Alcohol ban on LO trains

Much as TfL think they own "London Overground"... wouldn't it require Network Rail's permission to ban it on the station?

Yes. Which would be a particular issue at Euston and Watford, where drinking remains, sensibly, legal once you're on the train.

Presumably drinking is already now banned at LU-managed Overground stations, like H&I and the Bakerloo shared ones...?

(Sorry - long post!)


Don't speak too soon - I'm sure it could be arranged



No (despite what johnb says above) - it's nothing to do with Network Rail, instead it requires the permission of the Department for Transport, specifically the DfT Rail Group. As I understand it TfL sought and have subsequently been granted permission from DfT Rail to change the conditions of carriage that apply to London Overground services.

Neither Watford Junction nor Euston are London Overground (LO) stations so presumably the rules don't apply there until passengers actually board LO trains. I'm not sure what the situation will be at Harrow & Wealdstone, which is now an LU-managed Overground station but has London Midland trains calling there.


I'd think that at stations like H&W, Stratford, West Ham and Seven Sisters - where overall management of the station rests with LU but where mainline trains call - the rule cannot really apply, as it's only a condition of carriage on TfL services so it can't be applicable if you use mainline trains. However I suppose this could change next year when the TfL bye-laws are amended to ban drinking (this will make breaking the ban a criminal offence) - nonetheless I find it hard to see how it could cover LU (or indeed LO) stations where (non-LO) mainline trains also call, or if it did how it would be enforceable / whether it would be fair to enforce it.

This issue will be far more apparent however when TfL/LO takes over management from Southern of stations on the East London Line extension route down to West Croydon and Crystal Palace (for example Sydenham or Brockley), as there will still be plenty of Southern trains calling at these stations. Perhaps Southern (or the new franchisee - as a new franchise starts in 2009) might also ban alcohol on their trains and stations, though that would then create all sorts of difficulties elsewhere


Incidentally I've no idea what the situation technically is at LU-managed Overground stations for this week only when alcohol is banned on LU but still allowed on LO. I guess it's a grey area, but in the grand scheme of things it's not really that big a deal.


(P.S. Chris M - I'm almost certain that all the Bakerloo & LO shared stations - apart from Willesden Jn - are now managed by LU, they've even got the little LUL metal plaques next to the entrance. What the tannoy says is neither here nor there.)

There's a pub on the platform at Kew Gardens..

And of course Stratford has a Lemon Tree style outlet!

I'm sure if you ask nicely that they would open the stable doors and let you in ;-)

Lost from the prvious post, which makes more sense:

To answer a number of points regarding the stations between Euston and Watford. Euston is Network Rail Major Staions managed, the train operators being tennants as such. South Hampstead and Kilburn High Road are LOROL managed. Queens Park and Kensal Green are LUL managed.