London overground

Jerry Thomas
The Politics Show London

At 2am on Sunday November 10, 2007 Ken Livingstone will be given control of the Silverlink Metro - a series of train lines that run from Richmond through to Barking and up past Willesden into Watford.

It is the first stage in the creation of the "London Overground" network that will eventually take in the East London Line and form an orbital rail service through much of the Inner City.

Transport for London (TfL) say they will rejuvenate this often neglected service.

They will put new trains on the line, run more services, put staff in on unmanned stations and let passengers use their Oyster cards just as they would on the Underground.

They are also keen to publicise the contract that has been signed with company who will be operating the trains.

Privatising part of the network?

Unlike on the rest of the UK's railways, 90% of the profits made on the line will stay in public hands.

Only the remaining 10% will go to the private company.

But it is the involvement of these private companies that is angering many.

The East London Line is currently part of the Underground network and is run by Transport for London.

When it reopens in 2010, as part of the Overground network, it will be run by the same company as the rest of the network.

Put another way, it means the Mayor is privatising part of the underground network.

Mayor is privatising part of the underground network

Union anger

The unions are up in arms, but TfL insist that the only way they could persuade the government to give them control of the Overground network and secure the extra funding to do it, was to accept it.

One survey says 75% of Londoners are opposed to private involvement on the tube.

However, if that is the price of an improved service, they might be willing to accept it.

It is now TfL's job to persuade them that it is.

East London Railway

Known at present as the East London line, the East London Railway will run from Dalston Junction south to West Croydon, Crystal Palace and New Cross.

A total of £1.4bn is being invested in the London Overground network. Of this, £1bn is being spent on building the East London Railway.

The Politics Show London

Join the Politics Show team on Sunday 11 November 2007 at 12:10 GMT on BBC One.

Use the reply form below to let Politics Show London know what you think...

---