Possibility of TfL taking over Stratford - Meridian Water local services as an extension of the Overground.

Currently, Meridian Water station only has a shuttle service to Stratford at regular times run by Greater Anglia, which doesn't seem very useful, and I don't think that Greater Anglia should operate such a local service.

Should TfL take over the service and run it as an extension of the Richmond / Clapham Junction - Stratford service, initially every 30 minutes and strengthening to every 15 minutes after the 4th track is built? The track layout at Stratford seems that it is possible without causing conflict to other services there.

There is some logic in this, but at present the service interworks with the Lea Valley stoppers, so there is no operational economy by using a TfL unit instead of a GA one.
Now if there were 4 tracks through to Cheshunt, you could turn the Lea Valley stoppers over to TfL as well, in which case there would be some logic, but atvthe moment- no.

30907 said:

There is some logic in this, but at present the service interworks with the Lea Valley stoppers, so there is no operational economy by using a TfL unit instead of a GA one.
Now if there were 4 tracks through to Cheshunt, you could turn the Lea Valley stoppers over to TfL as well, in which case there would be some logic, but atvthe moment- no.

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How would the Lea Valley stations feel about having their service to Liverpool Street replaced by a service to Richmond via Stratford?

Basil Jet said:

How would the Lea Valley stations feel about having their service to Liverpool Street replaced by a service to Richmond via Stratford?

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As someone who lives in the Lea Valley lines I don't think this would be a bad thing, we already have a Stratford service on Sundays and most people will get off at Tottenham Hale anyway rather than stay on till Liverpool St. If they did they could always change at TH or use the Lizzie/Central Lines for Liverpool Street

miklcct said:

Currently, Meridian Water station only has a shuttle service to Stratford at regular times run by Greater Anglia, which doesn't seem very useful, and I don't think that Greater Anglia should operate such a local service.

Should TfL take over the service and run it as an extension of the Richmond / Clapham Junction - Stratford service, initially every 30 minutes and strengthening to every 15 minutes after the 4th track is built? The track layout at Stratford seems that it is possible without causing conflict to other services there.

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Although you are largely clear of any other passenger services, you would be restricting a useful hidey-hole for freight between Channelsea Junction (where the lines to the NLL Bays diverge) and Stratford. You'd also make access to Orient Way CS mildly less convenient for GA units. Neither of these are particular problems, but do have to be weighed against the potential benefits.

My big question is - why is this better than the existing setup for passengers? Your post only mentions that you have a personal opinion that GA shouldn't be operating local trains, which doesn't seem to have any particular amount of weight behind it. As mentioned above, the overwhelming majority of people are going to be changing at Stratford anyway, demand from Lea Bridge to Homerton or Hackney Downs will be fairly small. By linking the services, you will be placing high pressure on the dwell times at Stratford which in turn will impact the robustness of the timings, and the NLL really isn't the place where a train can usually present a minute or two later and it'll be fine.

Transferring the service to TfL will make it better because Magic™. Or something. Saying that GA shouldn't be operating "local" services....by that logic East Midlands Railway shouldn't be running to Liverpool or Norwich.

If it works as it is, and given no service improvement is likely through change of operator (TfL is or was struggling for funding after all) then what is the point? I guess it'd be fun speculating on what name the line would end up with to fit in with the other Overground routes and the inevitable wailing and gnashing of teeth the decision would cause.

Basil Jet said:

How would the Lea Valley stations feel about having their service to Liverpool Street replaced by a service to Richmond via Stratford?

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It will be the same as when the Victoria / London Bridge service from the South London Line stations was replaced by a service between Clapham Junction and Dalston Junction.

The Southern service back then was the worst in the network, with just an underused 4-coach train every half an hour. When it was replaced by London Overground, it had become much more useful as it could reach more useful destinations, such as Clapham Junction and Shoreditch.

Stratford is a more useful destination than Liverpool Street as it is a major shopping centre, and also a great place for a day out. There are many more connections available as well including the Jubilee and DLR.

Given that this service is entirely in Greater London and does not even reach an Anglia county, it does make sense becoming part of London Overground.

miklcct said:

The track layout at Stratford seems that it is possible without causing conflict to other services there.

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It might seem possible - but isn‘t.

miklcct said:

Stratford is a more useful destination than Liverpool Street as it is a major shopping centre, and also a great place for a day out. There are many more connections available as well including the Jubilee and DLR.

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But the existing service already goes to Stratford, so what is your proposal making better for passengers?

miklcct said:

Stratford is a more useful destination than Liverpool Street as it is a major shopping centre, and also a great place for a day out.

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It really isn’t!

It's pointless.

There are Liverpool Street trains that go direct from Tottenham Hale to Hackney Downs, which has a walkway to Hackney Central.

There are Victoria Line trains direct from Tottenham Hale to Highbury and Islington.

Lea Bridge to Hackney Central will be quicker on the 55 bus.