A humble word of appreciation

Tsk, if there were more seat on a 378, you couldn't cycle down the inside from one end to the other.

I've noticed that some of the conductors on the NLL are now making service update announcements prior to interchange stations. E.g. the other day passengers were warned of a suspension on the Victoria line just before arriving at Higbury. Not sure if they are checking this on their smartphones or updates get radioed in, but it's a nice touch.

I was a Silverlink passenger and it's just unrecognisable. The only thing I miss is being able to stare out of the window!

Conductors have now started to be issued with new smart phones that have apps pre-installed..

And as a NLL, WLL & DC Driver ... Your comments are appreciated :-)

It shows how things can change for the better once gets investment.

Isn't that what Travelcards are for? There's not a lot of the network outside Zone 5.

Totally agree about LO - the system is almost unrecognisable from its Silverlink days in every aspect. And the passenger usage has gone through the roof. Just goes to show that passenger numbers will nearly always increase with a frequent, reliable and safe service.

Bearing in mind the success of LO, it is inconceivable to think that the NLL was on the Beeching list!

Go back to Network South East days and it was even worse! You were lucky to have an hourly service on the Gospel Oak - Barking line. Very often one of the DMU's would break down and the service would literally be abandoned. No Sunday service at that time either

Silverlink started, perhaps grudgingly at making selective improvements... I do agree that things have come a long way, and if things continue to become ever more popular, we might need platform extensions really soon! Bit like the DLR...

Praise is due to all those who worked so hard to give us this railway.

It is wonderful to see such praise from the LO passengers. LOROL is obviously doing a great job; would they be prepared to take over the MET?

I have to admit to being one of TfLs greatest critics, but there is little doubt of the step-change in service delivery, provision etc - that various people have lobbied for since 1996! - that is welcome and long overdue. Our thanks to all staff involved, both management and those at the sharp end.
Silverlink was a poorly resourced operation, and many of us are not surprised this operator, NatEx as a whole, has been squeezed out of it's rail operations. They put nothing forward to argue the case for service or station enhancements, so was it surprising they got the push?
The 313s were given minimal refurbishment, beyond the appalling Ray Stenning Dairy Milk purple and lime green colour scheme (definitely his worst) which was not exactly flattering style on any Silverlink stock.
The six 150s from Central for GO-B were similarly given a relatively basic overhaul at Wolverton, but we did get a launch lunch from them, but sadly not a farewell run on our cherished, but knackered 117s. To be fair the 150s were a step change, but the half-hourly service a disaster.
I compare the operation now with Merseyrail, where 507s and 508s are a similar vintage to 313s, but a decent overhaul, as Southern has now done on the LOROL 313s, has transformed them, like the Merseyrail units, which were thought to be new around Liverpool. They could usefully use the 15 508s in store for three modest extensions, and peak expansion.
Was it inept Silverlink management, or the ridiculous management structures of the privatised industry, that created these problems? Bit of both, but NatEx don't learn from their mistakes. I doubt if even Barbie will sort them out. 'Nuff said.
My gripes with TfL are 3-fold: 378 seats and internal layout, Lack of GO-B electrification and crowded 2-car DMUs (nice seats though!), and evening train services, infrequency - 30 minute gaps unacceptable - and early service finish, all discussed many times in these topics.
Come on TfL and LOROL, let's sort out the last two next summer after the Olympics. Lots of Brownie Points if you do Mr Murphy!

Includes BR conditions. Taken over 2007, still no Boxing Day service in 2011. Shoudn't TFL standardise one way or other? BTW no one where I work wants to volunteer for 25/12 or 26/12 for flat money!

My daugther in law lives in Central London and has been told by her employer, a Health Authority, that she MUST work on Boxing Day, apparantly it is her turn to be part of the emergency team for that day. With no LU, she will have to walk the seven miles each way before and after work. If one of the people calling for the strike has a heart attack in London on Boxing Day, would that be "karma"??

I too just want to repeat the above messages and say thank you to those of you at London Overground. In the times I've used it this year I've always appreciated how clean, safe and well looked after the trains and stations look and feel. I'm looking forward to the opening of the Surrey Quays - Queens Road Peckham stretch and LOROL takeover of the Inner SLL (even if some of those stations may lose their direct services to London terminals).

Queens Road Peckham is going to gain a lift so will see a little work done on it.

Could the former goods(?) life at Peckham Rye be brought into passenger use?


Simon

Yes it is a farce - London is one of the few world cities without a Christmsa Day service!