Rail boost plans ignore Gob Line Cinderella’ service
RAIL passengers’ hopes of getting East London’s notorious Gob’ line electrified have been dashed. The Cinderella service’ two-carriage shuttles between Gospel Oak and Barking has been left out of today’s Government announcement ofrail upgrading
RAIL passengers’ hopes of getting East London’s notorious Gob’ line electrified have been dashed.
The Cinderella service’ that runs two-carriage shuttles between Gospel Oak and Barking, known as the Gob’ line, has been left out of today’s Government announcement of rail modernisation.
It has not been included in the Department of Transport’s proposals to upgrade Britain’s ageing network like the prestigious London-to-Bristol Great Western.
Yet the Gob’ was top of the list’ in Network Rail’s plans only last week, the London rail users’ watchdog points out.
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DISAPPOINTED
“We are disappointed there’s no mention of the Gospel Oak-Barking line,” said TravelWatch spokesman Jo deBank.
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“The Gob’ Line could be electrified at a fraction at the cost of the big projects and would improve the service for passengers on an important London orbital route.
“It would also help integrate freight and passenger services on the line which are a real problem at the moment.”
The Gob’ has been given priority in Network Rail’s own Utilisation Strategy looking at the next 20 years, published last week.
ABSENCE
“So its absence from today’s Transport Department announcement suggests, once again, a lack of joined up’ thinking,” Jo told the East London Advertiser.
“The Gob’ remains the Cinderella service. Passenger groups will be really put out.”
Now London TravelWatch, which is funded by the London Assembly, plans to protest to Transport State Secretary Lord Adonis.
