12:05pm Friday 8th September 2006
By Sukhi Anand
THE face of Ealing's public transport is set to change from next year.
Plans for London Overground, announced by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, on Tuesday, September 5, will change the way Londoners travel from as early as November 2007.
The service will be managed by Transport for London (TfL) on the North London Railway when it assumes responsibility for the line from the Department of Transport.
The changes will affect a number of local stations including Gunnersbury, South Acton and Acton Central.
London Overground, complete with its own TfL roundel, will be contracted to a single train operator and have to comply with TfL's strict safety, security, ticketing and train frequency rules.
Mayor Livingstone said: "For decades, national rail services in London have been neglected and in many cases under-utilised. The transfer of responsibilities to Transport for London and the dawn of London Overground will start the much needed revitalisation of London rail services, bringing the standards of service up to the levels of the Tube and the buses."
The overground service will also run on the East London Railway when it opens in 2010, two years ahead of the London Olympics.
Ian Brown, managing director of TfL London Rail, added: "TfL's policy is to put passengers first and we look forward to putting this into practice on London's rail network from November next year.
"Over the next few years we hope to develop the London Overground to its full potential, using TfL's values to raise security and standards for rail passengers, as we have for other transport modes in London.
"TfL's vision for the London Overground is a safe and secure railway with frequent, Metro-style train services. Passengers will benefit from a better quality of service with new, reliable trains, staffed stations and Oyster ticketing to ensure consistent fares.
"We want the London Overground to be as comfortable and familiar to Londoners and visitors to the capital as the London Underground. We're entering a new era for London Rail and this is just the beginning."
The new orange logo will be used on trains, stations and maps.
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