Silverlink
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Silverlink is a regional franchise in the British railway system with routes in suburban London and from London to Northampton. Silverlink is owned by National Express Group plc.
Contents |
History
Silverlink was formed in early 1997, originally being called North London Railways. It was responsible for the running and maintenance of the North London Line, a circular route running from Richmond in West London through the North of London all the way to North Woolwich in the East of London. As the company expanded and also became responsible for the West London Line, the Watford DC Line and the London-Northampton line, the name was considered misrepresentative and the company was renamed Silverlink.
The company is divided into two main branches: 'Silverlink Metro' is used for inner-suburban services around London while 'Silverlink County' is used for longer distance commuter trains and outer-suburban services.
Silverlink Metro
North London Line
The stations on the North London Line are:
- Richmond (change for District Line)
- Kew Gardens (change for District Line)
- Gunnersbury (change for District Line)
- South Acton
- Acton Central
- Willesden Junction (change for Bakerloo Line, West London Line and Watford DC Line)
- Kensal Rise
- Brondesbury Park
- Brondesbury
- West Hampstead (change for Jubilee Line and Thameslink trains)
- Finchley Road & Frognal
- Hampstead Heath
- Gospel Oak (change for Gospel Oak to Barking Line)
- Kentish Town West
- Camden Road
- Caledonian Road & Barnsbury
- Highbury & Islington (change for Victoria Line)
- Canonbury
- Dalston Kingsland
- Hackney Central
- Homerton
- Hackney Wick
- Stratford (change for Central Line, Jubilee Line, Docklands Light Railway and One trains)
- West Ham (change for District Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Jubilee Line, and c2c Trains)
- Canning Town (change for Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway)
- Custom House (change for Docklands Light Railway)
- Silvertown
- North Woolwich
Timetables for the North London Line can be viewed here [1] for Eastbound services, and here [2] for Westbound services.
West London Line
The stations on the West London Line are:
- Willesden Junction (change for North London Line, Watford DC Line and Bakerloo Line)
- Kensington (Olympia) (change for District Line)
- Shepherds Bush
- West Brompton (change for District Line and Southern trains)
- Imperial Wharf
- Clapham Junction (change for South West trains)
Timetables for the West London Line can be viewed here [3].
Watford DC Line
The stations on the Watford DC Line are:
- London Euston (change for Northern Line, Victoria Line and Virgin trains)
- South Hampstead
- Kilburn High Road
- Queen's Park (change for Bakerloo Line)
- Kensal Green (change for Bakerloo Line)
- Willesden Junction (change for North London Line, West London Line and Bakerloo Line)
- Harlesden (change for Bakerloo Line)
- Stonebridge Park (change for Bakerloo Line)
- Wembley Central (change for Bakerloo Line and London to Northampton Line)
- North Wembley (change for Bakerloo Line)
- South Kenton (change for Bakerloo Line)
- Kenton (change for Bakerloo Line)
- Harrow & Wealdstone (change for Bakerloo Line and London to Northampton Line)
- Headstone Lane
- Hatch End
- Carpenders Park
- Bushey
- Watford High Street
- Watford Junction (change for London to Northampton Line and Virgin trains)
Timetables for the Watford DC Line can be viewed here [4] for Northbound services, and here [5] for Southbound services.
Gospel Oak to Barking Line
The stations on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line are:
- Gospel Oak (change for North London Line)
- Upper Holloway
- Crouch Hill
- Harringay Green Lanes
- South Tottenham
- Blackhorse Road (change for Victoria Line)
- Walthamstow Queens Road
- Leyton Midland Road
- Leytonstone High Road
- Wanstead Park
- Woodgrange Park
- Barking (change for District Line, Hammersmith & City Line and c2c trains)
Timetables for the Gospel Oak to Barking Line can be viewed here [6].
Stock
Metro services are operated by Class 313 dual-voltage 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 electric units are used exclusively on the Euston-Watford Junction service. The Sprinters replaced the elderly Class 117 and Class 121 units in 2000.
Silverlink County
London to Northampton Line
The stations on the London to Northampton Line are:
- London Euston
- Wembley Central
- Harrow and Wealdstone
- Bushey
- Watford Junction
- Kings Langley
- Apsley
- Hemel Hempstead
- Berkhamsted
- Tring
- Cheddington
- Leighton Buzzard
- Bletchley
- Milton Keynes Central
- Wolverton
- Northampton
Timetables for the London to Northampton Line can be viewed here [7] for Northbound services, and here [8] for Southbound services.
Watford Junction to St. Albans Abbey Line
The stations on the Watford Junction to St. Albans Abbey Line are:
- Watford Junction
- Watford North
- Garston
- Bricket Wood
- How Wood
- Park Street
- St. Albans Abbey
Timetables for the Watford Junction to St. Albans Abbey Line can be viewed here [9].
Bletchley to Bedford (Marston Vale) Line
The stations on the Bletchley to Bedford Marston Vale Line are:
- Bletchley
- Fenny Stratford
- Bow Brickhill
- Woburn Sands
- Aspley Guise
- Ridgmont
- Lidlington
- Millbrook
- Stewartby
- Kempston Hardwick
- Bedford St. Johns
- Bedford
Timetables for the Bletchley to Bedford Line can be viewed here [10].
Stock
Image:Willesden junct'--2..jpg
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 drivers from Bletchley and guards from Watford.
The non-electrified Marston Vale Line uses Class 150 diesel units.
Silverlink In the News
- On Monday 7 June 2004, a Silverlink train carrying about 50 passengers derailed as it entered Northampton. No-one was injured. [11]
- On Friday 16 July 2004, Virgin Rail announced that they were stopping most of its commuter trains from Milton Keynes which were used by up to 6000 passengers a day. Commuters became unhappy at the prospect if switching to older Silverlink trains, which would involve a longer journey. [12]
- 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 at Kensal Green. [13]
Station and Service Improvements
As of 2006, Silverlink have 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 are 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. This will help in matters of security.
The future of Silverlink
It has been announced [14] that the Silverlink franchise will finish in November 2007. From that time, Silverlink Metro services (comprised of 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. Silverlink Country services will be merged with services from Central Trains to form a new West Midlands franchise.