London Overground Rail Operations

{{About|the former operator of the London Overground network|the network itself|London Overground}}

{{Infobox company

|name = London Overground Rail Operations

|logo = LOROL.svg

|logo_size = 250px

|type = Private company

|foundation = 11 November 2007

|dissolved = 13 November 2016

|location_city = London

|key_people = Steve Murphy, Chairman

|area_served = Greater London and Hertfordshire, England

|industry = Rail transport

|services = Train operations

|parent = Arriva/MTR

|divisions =

|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lorol.co.uk}}}}

London Overground Rail Operations Limited[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05668786 Companies House extract company no 5668786] London Overground Rail Operations Limited was a train operating company contracted to operate the London Overground train service on the National Rail network, under the franchise control of Transport for London. The company was a 50/50 joint venture between Arriva UK Trains and MTR Corporation.{{cite web|title=About Us |publisher=LOROL |date=April 2008 |url=http://www.lorol.co.uk/lorol/About-Us/ |access-date=4 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801025935/http://www.lorol.co.uk/lorol/About-Us/ |archive-date=1 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}

History

On 20 February 2006, the Department for Transport announced that Transport for London would take over management of services then provided by Silverlink Metro.{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060214/wmstext/60214m11.htm#60214m11.html_spmin1|title=Silverlink Metro|last=Darling|first=Alistair |date=14 February 2006|publisher=Hansard|access-date=25 August 2008}}

In June 2006, Transport for London announced that Govia, MTR/Laing Rail, National Express and NedRail had been shortlisted to bid for the London Rail Concession.{{cite press release |url= http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3563.html |title= Four bidders on TfL London Rail Concession shortlist |publisher=Transport for London |date=7 June 2006}} In September 2006, Transport for London announced that the extended East London Line would be included, and the operation branded London Overground.{{cite press release |url= http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3489.html |title= Introducing London Overground – a new era for London Rail |publisher=Transport for London |date=5 September 2006}}

In June 2007, Transport for London awarded the concession to MTR Laing, and operations started on 11 November 2007.{{cite press release |url= http://www.laing.com/news/70/27/MTRLaing-appointed-to-run-London-Overground.html |title= MTRLaing appointed to run London Overground |publisher= John Laing |date=19 June 2007}} The concession was for six years, four months until 31 March 2014 with a two-year extension option.{{cite web |title= MTR Laing beats Go-Ahead unit Govia to win North London rail franchise |publisher= Hemscott |url= http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=45163729017190 |access-date= 19 June 2007 }} The option was taken up with the concession to end on 12 November 2016.[http://www.arriva.co.uk/media/news/2014/04-06-2014 London Overground operator appointed to run additional services for TfL] Arriva 4 June 2014

In December 2007, Henderson Group, the parent company of John Laing plc, announced the sale of the Laing Rail division, which comprised half of LOROL, Chiltern Railways and a stake in the Wrexham & Shropshire open-access railway operator. In April 2008, Laing Rail was bought by the German Government's rail operator Deutsche Bahn, which now holds a 50% stake in LOROL.{{Cite press release|url=http://www.lorol.co.uk/lorol/News/Deutsche-Bahn-acquires-LOROL/|title=Deutsche Bahn acquires LOROL|date=1 April 2008|publisher=LOROL|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080617203845/http://www.lorol.co.uk/lorol/News/Deutsche-Bahn-acquires-LOROL/ |archive-date = 17 June 2008}} The price was said to be around €170 million.{{Cite news |title=Germany's Deutsche Bahn to buy Laing Rail-report |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/deutschebahn-laing-idUSL2010922820080120 |work=Reuters |date=20 January 2008 |access-date=4 February 2011 |first=Dave |last=Graham}} Laing Rail became part of DB Regio, before a restructuring saw it moved under the control of Arriva UK Trains.

In April 2015, Transport for London placed a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, inviting expressions of interest in operating the next concession.[http://maintenance.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/april/tfl-starts-search-for-next-operator-to-run-overground TfL starts search for next operator to run Overground]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Transport for London 9 April 2015 On 31 May 2015, London Overground Rail Operations took over the Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) and Chingford services, as well as the Romford to Upminster service, from Abellio Greater Anglia.[http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/london-overground-operator-appointed-run-additional-services-tfl/ London Overground operator appointed to run additional services for TfL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517021245/http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/london-overground-operator-appointed-run-additional-services-tfl/ |date=17 May 2015 }} Travel & Tour World 4 June 2013

In July 2015, Transport for London announced the shortlisted bidders for the next concession were Arriva UK Trains, ComfortDelGro, a Keolis/Go-Ahead joint venture and MTR Corporation.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/four-bidders-shortlisted-for-london-overground-operating-concession.html|title=Four bidders shortlisted for London Overground operating concession|magazine=Railway Gazette International|date=29 June 2015}} In March 2016, Arriva Rail London was awarded the concession commencing 13 November 2016.{{Cite news |date=2016-03-18 |title=Arriva wins £1.5bn London Overground contract |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35841733 |access-date= |work=BBC News}}

Services

London Overground operated these services:

East London line: Highbury & Islington to West Croydon/Crystal Palace; Dalston Junction to New Cross/Clapham Junction
Gospel Oak to Barking line: Gospel Oak to Barking
North London line: Richmond to Stratford
Watford DC line: Watford Junction to Euston
West London line: Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction
South London line: Dalston Junction to Clapham Junction
Lea Valley line: Liverpool Street to Cheshunt and Enfield Town via Seven Sisters, and Chingford via Clapton
Romford–Upminster line: Romford to Upminster

Rolling stock

London Overground inherited a fleet of Class 150 Sprinter diesel multiple units, and Class 313 and Class 508 electric multiple units, from Silverlink. Between 2009 and 2011, the Sprinters were replaced with new Class 172 Turbostar units, and the Class 313s and 508s with new Class 378 Capitalstar units.

London Overground further inherited a number of Class 315 and Class 317 EMUs from Abellio Greater Anglia upon the takeover of the Lea Valley lines from Liverpool Street and the Romford–Upminster line on 31 May 2015.