WATFORD DC GOES QUARTER-HOURLY ALL DAY

QUARTER-HOURLY SERVICES were introduced throughout the day on London Overground’s Euston to Watford service from 17 November.

Until the May timetable change a 20-minute frequency had been provided on the route. Transport for London amended the timetable to a four trains per hour service at this point but was unable to operate all four services due to late delivery of the new Class 710 EMUs from Bombardier. The first ‘710s’ were introduced on the Watford DC service in September, bringing peak services up to the 15-minute frequency, which has now been replicated across the day.

First of the ‘710s’ into service were dual-voltage four-car Class 710/2s, which will largely operate on the Gospel Oak to Barking and Watford DC lines. The class entered service on the Gospel Oak to Barking route in May, over a year later than planned. However, AC-only set No 710105 became the first of its sub-class to carry passengers on the Gospel Oak to Barking route on 30 October.

TfL’s order for ‘710s’ comprises 30 four-car AC-only units and 24 dual-voltage sets – six of five-car length and the remainder four-car.