Just thought I would point out that the latest newsletter has gone up on
the Barking - Gospel Oak Line User Group website.
http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/news.htm in particular

I don't think the issues raised have been discussed here.

FREQUENCY IMPROVEMENTS & EXTENDED DESTINATIONS: It includes details of a
proposed 4 trains an hour Barking to Clapham Junction as well as a
double on the frequency on the Stratford to Camden Road section and an
extension to Queens Park amongst other quite impressive plans. I have to
admit I'll believe it when I see it, but I was present at the talk by
Head of Rail Franchising at Transport for London last month, which all
this is based on. He was reasonably confident, although admitted there
were some practicalities to be sorted.

Anyway: target date timetable change is by 2010 (presumably December),
so that the operation can be proven to run effectively at least 6 months
before the start of the Olympics (all transport has to be proven in
advance, to be accepted by the Olympics Committee, or something similar;
therefore December 2011 wouldn't allow enough time for any teething
problems).

OYSTER: Amongst other things, the relationship with Silverlink is such
that they plan to have Oyster validators installed at all the NLL
stations by the time TfL are running the route. They will be accepting
Prepay too.

TRAIN STOCK: Not mentioned in the newsletter, but the plan is to have
the same rolling stock across the entire East London Line and North
London Line (which will all be operated under one contractor -
apparently it's not a franchise for some legally minded reason). The
only exception to this may be the Goblin line depending on whether wires
are installed. The trains will all be a minimum of 4 car in length, I
think, which will mean some platforms extensions - some very preliminary
work has taken place on this (i.e. TfL chaps going around the NLL
network and peering out of the doors at each station to work out any
obvious difficulties!). I did note that this would free up a number of
313 units (could Thameslink (FCC) use these, or WAGN (FCC) to bulk up
thier Moorgate services)?

--
Paul G
Typing from Barking