Overground Network
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Overground Network (abbreviated on) is a branding initiative of Transport for London to encourage use of National Rail services in South London.
South London is poorly served by the London Underground network, but does have a large number of suburban rail lines. The scheme seeks to encourage metro-style usage ("Turn Up and Go") of these services. Railway stations are given the Overground brand if they have 4 or more trains per hour to a London terminus. TfL also helps fund the installation of CCTV and other station upgrades.
A pilot scheme was launched at 41 stations on 30 September 2003. As of September 2006, the scheme has not been expanded. However, TfL has helped fund several similar station upgrade programmes including enhanced passenger information and line guides without applying the "on" branding, leaving the future of the scheme in doubt.
Note that in common usage, overground rail may refer to any National Rail line, not just those in this scheme. The scheme should also not be confused with the proposed London Overground network, which is a more comprehensive reorganization of rail lines in North London.
[edit] Routes
These routes are part of the initial scheme, and carry the on branding on station signs:
- Waterloo to Teddington via Wimbledon
- Waterloo to Twickenham via Richmond
- Victoria to East and West Croydon via Norbury
- London Bridge to Dartford via Greenwich
Addtionally, these routes are shown on the network map as having 4 tph service:
- Waterloo to Epsom, Surbiton, Staines and Hounslow.
- Victoria to Epsom, Peckham Rye and Bromley South
- London Bridge to Crystal Palace and Smitham.
- Blackfriars to Streatham and East Croydon.
- Charing Cross and Cannon Street to Crayford, Blackheath and Hayes