London Overground concession extended until November 2016

11 February 2013
Transport for London (TfL) announced today that it has granted a two-year extension to its contract with London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL) to operate the London Overground network on its behalf.

Everyone at LOROL has worked tirelessly over the past five year to transform the railway and to deliver TfL's vision for the Overground.

Following a hugely successful Olympic and Paralympic Games for London Overground with sustained levels of train punctuality since then, TfL has taken up the option of extending its existing contract with LOROL.

Under the contract, LOROL will continue to be responsible for the operation of the London Overground train services, maintenance and operation of the stations which they manage and the maintenance of the Class 172 trains which run on the Gospel Oak to Barking line.

The extension will run from 8 November 2014 to 12 November 2016. The concession will be re-tendered in 2016.

TfL Chief Operating Officer for Rail, Howard Smith, said: 'We are pleased to continue our successful relationship with LOROL.

'The Overground has gone from strength to strength since the start of the Concession and demonstrates what TfL can achieve, in partnership, when given responsibility for rail services in London.'

Managing Director of LOROL Peter Austin, said: 'I am delighted that we have reached agreement with Transport for London for a two year extension to our contract. 

'Everyone at LOROL has worked tirelessly over the past five year to transform the railway and to deliver TfL's vision for the Overground. 

'The two year extension is recognition of those efforts and LOROL's excellent operational delivery. We look forward to another successful four years.'

Notes to editors:

  • The Overground is operated by London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL) a joint venture between MTR & Deutsche Bahn's subsidiary Arriva under the terms of a Concession Agreement (CA) entered into in 2007
  • The CA expires on 8 November 2014 unless it is extended
  • TfL London Rail has the right to extend this until 12 November 2016
  • The contract extension is worth approximately £200m
  • LOROL has operated London Overground since TfL took over management of the network, previously known as Silverlink, in 2007
  • An autumn 2012 survey by independent passenger watchdog, Passenger Focus, found that 93 per cent of London Overground's passengers were overall satisfied with the services and facilities. This was the highest score in the UK and well in excess of the average score for London and the south east of 85 per cent