Train Facilities In London
Suburban rail services in London, as in the rest of Great Britain, are run on a system of rail franchises and operated by a number of private train operating companies, managed by National Rail. This rail system is a separate entity from London Underground, which is owned and run by Transport for London.
A pilot scheme was launched in 2003 to bring National Rail services operated by multiple companies under one branding umbrella within London. Using the Overground Network brand, Transport for London introduced consistent information displays, station signage and maps on selected routes in South London. Although this pilot was purely an exercise in branding, this was the first instance of TfL having a visible influence over National Rail services in London. The Overground Network pilot has since been withdrawn.In January 2004 the Department for Transport announced a review of the rail industry in the United Kingdom.As part of that review, proposals were put forward by Transport for London for a London Regional Rail Authority to be established, which would give TfL regulatory powers over rail services in and around Greater London.
A result of this consultation was the transfer of part of the Silverlink rail franchise over to TfL control. This is to date the only agreed movement towards establishing a London-wide rail authority. The Silverlink franchise originally had two areas of operation: Silverlink County (regional services from London Euston to Northampton, St Albans Abbey, Bletchley and Bedford); and Silverlink Metro (services mostly within the London urban area). When the franchise was split up in 2007, County services were taken over by the London Midland franchise, and the Metro services fell under TfL control.
At the launch TfL undertook to revamp the routes by improving service frequencies, staffing all stations, improving station facilities, introducing new rolling stock and by allowing Oyster card pay as you go to be used throughout the network from the outset. All stations were deep-cleaned following the TfL takeover, and the Silverlink branding was removed. Station signage is being gradually replaced with London Overground-branded signs using TfL’s corporate New Johnston typeface. There are temporary adhesive signs at some stations, to be replaced with full-size enamel platform name signs using the orange and blue London Overground roundel as station refurbishment progresses.
London Overground is operated by a private company, London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL). Following a model similar to that already used for the Docklands Light Railway, TfL invited tenders for operation of the London Overground. Unlike National Rail franchisees, TfL would set fares, procure rolling stock and decide service levels. The operator would take an element of revenue risk: TfL take 90% of the revenue risk, 10% of revenue is retained by the operator, and the operator is responsible for revenue collection.
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