Arriva Rail London (ARL) has been granted a two-year extension as the delivery partner for the London Overground concession, which is operated with Transport for London.
Arriva has operated the London Overground network since November 2016 and following the contract extension, is expected to do so up to May 2026. The announcement today brings continuity for 430,000 passengers who use ARL’s trains every day. The contract extension is also good news for ARL’s 1,500 employees.
ARL successfully supported TfL during Covid, and London Overground has now recovered to 88% of pre-pandemic passenger journeys. During the term of ARL’s contract, the operator has also implemented a number of service improvements, such as the extension of the Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside route and the introduction of four-car trains, which doubled the line’s capacity.
David Brown, managing director of Arriva UK Trains, commented: “We are incredibly proud of our performance record and of our relationship as a critical delivery partner to Transport for London. We play a significant role in London life, connecting communities and being part of one of the most mature, sophisticated and inter-connected transport networks in the world. With this contract extension we can continue to work in close partnership and deliver innovative and cost-efficient solutions to keep the capital city moving”.
ARL operates under the ‘concession model’ which means that TfL takes revenue risk, while the operating company receives a fixed payment with adjustments made according to performance.
The new contract comes into effect in May 2024.
Image credit: Arriva Rail London
