Silverlink

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Franchise(s):	1997 - November 2007
Main Region(s):	North London
Other Region(s):	Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire
Fleet size:	67
Stations:	88
Parent company:	National Express Group
Web site:	www.silverlink-trains.com

Silverlink Trains is a regional franchise in the British railway system with routes in suburban London and from London to Northampton. It is owned by National Express Group plc.

[edit] History

Silverlink was formed in early 1997 as North London Railways. It was responsible for the running and maintenance of the North London Line, a semi-circular route running from Richmond in West London through North London to North Woolwich in East London. As the company expanded, also becoming responsible for the West London Line, the Watford DC Line and London-Northampton services via the West Coast Main Line, the name was considered inappropriate and the company was renamed Silverlink.

The company is divided into two main branches: 'Silverlink Metro' for inner-suburban services, and 'Silverlink County' for longer distance commuter trains and outer-suburban services.

[edit] Silverlink Metro

[edit] North London Line

Timetables for the North London Line can be viewed here [1] for Eastbound services, and here [2] for Westbound services.

[edit] West London Line

Timetables for the West London Line can be viewed here [3].

[edit] Watford DC Line

Timetables for the Watford DC Line can be viewed here [4] for Northbound services, and here [5] for Southbound services.

† = also served by Bakerloo Line.

~ = A recent report conducted by Transport for London speculated that Stonebridge Park, South Kenton and Kenton should only be served by Bakerloo line trains except at peak times.

[edit] Gospel Oak to Barking Line

Timetables for the Gospel Oak to Barking Line can be viewed here [6].

[edit] Stock

Metro services are operated by class 313 25kV AC/750 V DC electric multiple units on the electrified routes, and Class 150 Sprinter diesel multiple units on the non-electrified Gospel Oak-Barking route. Additionally, three class 508/3 750 V DC electric multiple units are used exclusively on the Euston-Watford Junction service. The Sprinters replaced the elderly class 117 and class 121 units in 2000.

[edit] Silverlink County

[edit] London to Northampton Line

London-Northampton services run on the slow tracks of the West Coast Main Line.

Timetables for the London to Northampton Line can be viewed here [7] for Northbound services, and here [8] for Southbound services.

[edit] Watford Junction to St. Albans Abbey Line

Timetables for the Watford Junction to St. Albans Abbey Line can be viewed here [9].

[edit] Bletchley to Bedford (Marston Vale) Line

Timetables for the Bletchley to Bedford Line can be viewed here [10].

[edit] Stock

County services to Northampton are operated by class 321/4 electrical multiple units introduced in 1989. They were joined by new class 350/1 Desiro units built by Siemens AG in summer 2005.

Services on the St Albans Abbey line were operated for many years by class 313 electric multiple units, but are now usually operated by class 321 units with Silverlink Metro drivers from Watford and Silverlink County guards from Watford.

The non-electrified Marston Vale Line uses class 150 diesel units.

[edit] Silverlink in the News

• On Tuesday 24 January 2006, London mayor Ken Livingstone called for all Silverlink stations to be manned after the murder of City lawyer Thomas Rhys Pryce near Kensal Green station. [11]
• On Friday 16 July 2004, Virgin Trains announced that it was stopping most of its commuter trains from Milton Keynes Central, which were used by up to 6000 passengers a day. Commuters became unhappy at the prospect of switching to older Silverlink trains, which would involve a longer journey. Silverlink countered this with the temporary usage of ex-Virgin stock, still in Virgin colours.[12]
• On Monday 7 June 2004, a Silverlink train carrying about 50 passengers derailed as it entered Northampton. No-one was injured. [13]
• On Thursday 8 August 1996, under its previous name North London Railway, a passenger train travelling Northbound collided with a stock train travelling southbound 700m south of Watford Junction. One person was killed and 69 injured. For more on this incident see Watford rail crash.

[edit] Station and Service Improvements

As of 2006, Silverlink has invested in a partnership with HSBC who have funded £13 million in a mid-life mechanical and electrical overhaul of the Silverlink County fleet. Other train refurbishment programmes are continuing on the Silverlink Metro trains. Silverlink is providing lifts, refurbished toilets and better customer service at Willesden Junction. A customer lounge and information point have opened at Northampton. A new station is emerging at Stonebridge Park and improvement work is being carried out at other stations. Other improvements being carried out by Silverlink include the continuing installation of CCTV and ticket gates.

[edit] The future of Silverlink

It has been announced [14] that the Silverlink franchise will finish in November 2007. From that time, Silverlink Metro services (the North London Line, the West London Line, the Watford DC Line and the Gospel Oak to Barking line) will come under the control of Transport for London under the banner of the London Overground.

Silverlink County services will be merged with services from Central Trains to form a new West Midlands franchise. The Department for Transport announced on 19 September 2006 that three parties had pre-qualified for the new West Midlands franchise[15].

• London & Birmingham Railway Limited (Govia)
• MTR Corporation (UK) Limited (MTR Corporation of Hong Kong)
• Serco NedRailways West Midlands Limited (a Joint Venture between Serco and NedRailways)

[edit] Willesden depot closure threat

Silverlink has been served a six-month notice to pull out of Willesden depot - raising serious doubts over the depot's future. The closure is to leave Class 313 trains homeless. A Silverlink spokesman said that the Train Operating Company (TOC) only 180 days to to leave the depot and needed to make a quick desicion about its maintenance requirements. Silverlink were asked if the 313's will move to Bletchley, although they have not made a desicion. Alstom will continue to operate 4 depots on the West Coast Main Line at Wembley, Oxley, Longsight, Polmadie.

[edit] External links

• Transport for London website
• Silverlink Trains website
• National Express Group website

Categories: Post-privatisation British railway companies | National Express Group Companies | London Overground