More London Overground Windrush line services coming in 2026
This is the first in a series of posts looking at what we can expect to see next year across London and much like last years, not all will happen on time but a fair few should.
And without further ado, let’s start with improved rail services as next year should see more Windrush line trains in service as a long-planned boost to services arrives.
The uplift was announced when a new service operator was revealed as well as covered in a Transport for London meeting this month including this report.
The increase was supposed to be introduced this year with a 2023 TfL report stating: “We also started work in June to enhance our signalling and traction power systems to enable us to run 18 trains per hour on this section of the railway by 2025, and then 20 trains per hour beyond that to ensure we continue to meet the growing demand”.
A new contract for operating London Overground services was announced earlier this month to transport company First Group which gave a December 2026 start date for 18 trains per hour through the core section below the Thames.
This section is between Dalston and Surrey Quays, where station work is ongoing to provide a new station entrance. A station has also long been planned at Surrey Canal Road though remains unfunded.
2026 boost
Services next year will increase to 18 trains per hour from a current 16 tph with services between Crystal Palace and Highbury & Islington rising from four tph to six tph.
Power upgrades were undertaken from 2023 for more services alongside signalling improvements.
By 2029 a further increase is proposed between Clapham Junction and Dalston Junction from four tph to six tph taking the core of the route up from 18 tph to 20 tph.
Long term aspirations include reaching 24 trains per hour through the core though that’s some way off and is dependent on finances. Plenty of stations along the line have thousands of homes proposed in the near vicinity including Canada Water, Surrey Quays, New Cross as well as the proposed Surrey Canal Road.
There’s recently been a revised application for developments across Surrey Quays shopping centre with revised plans called in earlier this month by the Mayor.
British Land seek to increase homes to 3,700 while reducing “affordable” totals from 35 per cent agreed in 2020 to three per cent.
The Weaver Line could do with extra Class 710/1 trains to operate 8-Car between Liverpool Street-Chingford, Cheshunt and Enfield Town.
Few extra Class 710/2/3 dual voltage trains for the Lioness Line and the Mildmay Line and maybe more Class 710 dual voltage trains for the proposed West London Orbital route (Cricklewood/Hendon-Brentford/Kew Bridge).
And with the Elizabeth Line who are getting 10 more Class 345 trains to add more extra capacity and to increase from 70 9-Car trains to 80 9-Car trains on the Elizabeth Line.
Also not to mention a brand new London Overground station at Surrey Canal Road close to Millwall FC The Den stadium to be built. That would see lots of home and away football fans travelling to the game. As there has been proposed for a new London Overground “Windrush Line” station to be built in Bermondsey. And extra trains to be used during match days.
Could do with more trains running into and out of New Cross. I think the present interval is 12 minutes outside of the rush hour. I seldom wait for a New Cross train and will usually hop onboard a West Croydon bound train and get off at New Cross Gate. I still need buses to complete my homeward journey, so it doesn’t make sense to wait for the New Cross train.
Would have nice to get more at Penge West and Anerley since they have no direct trains to London now.