase its capacity, including full 25kV AC [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|overhead electrification]], completed in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/anglia/gospel-oak-barking-electrification/ |title = Network Rail has completed the electrification works to the Gospel Oak to Barking line |publisher = Network Rail |access-date = 11 September 2018 |archive-date = 20 July 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170720102744/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/anglia/gospel-oak-barking-electrification/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> At the eastern end of the line, the extension to the [[Barking Riverside railway station|Barking Riverside]] regeneration site opened on 18 July 2022.<ref name=":6">{{cite news |date = 11 July 2022 |title = London Overground: Opening date of first new stop since 2015 confirmed |publisher = BBC News |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-62113739 |access-date = 11 July 2022}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Canonbury, Highgate Road, Junction Road, South Tottenham, Tottenham & Tufnell Park RJD 112.jpg|thumb|left|A 1914 map of the Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway]]

=== Original lines ===
The line is mostly an amalgamation of lines built in the 19th century. The main section, between South Tottenham and Woodgrange Park, was built as the [[Tottenham and Forest Gate Railway]], a joint project between the [[Midland Railway]] and the [[London, Tilbury and Southend Railway]]. This opened on 9 July 1894, linking the Midland and Great Eastern joint line at South Tottenham and the Forest Gate and Barking line at Woodgrange Park. The section west of South Tottenham was built as the [[Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway]], which opened in 1868 but had not been commercially successful as a stand-alone railway.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

=== Predecessor routes ===
Although the route between Upper Holloway and Woodgrange Park has been constant, several stations have been the ends of the line. {{rws|Kentish Town}}, {{rws|St Pancras}}, {{rws|Gospel Oak}} and [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] (via St Pancras) have all been the western termini. [[East Ham tube station|East Ham]] was an alternative eastern terminus for some time. Some trains were extended beyond Barking to destinations such as [[Southend Central railway station|Southend]] and [[Tilbury Riverside railway station|Tilbury]]. There was a regular boat train service between St Pancras and Tilbury.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

A connection to Gospel Oak was added in 1888, but the routes via Kentish Town remained the primary ones and the Gospel Oak branch was abandoned during 1926. The connection to East Ham was abandoned in 1958.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The ''Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway'' section of the line had stations that were closed due to proximity to other stations or for other reasons. These include [[Highgate Road railway station|Highgate Road]] (closed 1918), [[Junction Road railway station|Junction Road]] (closed 1943), [[Hornsey Road railway station|Hornsey Road]] (closed 1943) and [[St Ann's Road railway station|St Ann's Road]] (closed 1942).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Goblin.html |title = London's Abandoned Stations |publisher = Abandonedstations.org.uk |access-date = 11 July 2010}}</ref>

The line was considered for closure to passengers in 1963 as part of the [[Beeching Axe]],<ref>{{cite report |url = http://joycewhitchurch.zxq.net/maps/lonmap.jpg |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320095819/http://joycewhitchurch.zxq.net/maps/lonmap.jpg |archive-date = 20 March 2014 |title = Map 9A, from The Reshaping of Britain's Railways |year = 1963 |publisher = [[British Railways Board]]}}</ref> but local users protested and formed an action group to prevent closure. Beeching's proposals for London were not implemented for the most part, and the line remained open. Even so, it was allowed to fall into a poor state of repair and reliability,<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.citymetric.com/transport/london-overground-s-gospel-oak-barking-line-electric-dreams-do-come-true-3968 |title = On London Overground's Gospel Oak to Barking line, electric dreams do come true |work = CityMetric |date = 11 June 2018 |access-date = 12 September 2018 |archive-date = 8 August 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200808180457/https://www.citymetric.com/transport/london-overground-s-gospel-oak-barking-line-electric-dreams-do-come-true-3968 |url-status = dead }}</ref> and by 1980 had been cut back to an hourly service between Kentish Town and Barking. The station canopies were gradually demolished, ticket offices closed and staff withdrawn from stations.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

=== New link to Gospel Oak ===
During 1981, the situation began to improve when electrification and upgrades to the line out of {{rws|St Pancras}} (later part of [[Thameslink (route)|Thameslink]]) displaced the line from Kentish Town. A new link to Gospel Oak was built and the hourly service from Kentish Town was replaced by the current route from Gospel Oak with two trains per hour. The service remained relatively unreliable, largely due to the age of the rolling stock used, which were initially Class [[British Rail Class 115|115]] and [[British Rail Class 108|108]] units, replaced in the early 1990s by Class [[British Rail Class 117|117]] and [[British Rail Class 121|121]] units.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}

=== Private operators ===
[[File:02.06.07 Gospel Oak 150.129 (5944678016).jpg|thumb|left|A Silverlink Class 150 at Gospel Oak]]
Initially part of [[British Rail]] [[Network SouthEast]], the line was [[Privatisation of British Rail|privatised]] in 1994, the track being owned by [[Railtrack]] (subsequently [[Network Rail]]) with the passenger service provided by the North London Railways franchise. This passed to [[National Express]] in 1997, which operated the line under the brand name [[Silverlink]] until November 2007. Under Silverlink, the [[slam door trains]] were replaced by [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]] units in 2000, which improved reliability significantly. There were minor improvements in station facilities (such as CCTV and information points) but no major investment to upgrade the line and boost capacity, and the stations remained unstaffed.

=== London Overground ===
[[File:Wanstead Park stn signage.JPG|thumb|Early London Overground branded signage at Wanstead Park]]
During the opening years of the twenty-first century, many lines within London were running at full capacity, and as a consequence the line took on a new strategic significance as a bypass, relieving load on other lines by allowing passengers to travel between north and east London directly.

The [[Railways Act 2005]] abolished the franchise and gave the operation of passenger services to [[Transport for London]] (TfL). During 2005, TfL started funding a small number of additional peak time and late evening services to relieve the worst overcrowding.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In November 2007, TfL took full control of the line, after which it introduced improved late night and weekend services, and staff, ticket machines and [[Oyster card|Oyster]] equipment at all stations. The frequency was increased to three trains per hour during morning and afternoon peaks and the line was included on the [[Tube map]] for the first time.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The line was closed throughout most of September 2008 for upgrade work carried out by [[Network Rail]]. Capacity was increased from six trains per hour to eight (four each for passenger and goods trains). By replacing the overbridges carrying Sussex Way and Albert Road, and lowering the track in some other locations, it was made possible for [[Loading gauge#Great Britain|W10 loading gauge goods trains]] to operate. [[Railway electrification system|Electrification]] was not included.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/statebarkingtogospeloak |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070807095942/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/statebarkingtogospeloak |url-status = dead |archive-date = 7 August 2007 |title = Barking to Gospel Oak Railway and Freight Capability Enhancements |first = The UK Department for |last = Transport |website = webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref>

In 2010, eight new [[British Rail Class 172|Class 172]] [[Turbostar]] diesel trains replaced the Class 150 units, with two 23-metre coaches and the option to introduce a third coach.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7525.html |title = Transport for London signs new train leasing contract &#124; Transport for London |publisher = Transport for London |date = 20 February 2008 |access-date = 30 May 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120425180718/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7525.html |archive-date = 25 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/16672.aspx {{dead link|date = May 2011}}</ref> The service frequency was increased to four trains per hour in January 2011.<ref name="TFL 15109">{{cite web |title = Gospel Oak to Barking |url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/15409.aspx |publisher = Transport for London}}</ref>

==== Electrification ====
[[File:South tottenham station 1.jpg|thumb|The electrified stretch at South Tottenham (completed before the rest of the line)]]
During 2008, electrification was ruled out by the Mayor of London on grounds of cost and difficulty of electrifying a line with so many viaducts and bridges,<ref name="1541/2008">{{cite web |url = http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=22780 |title = Mayor answers to London (Question 1541/2008) |publisher = [[London Assembly]] |date = 16 July 2008 |access-date = 11 July 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721055636/http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=22780 |archive-date = 21 July 2011 }}</ref> but the Network Route Utilisation Strategy published by [[Network Rail]] in October 2009 showed a [[benefit–cost ratio]] for the scheme of 2.4:1.<ref name="1158/2012">{{cite web |url = http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=40757 |title = Mayor answers to London: Barking to Gospel Oak line (Question 1158/2012) |date = 23 May 2012 |publisher = [[London Assembly]] |access-date = 5 December 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120823201521/http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=40757 |archive-date = 23 August 2012}}</ref> During 2012, the [[Mayor of London]], [[Boris Johnson]], indicated that funding was "a matter for the [[Department for Transport]]".<ref name="1158/2012" />

In 2011, Network Rail proposed electrification in [[Network Rail Control Periods|Control Period 5]] (CP5), however, in July 2012, [[Justine Greening]], the [[Secretary of State for Transport]], stated that electrification was not included in the [[High Level Output Specification]] for CP5, and that any funds would need to be provided by TfL.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-07-16d.687.0 |title = Rail Investment: 16 Jul 2012: House of Commons debates |publisher = [[TheyWorkForYou]] |access-date = 5 December 2012}}</ref> In August, the Mayor wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport to seek a way forward, and "she committed her officials to support work with TfL, Network Rail, train operators and other industry parties to see if a viable way can be found to bridge the funding gap."<ref>{{cite web |url = http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=42987|title = Mayor answers to London: Diesel trains (Question 2942/2012) |date = 17 October 2012 |publisher = [[London Assembly]] |access-date = 5 December 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320095908/http://mqt.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=42987 |archive-date = 20 March 2014}}</ref>

During November 2012, the magazine ''[[Modern Railways]]'' reported that the Department for Transport had ruled out the work on the basis of an estimated cost of [[Pound sterling|£]]90 million, in contrast to an estimate of £40 million by TfL.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/history/20121101_e_bulletin.pdf |title = Barking–Gospel Oak Line User Group News eBulletin 1 November 2012 |date = 1 November 2012 |first = Glenn |last = Wallis |publisher = Barking–Gospel Oak Line User Group |access-date = 5 December 2012}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In June 2013, it was announced that £115 million of funding for electrification would be made available as part of upgrades to rail infrastructure included in the government's 2013 spending round.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209279/PU1524_IUK_new_template.pdf |title = Investing in Britain's future |page = 26 |publisher = [[The Stationery Office]] |author = HM Treasury |author-link = HM Treasury |date = June 2013 |access-date = 26 June 2012}}</ref> At the same time Transport for London announced that they had obtained a £90m commitment from the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] and the Secretary of State for Transport.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.london.gov.uk/media/mayor-press-releases/2013/06/mayor-secures-unprecedented-transport-settlement-for-london-to |title = Mayor secures 'unprecedented' transport settlement for London to support long-term economic growth |date = 26 June 2013 |publisher = [[Greater London Authority]] |access-date = 17 July 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130630205659/http://www.london.gov.uk/media/mayor-press-releases/2013/06/mayor-secures-unprecedented-transport-settlement-for-london-to |archive-date = 30 June 2013}}</ref>

In September 2015, Network Rail awarded the £56.9 million contract to electrify the line to [[John Murphy (contractor)|J. Murphy & Sons]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url = http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/j-murphy-sons-to-carry-out-electrification-of-gospel-oak-barking-route |title = J Murphy & Sons to carry out electrification of Gospel Oak-Barking route |magazine = Rail Technology Magazine|date = 29 September 2015 |access-date = 20 March 2017}}</ref> There were part closures (at weekends and from South Tottenham to Barking) from June to late September 2016, followed by a full closure from October 2016 to February 2017. In February 2017, Network Rail announced that whilst the line would re-open as scheduled, they were not able to complete all the work planned due to "incorrect" designs and late delivery of materials.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/london-overground-gospel-oak-to-barking-route-to-reopen-on-monday-27-february-but-further-work-is-required |title = London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking route to reopen on Monday 27 February but further work is required |access-date = 8 February 2017 |publisher = Network Rail |date = 7 February 2017}}</ref> Further evening and weekend works until late June 2017 were already planned, followed by around four months of commissioning work before the electric wires could be turned on so that [[British Rail Class 710|Class 710]] trains could run.<ref>{{cite magazine |url = http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/tfl-tries-to-reduce-line-closure-time-for-goblin-electrification |title = TfL tries to reduce line-closure time for GOBLIN electrification |magazine = Rail Technology Magazine |date = 2 February 2016}}</ref> Although the line was completely electrified by mid-January 2018,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url = https://www.newcivilengineer.com/business-culture/beleaguered-barking-to-gospel-oak-line-to-reopen/10026931.article |title = Beleaguered Barking to Gospel Oak line to reopen |magazine = New Civil Engineer |access-date = 28 May 2018 |language = en-gb}}</ref> delays prevented the introduction of new electric trains until 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |url = http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/new-overground-trains-for-gospel-oak-to-barking-line-delayed-by-three-months-1-5491792 |title = New Overground trains for Gospel Oak to Barking line delayed... by three months |last = Gelder |first = Sam |work = Islington Gazette |access-date = 28 May 2018 |language = en-gb |archive-date = 4 November 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181104095318/http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/new-overground-trains-for-gospel-oak-to-barking-line-delayed-by-three-months-1-5491792 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/gospel-oak-to-barking-electrification-works-to-be-complete-in-time-for-arrival-of-new-double-length-electric-trains# |title = Gospel Oak to Barking electrification works to be complete in time for arrival of new double-length electric trains |website = Network Rail Media Centre}}</ref>

The line was electrified using the NR Series 2 OLE (Overhead Line Equipment) range.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/documents/CP5-Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-June-15.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160326212503/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/documents/CP5-Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-June-15.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-date = 26 March 2016 |title = CP5 Enhancements Delivery Plan June 2015 |date = June 2015 |publisher = [[Network Rail]] |access-date = 21 January 2016}}</ref>

==== New trains ====
[[File:Class 710 train at Barking Station.jpg|thumb|A Class 710 four-coach electric train at Barking station]]
On account of the completion of electrification in 2018, new electric [[British Rail Class 710|Class 710]] trains were supposed to run from March 2018. However, the delivery of these trains was delayed by the manufacturer; at one point,  officials were not even willing to divulge an anticipated service date for the Class 710 sets.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.globalrailnews.com/2018/06/20/london-overground-receives-first-new-class-710-emu/ |title = London&nbsp;Overground receives first new Class 710 EMU {{!}} Global Rail News |date = 20 June 2018 |work = Global Rail News |access-date = 11 September 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225501/https://www.globalrailnews.com/2018/06/20/london-overground-receives-first-new-class-710-emu/ |archive-date = 11 September 2018 |url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="standard.co.uk">{{Cite web |url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/train-services-to-be-halved-on-troubled-goblin-barking-to-gospel-oak-line-a4089041.html |title = Trains to be halved on troubled 'Goblin' Barking to Gospel Oak line |date = 12 March 2019 |publisher = Evening Standard |access-date = 23 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/bombardier-class-710/s-authorised-but-wait-goes-on-for-entry-into-traffic |title = Bombardier Class 710/2s authorised, but wait goes on for entry into traffic |website = railmagazine.com |access-date = 23 April 2019}}</ref>

Due to the Class 172 units being needed by [[West Midlands Trains]], three [[British Rail Class 378|Class 378]] units (378 206, 378 209 and 378 232) were moved from other parts of the [[London Overground]] and shortened down from five to four carriages to provide an interim service until the class 710 units entered service. However, six trains are needed to be able to run a full service, so from 15 March 2019 (the day the last Class 172 units left London Overground) the frequency on the line was halved to two trains per hour.<ref name="standard.co.uk"/>

Increases in passenger numbers led to severe overcrowding at peak times, but it was not possible to increase peak frequencies without reducing the number of goods trains, as the line could accommodate only eight trains per hour in each direction. The two-coach Class 172 diesel trains in use between 2010 and 2019 were incapable of handling the increased number of passengers experienced after the incorporation into the London Overground. Between 2016 and 2018 the line was electrified by Network Rail; this work was delayed due to a number of design, track works and delivery problems. At the same time, platforms were lengthened to accommodate the new four-coach electric Class 710 trains. These trains were intended to be introduced in the spring of 2018, but the delivery was delayed by the manufacturer, the first two entering service on 23 May 2019,<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |date = 28 May 2019 |title = Aventra finally enters Barking-Gospel Oak service |url = https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/aventra-finally-enters-barking-gospel-oak-service |access-date = 3 October 2023 |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]]}}</ref> but the existing two trains per hour service was maintained until the full timetable was restored in June of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last = Gelder |first = Sam |date = 24 June 2019 |title = Three-year nightmare is over! Full service resumes on Gospel Oak to Barking Overground line |url = https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/full-service-resumed-on-gospel-oak-to-barking-london-overground-line-1-6123315 |access-date = 11 August 2019 |publisher = Islington Gazette}}</ref> The full fleet entered service in August 2019.<ref name="Gospel Oak to Barking trains">{{Cite web |title = Gospel Oak to Barking trains |url = https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-overground/gospel-oak-to-barking-improvements |access-date = 11 June 2019 |website = Transport for London}}</ref> Because the delay caused timetable cutbacks and continued overcrowding, TfL offered a month's free travel, financed by the manufacturer [[Bombardier Inc.|Bombardier]], to compensate passengers for the months of disruption they experienced.

==== Extension to Barking Riverside ====
{{Main Article|Barking Riverside railway station}}
The line was extended southeast by {{Convert|4.5|km|mi|abbr=}} from the terminus at [[Barking station|Barking]] to serve the [[Barking Riverside]] regeneration area, a [[Brownfield land|brownfield]] site with permission for around 10,800 new homes.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title = Improvements and Projects - Barking Riverside extension |url = https://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/barking-riverside-extension |access-date = 12 October 2021 |website = Transport for London |language = en-gb}}</ref> Proposed in the mid 2010s following cancellation of the [[Docklands Light Railway extension to Dagenham Dock|DLR extension to Dagenham Dock]], the extension was approved in 2017,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date = 4 August 2017 |title = Transport and Works Act 1992: Application for the Proposed London Overground (Barking Riverside Extension) Order and Deemed Planning Permission - letter from Secretary of State |url = https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/635697/barking-riverside-extension-decision.pdf |access-date = 17 April 2020 |website = [[Department for Transport]]}}</ref>  leading to construction commencing during late 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date = 24 December 2018 |title = JV picks up £196m Barking Riverside contract delayed by Carillion collapse |url = https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/civils/sectors-civils/jv-picks-up-196m-barking-riverside-contract-delayed-by-carillion-collapse-24-12-2018/ |access-date = 15 April 2020 |website = Construction News |language = en-gb}}</ref> Running partially alongside the existing [[London, Tilbury and Southend Railway]] line and then a new viaduct to the [[Barking Riverside railway station|Barking Riverside station]], the extension opened to passengers on Monday 18 July 2022<ref name="BRE">{{cite web |title = Barking Riverside extension |url = https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/barking-riverside-extension |publisher = Transport for London |access-date = 13 July 2022 |archive-date = 11 August 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160811172758/https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/barking-riverside-extension |url-status = dead }}</ref> at an estimated cost of £327m.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last = Horgan |first = Rob |date = 7 December 2020 |title = TfL's Barking Riverside Extension suffers year delay and another cost hike |url = https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/tfls-barking-riverside-extension-suffers-year-delay-and-another-cost-hike-07-12-2020/ |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201207083427/https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/tfls-barking-riverside-extension-suffers-year-delay-and-another-cost-hike-07-12-2020/ |archive-date = 7 December 2020 |access-date = 20 January 2021 |magazine = [[New Civil Engineer]] |language = en-gb}}</ref>

===Accidents and incidents===
On 23 January 2020, a freight wagon derailed between Leyton Midland Road and Walthamstow Queen's Road stations, causing extensive damage to more than 2.5 miles (4&nbsp;km) of track; the line was closed between Barking and South Tottenham stations while repair works took place, whereby 10,000 tonnes of [[Track ballast|ballast]], 5,300 [[concrete sleeper]]s and 39 new pieces of rail were installed.<ref name=NR270120>{{cite web |url = https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/update-gospel-oak-to-barking-line-freight-derailment-monday-27-january |title = UPDATE: Gospel Oak to Barking line freight derailment (Monday 27 January) |publisher = Network Rail |date = 27 January 2020 |access-date = 28 January 2020 }}</ref> The line re-opened on 19 February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/gospel-oak-to-barking-line-service-resumes-after-freight-train-derailment-damage-repaired-1-6521873 |title = Gospel Oak to Barking line service resumes after freight train derailment damage repaired |last = Cumiskey |first = Lucas |website = Hampstead Highgate Express |date = 19 February 2020 |language = en-gb |access-date = 23 February 2020 |archive-date = 29 September 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200929075925/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/gospel-oak-to-barking-line-service-resumes-after-freight-train-derailment-damage-repaired-1-6521873 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Current operations==
{{London Overground Suffragette Line RDT}}
=== Stations ===
[[File:Walthamstow Queens Road stn entrance.JPG|thumb|Walthamstow Queens Road station entrance]]The line has thirteen stations, eleven of which are managed by [[London Overground]], one by [[c2c]] (Barking) and one by [[London Underground]] (Blackhorse Road).
* {{rws|Gospel Oak}}
* {{rws|Upper Holloway}}
* {{rws|Crouch Hill}}
* {{rws|Harringay Green Lanes}}
* {{rws|South Tottenham}}
* {{stn|Blackhorse Road}}
* {{rws|Walthamstow Queen's Road}}
* {{rws|Leyton Midland Road}}
* {{rws|Leytonstone High Road}}
* {{stn|Wanstead Park}}
* {{rws|Woodgrange Park}}
* {{stn|Barking}}
* {{rws|Barking Riverside}}

==== Station facilities ====
Except at the interchange stations, station facilities are very basic. There are small shelters, information points with recorded service information, information screens and CCTV cameras. Typically, there are one or two staff members on duty. Where there are no station buildings they operate out of container-sized portable offices.

==== Step-free access ====
The line has some stations with step-free access, allowing wheelchairs/pushchairs etc. easy access from street level to the platforms, at {{rws|Gospel Oak}}, {{rws|Upper Holloway}}, {{rws|Harringay Green Lanes}}, {{rws|South Tottenham}}, {{rws|Walthamstow Queens Road}}, [[Barking railway station|Barking]]<ref>{{cite web |title=National Rail, Accessibility Maps (London and South East) |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/mobility_maps/LondonSouthEast.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315193441/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/mobility_maps/LondonSouthEast.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2007}}</ref> and {{rws|Barking Riverside}}.<ref name="BRE" />

As the trains do not align exactly with the platform height, [[wheelchair]] users require assistance from a member of staff to board or alight from trains. The only exception however is at the newest station on the line, Barking Riverside, built with level access.

=== Services ===
The line carries both goods and passenger traffic. It is owned by [[Network Rail]], with the exception of the Barking Riverside branch which is owned by [[Transport for London]]. 

Passenger services on the line are operated by [[Arriva Rail London]] as part of the [[London Overground|London Overground network]] under contract to TfL. There are four trains per hour in each direction, running from around 06:30 to 23:30 on Monday to Saturday, and around 06:30 to 22:00 on Sundays.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/gospel-oak-to-barking.pdf |title = Gospel-Oak-Barking-May2011 |publisher = [[Transport for London]] |year = 2011 |access-date = 25 May 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605052459/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/gospel-oak-to-barking.pdf |archive-date = 5 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35841733 |title = Arriva wins £1.5bn London Overground contract |publisher = [[BBC News]] |date = 18 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url = http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/tfl-confirm-london-overground-contract-with-arriva-signed |title = TfL confirm London Overground contract with Arriva signed |magazine = Railway Technology Magazine |date = 18 April 2016}}</ref> There is a single weekday morning service from [[Woodgrange Park railway station|Woodgrange Park]] to [[Willesden Junction]], calling at all intermediate stations except for Gospel Oak.

The line is heavily used by freight as it provides part of an orbital route around London, connecting with many radial routes and the [[North London Line]] at Gospel Oak. Freight services are operated by [[DB Cargo UK]], [[GB Railfreight]] and [[Freightliner Group|Freightliner]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Other services use parts of the line infrequently, or as a diversionary route, but do not stop at most stations:
* [[c2c]] operates a few services on the east end of the line through [[Woodgrange Park railway station|Woodgrange Park]]
* [[London Overground]] runs a single Saturday service timetabled to connect Tottenham South Junction and [[Seven Sisters railway station|Seven Sisters]] on Lea Valley routes passing through, but not calling at, [[South Tottenham station]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2019.html |title=PSUL 2019 |access-date=12 January 2019 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803221035/http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/2019.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The line has an active users' group, "The Barking–Gospel Oak Rail User Group".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/ |title = The Barking – Gospel Oak Rail User Group |publisher = Barking-gospeloak.org.uk |access-date = 11 July 2010}}</ref>

==== Renaming ====
In July 2023, Sadiq Khan, Head of [[Transport for London|TfL]] and Mayor Of London announced that it would be giving each of the six Overground services unique names, relevant to the "historical contributions by minority groups" of the area the service passes through, by the end of the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Naming London Overground lines |url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/naming-overground |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=Transport for London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2023 |title=London Overground lines to be given unique names |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66609039 |access-date=11 February 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> 

On 15 February 2024, it was confirmed that the service using the Gospel Oak to Barking line would be named the ''Suffragette line'', to honour East London's major contribution to the Suffragette movement. Barking activist [[Barking, London#Religious Establishment|Annie Huggett]], who died in 1996 at the age of 104, was known as “The Last Suffragette” due to her great age.<ref>Barking and Dagenham Post - https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/20922886.post-memories-womens-centre-named-barking-suffragette-annie-huggett/</ref> The line will be coloured green on the updated network map; green, along with white and purple, was one of the colours of the Suffragette movement.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2024 |title=London Overground: New names for its six lines revealed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68296483 |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

=== Ticketing ===
Except at the interchange stations, staffed ticket offices were withdrawn by BR in the late 1980s. With operations transferred to London Overground, self-service ticket machines were introduced in November 2007. Oyster- and contactless-card validators (for touching in and out) are at all stations. The ticket machines can be used to load credit onto Oyster cards. Passengers are required to buy tickets, or touch in with their Oyster or contactless cards, or else face a [[penalty fare]].

Owing to the lack of ticket barriers and the difficulty of ticket verification when trains are crowded, the line has historically had a high level of [[fare avoidance]]. Under Silverlink most stations lacked any ticket purchasing facilities. In theory, passengers could purchase tickets from the conductors on the trains, but it was not always possible to do this. Following the introduction of the current ticketing arrangements, ticketless travel fell from an estimated peak of 40% under Silverlink, to 2% in March 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/5-London-Overground-Review.pdf |title = London Overground Review |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604225930/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/5-London-Overground-Review.pdf |archive-date = 4 June 2011 |publisher = Transport for London |page = 5}}</ref>

=== Passenger volume ===
The number of paying passengers has increased very significantly since London Overground assumed the line's management.

This is the passenger volume for the years beginning April 2002 to April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates |title = Estimates of station usage {{!}} Office of Rail and Road |website = orr.gov.uk |access-date = 11 June 2019}}</ref>
{{UKsta-u|{{UKsta-u A|stn=Gospel Oak|u1=627,750|u2=340,980|u3=397,700|u4=1,511,609|u5=922,699|u6=1,052,692|u7=956,474|u8=1,508,264|u9=2,198,128|u10=2,755,214|u11=3,498,058|u12= 3,568,772|u13=2,629,076|u14=2,355,852|u15=2,379,460|u16=2,699,604|u17=2,458,922|u18=1,112,612|u19=2,005,642|u20=2,223,682
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Upper Holloway|u1=189,632|u2=52,331|u3=47,992|u4=206,090|u5=204,715|u6=283,884|u7=285,272|u8=505,822|u9=736,306|u10=900,538|u11=1,086,512|u12=1,166,102|u13=1,291,668|u14=415,180|u15=696,286 |u16= 1,088,442|u17=974,102|u18=594,500|u19=1,063,258|u20=1,159,000 }}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Crouch Hill|u1=72,727|u2=45,251|u3=44,680|u4=271,491|u5=152,633|u6=189,696|u7=171,598|u8=321,100|u9=497,964|u10=636,424|u11=789,704|u12=832,150|u13=825,262|u14=284,672|u15=469,790 |u16= 706,722|u17=596,958|u18=353,194|u19=668,250|u20=726,486 }}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Harringay Green Lanes|u1={{n/a|No data}}|u2=36,457|u3=34,052|u4=319,250|u5=228,338|u6=299,934|u7=273,160|u8=502,600|u9=762,442|u10=955,660|u11=1,189,990|u12=1,292,534|u13=1,395,266|u14=408,558|u15=722,864 |u16=1,075,256|u17=927,894|u18=617,572|u19=1,025,222|u20=1,106,422}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=South Tottenham|u1=135,208|u2=45,834|u3=42,090|u4=243,519|u5=183,840|u6=232,748|u7=225,126|u8=441,988|u9=657,598|u10=799,950|u11=1,001,870|u12= 1,046,516|u13=1,379,768|u14=409,534|u15=748,758 |u16= 1,168,598|u17=948,036|u18=683,162|u19=1,054,286|u20=1,129,644 }}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Blackhorse Road|u1={{n/a|No data}}|u2=26,143|u3=22,593|u4=169,067|u5=86,550|u6=69,904|u7=184,472|u8=444,802|u9=669,050|u10=828,002|u11=813,532|u12=1,101,636|u13=2,013,700|u14=774,220|u15=1,428,396 |u16= 2,014,394|u17=1,838,242|u18=972,286|u19=1,753,120|u20=1,932,462 
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Walthamstow Queen's Road|u1=76,675|u2=34,379|u3=30,503|u4=62,520|u5=68,681|u6=69,418|u7=86,904|u8=216,142|u9=334,630|u10=405,656|u11=458,732|u12=541,314|u13=945,750|u14=218,732|u15=500,768 |u16= 734,832|u17=644,254|u18=404,150|u19=689,920|u20=764,968 }}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Leyton Midland Road|u1=110,046|u2=34,865|u3=32,407|u4=285,208|u5=224,047|u6=308,836|u7=302,722|u8=501,186|u9=749,488|u10=951,730|u11=1,182,122|u12=1,355,070|u13=1,340,438|u14=286,620|u15=795,236 |u16= 1,178,122|u17=1,014,328|u18=631,408|u19=1,101,844|u20=1,193,380}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Leytonstone High Road|u1=60,227|u2=31,542|u3=26,724|u4=261,238|u5=224,047|u6=251,676|u7=244,624|u8=416,310|u9=587,078|u10=733,060|u11=858,864|u12=1,001,820|u13=977,634|u14=210,496|u15=570,554 |u16=837,232|u17=709,980|u18=437,732|u19=801,860|u20=841,092 }}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Wanstead Park|u1=52,477|u2=29,014|u3=25,717|u4=179,718|u5=147,521|u6=215,262|u7=213,644|u8=351,450|u9=505,344|u10=627,170|u11=767,308|u12= 845,926|u13= 1,013,078|u14=212,572|u15=563,186 |u16=886,990|u17=769,666|u18=517,316|u19=871,416|u20=890,942 }}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Woodgrange Park|u1=52,320|u2=29,090|u3=25,256|u4=173,771|u5=115,969|u6=168,434|u7=171,972|u8=310,006|u9=484,632|u10=602,428|u11=702,302|u12= 750,758|u13= 977,648|u14=196,244|u15=513,594 |u16=764,606 |u17=629,330|u18=453,500|u19=731,542|u20=775,936}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Barking|u1=4,687,665|u2=5,121,894|u3=4,908,499|u4=3,762,562|u5=3,559,402|u6=3,753,582|u7=4,677,952|u8=6,515,606|u9=7,427,422|u10=8,072,356|u11=8,330,632|u12= 9,675,012|u13=13,428,608|u14=12,786,542|u15=13,473,374 |u16= 14,451,652|u17=13,831,488|u18=6,742,918|u19=11,231,850|u20=12,730,212 }}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Barking Riverside|u1={{n/a}}|u2={{n/a}}|u3={{n/a}}|u4={{n/a}}|u5={{n/a}}|u6={{n/a}}|u7={{n/a}}|u8={{n/a}}|u9={{n/a}}|u10={{n/a}}|u11={{n/a}}|u12={{n/a}}|u13={{n/a}}|u14={{n/a}}|u15={{n/a}}|u16={{n/a}}|u17={{n/a}}|u18={{n/a}}|u19={{n/a}}|u20=461,384 }}
}}

==== Notes ====

* The large increases in the year beginning April 2006 were partly due to travelcards for National Rail journeys being made from stations that have only a London Underground office and also using a different methodology to estimate likely journeys made from National Rail stations in Zone 1.
* The large increases in the year beginning April 2010 were partly due to [[Oyster card (pay as you go) on National Rail|Oyster Cards]] being introduced in January 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates |title = Estimates of station usage {{!}} Office of Rail and Road |website = orr.gov.uk |language = en-gb |access-date = 29 May 2018}}</ref> and new rolling stock.
* Usage of the Gospel Oak to Barking line on the London Overground reduced as a result of engineering works throughout the year. Work included a full closure between October 2016 and February 2017.
* Barking Riverside opened in 2022.

===Trains===
[[File:Unit 378 232 at Harringay Green Lanes station.jpg|thumb|Class 378 at Harringay Green Lanes station]]
[[File:Unit 710269 at Barking.jpg|thumb|Class 710 standing at Barking]]
Until 2010 London Overground operated six [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]] two-coach diesel units on the line. They were replaced by eight [[British Rail Class 172|Class 172/0]] two-coach [[diesel multiple unit]]s (DMUs).

In 2017, all trains were [[Diesel locomotive|diesel]] powered as the line was not fully [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]], with only two short sections having [[Overhead lines|overhead electrification]], at South Tottenham, to provide a link from Seven Sisters to Stratford, and from the junction with the [[Great Eastern Main Line]] to [[Barking, London|Barking]] but excluding the bay platform which this service uses. These sections were used only by occasional electric trains on other routes or by goods trains.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Electrification of the line was completed in 2018, but electric trains did not run at first as the delivery of the new [[British Rail Class 710|Class 710]] sets had been delayed.<ref>{{cite web |title = UK railway news round-up |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/uk/single-view/view/uk-railway-news-round-up-97.html |website = Railway Gazette |access-date = 2 February 2019 |language = en-gb |date = 31 January 2019 |archive-date = 2 February 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190202153949/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/uk/single-view/view/uk-railway-news-round-up-97.html |url-status = dead }}</ref> As the leases for the Class 172 came to an end in early 2019, [[London Overground]] temporarily shortened three of its [[British Rail Class 378|Class 378]]s to run on the line to substitute the Class 172s until the long-delayed Class 710s entered service on 23 May 2019.<ref name=":2" /> All of the Class 378s were replaced by Class 710s by August 2019.

=== Interchanges ===
[[File:Gospel Oak railway station 4.jpg|thumb|Sign advertising the interchange at Gospel Oak]]
The line has same-station interchanges with:

* the [[North London Line]] at Gospel Oak
* the [[Victoria line]] at Blackhorse Road
* the [[Hammersmith & City line]], [[District line]] and [[c2c]] at Barking

There are out-of-station interchanges at:<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/May13/Commercial_Information.pdf |title = National Rail Timetable |publisher = Network Rail |page = 46 |access-date = 25 October 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130904231906/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/May13/Commercial_Information.pdf |archive-date = 4 September 2013 }}</ref>
* Harringay Green Lanes to [[Harringay railway station|Harringay]] on the [[Great Northern Route]]
* South Tottenham to [[Seven Sisters railway station|Seven Sisters]] on the Seven Sisters Branch of the [[Lea Valley Lines]] and the [[London Underground]] Victoria line. (Signposting in the street does not indicate the pedestrian/cycle route between the two stations through Stonebridge Road.)
* Walthamstow Queens Road to [[Walthamstow Central railway station|Walthamstow Central]] on the Chingford branch of the [[Lea Valley Lines]] and the [[London Underground]] Victoria line. A footpath between the two stations, considerably shortening the foot journey between them, opened on 11 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.stationmasterapp.com/blog/2014/08/new-station-entrance-walthastow/ |title = New Station Entrance, Walthamstow – StationMasterApp |first1 = Geoff |last1 = Marshall |first2 = Matthew |last2 = Frost |access-date = 29 December 2014}}</ref> While the footpath was first proposed in 1996, works had been delayed due to protracted legal battles over planning permission.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/10185362.Stations_link__due_this_summer_ |title = Link between Walthamstow Central and Queens Road stations 'due this summer' |first = Daniel |last = Binns |publisher = [[Waltham Forest Guardian]] |date = 25 January 2013 |access-date = 27 June 2013}}</ref>
* Wanstead Park to [[Forest Gate railway station|Forest Gate]] on the [[Great Eastern Main Line]]
* Woodgrange Park to [[Manor Park railway station|Manor Park]] on the [[Great Eastern Main Line]]

There are official TfL out-of-station-interchanges,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://oysterfares.com/information-pages/interchanging-trains |title = Interchanging Trains |website = Oyster Fares Central |date = 24 August 2014 |access-date = 12 May 2023}}</ref> whereby the passenger can continue an unbroken journey between:
* Upper Holloway and [[Archway tube station|Archway]] on the [[Northern line]]
* Leytonstone High Road and [[Leytonstone tube station|Leytonstone]] on the [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]]

Two other interchanges are walkable:
* Harringay Green Lanes and [[Manor House tube station|Manor House]] on the [[Piccadilly line]]
* Crouch Hill and [[Finsbury Park tube station|Finsbury Park]] on the [[Piccadilly line]] and [[Victoria line]]

===Vibrations===
Residents in [[Walthamstow]] complained in 2012 that vibrations from goods traffic on the line were causing damage to their houses.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19300553 |title = Residents demand action over 'shaking' homes |date = 18 August 2012 |access-date = 18 August 2012 |work = [[BBC News]] |publisher = [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] | first = Simon | last = Browning }}</ref>

==Future==

=== Castle Green/Renwick Road ===

{{Main Article|Castle Green railway station}}

As part of the extension to [[Barking Riverside railway station|Barking Riverside]], a station, called Castle Green, at Renwick Road on the [[London, Tilbury & Southend Railway]] was proposed.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/rail/barking-riverside-extension-consult/ |title = Have your say on the proposed London Overground extension to Barking Riverside - Transport for London - Citizen Space |website = consultations.tfl.gov.uk |access-date = 15 April 2020 |archive-date = 9 August 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200809133757/https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/rail/barking-riverside-extension-consult/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> Although not built as part of the extension to Barking Riverside, the station site was safeguarded so that it can be built at a later stage.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url = http://bailey.persona-pi.com/Public-Inquiries/Barking%20Riverside/B-Core%20Documents/Category%20C%20Scheme%20Development%20Documents%20Including%20Consultation/C15%20-%20Intermediate%20Station%20Feasibility%20Report.pdf |title = Barking Riverside Extension Intermediate Station Feasibility Report |date = December 2015 |publisher = Transport for London |access-date = 23 July 2017 |archive-date = 21 August 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170821002124/http://bailey.persona-pi.com/Public-Inquiries/Barking%20Riverside/B-Core%20Documents/Category%20C%20Scheme%20Development%20Documents%20Including%20Consultation/C15%20-%20Intermediate%20Station%20Feasibility%20Report.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Potential Abbey Wood extension===
Following the plan to extend the line to [[Barking Riverside railway station|Barking Riverside]], there were also proposals to extend the line further across the river to [[Abbey Wood railway station|Abbey Wood]] via [[Thamesmead]], to allow for easier Orbital journeys in East London, and provide [[Thamesmead]] with a railway connection for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |title = Call to bring London Overground to Thamesmead – south east London's largest town with no trains |url = http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/11488390.display/ |work = This is London Local |date = 22 September 2014}}</ref> This was outlined in the [[R25 (London)|R25]] orbital railway proposal in 2014,<ref>{{Cite news |last = Dudman |first = Jane |url = https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2014/aug/01/boris-johnsons-london-orbital-railway-is-it-a-good-idea |title = Boris Johnson's London orbital railway – is it a good idea? |date = 1 August 2014 |work = The Guardian |access-date = 17 April 2020 |language = en-GB |issn = 0261-3077}}</ref> and the potential of a future extension was mentioned in the inspectors report of the [[Transport and Works Act 1992|Transport and Works Order]] authorising the extension to Barking Riverside.<ref name=":1" />

However, in 2019 [[Transport for London]] and [[Greater London Authority|City Hall]] proposed an [[Thamesmead Extension Scheme|extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR)]] to serve [[Thamesmead]] instead of an extension of the [[London Overground|Overground]], as part of the proposed Thamesmead and Abbey Wood [[London Plan|OAPF (Opportunity Area Planning Framework)]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/18202007.workshops-future-thamesmead-abbey-wood-opened-public/ |title = Workshops about the future of Thamesmead and Abbey Wood opened to public |website = News Shopper |date = 31 January 2020 |language = en-gb |access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref> A DLR extension was chosen due to lower connectivity benefits of an Overground extension, the low frequency (four trains per hour) of the Gospel Oak to Barking line, and — most significantly — a construction cost twice as much as the DLR, as the gradients required to cross the [[River Thames]] would require large scale tunnelling works when compared to the DLR.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/md2696_appendices_a-f.pdf |title = Thamesmead and Abbey Wood OAPF - OAPF Transport Strategy - December 2019 Draft |date = December 2019 |publisher = [[Greater London Authority]] |access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref> Despite recommending an extension of the DLR to [[Thamesmead]], the consultation also noted that an extension of the Gospel Oak to Barking line could provide good orbital transport links in the long term.

=== Other proposed changes ===

Local residents and users of the line have proposed adding a station between [[Leytonstone High Road railway station|Leytonstone High Road]] and [[Wanstead Park railway station|Wanstead Park]] to serve the [[Cann Hall]] area. The [[Leyton and Wanstead (UK Parliament constituency)|Leyton and Wanstead]] branch of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] has expressed an interest in the proposal.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9560443.WALTHAM_FOREST__Campaign_for_new_station_in_Leytonstone/ |title = WALTHAM FOREST: Campaign for new station in Leytonstone |publisher = [[Waltham Forest Guardian]] |date = 29 February 2012 |access-date = 5 December 2012}}</ref> The line's user group and Islington Borough Council have been pressing for the reopening of the station at [[Junction Road railway station|Junction Road]], as its proximity to [[Tufnell Park tube station|Tufnell Park Underground station]] would allow interchange with the [[Northern line]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/history.htm |title = BGO History |website = barking-gospeloak.org.uk |access-date = 12 February 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine |title = London's forgotten railway |magazine = [[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]] |issue = 321 |publisher = EMAP Apex Publications |date = 31 December 1997 – 13 January 1998 |pages = 18–22 |issn = 0953-4563 |oclc = 49953699}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3686.aspx Tfl press release on North London Railway]
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3658.aspx TfL North London Railway plans]
* [http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/43 Orbirail North & West London line improvements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718041529/http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/43 |date=18 July 2014 }}
* [http://www.alwaystouchout.com/query/mode/rail General rail improvements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060419051553/http://www.alwaystouchout.com/query/mode/Rail |date=19 April 2006 }}
* [http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/ The Barking-Gospel Oak Rail User Group]

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