Mayor checks out East London line progress
The East London line is set to return to the capital's transport grid this summer.
Mayor Boris Johnson travelled to Shoreditch High Street today (Tuesday) to check on the progress of the £1billion overground project, which will link Wapping to destinations north and south of the river.
The aim is to provide a "metro-style service" featuring 12 trains per hour.
The line closed for redevelopment in 2007, and work on the stretch from Dalston Junction to West Croydon is set to finish in early summer this year. It will connect to the overground network at Camden Road in January 2011, while phase two of the project will branch out from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction via stops such as Denmark Hill for 2012.
Mr Johnson said: "The project will mean shorter and more enjoyable journeys, less congestion, and will support regeneration up and down the line. It demonstrates clearly why investment in our transport network is so important."
The East London line will be served by a brand new fleet of 20 walk-through and air-conditioned Class 378 Electrostar trains with a 494 person capacity. An extra 13 trains will be added by 2012.
A total of 300 people will be employed on the line, half of whom will reportedly be hired from the boroughs of Lewisham, Southwark or Tower Hamlets.
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