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London mayor Ken Livingstone said each station will now be permanently staffed |
Ken’s red revolution promises safer trains
‘Chinese Communists’ will help run rail network
TRAVELLERS to Silverlink rail stations are promised safer journeys at night following the route’s transfer to Transport for London control.
The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone visited Hampstead Heath station on Monday morning to mark the handover of the line from Richmond to Stratford, which he revealed would now be partly run by Chinese Communists.
Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which manages the Hong Kong public transport system – hailed by the mayor as the best in the world – is a partner in the new firm that has won the contract to run the route on a day-to-day basis.
Mr Livingstone promised improvements at Hampstead Heath station, which lacks CCTV coverage, is not permanently staffed and had 10 reported crimes, ranging from assault and robbery to graffiti vandalism, in the past 12 months.
Camden’s six Silverlink stations have had 133 reported crimes in 12 months.
He said: “Each station will now be permanently staffed. Hampstead Heath will now be safe for people to use late at night, as will other stops in Camden that people have previously not wanted to go to because of the fear of crime in the deserted stations.”
TfL, which has re-branded the line the London Overground and borrowed livery from the Underground network, is to spend £1.4 billion on stations and trains over the next five years.
The former North London network takes in lines between Richmond and Stratford, Euston and Watford Junction, Willesden and Clapham Junction, and Gospel Oak and Barking.
Mr Livingstone said: “It will mean new investment in each stop, with new shelters being built, new public toilets, shops and cafés being added.”
A deal with newly-formed rail company Lorol (London Overground Rail Operations Limited) would ensure the line was run for the benefit of passengers, not profit-hungry private companies, he added.
Lorol will oversee the day-to-day running of the line in return for a 10 per cent annual share of ticket revenue.
Lorol is made up of construction firm Laing, which owns Chiltern Railways, and MTR.
Mr Livingstone said: “In one sense the line has been taken back into public ownership. We are in charge.”
The current rolling stock – now 30 years old – will be replaced within 12 months.
Platforms are to be lengthened so more passengers can be carried, while ticket prices will remain the same. Oyster cards will be used across the network.
Mr Livingstone joked that the line was now in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, which is behind MTR. “They are managing it under our direction,” he said. “MTR have a brilliant record of ensuring the trains run on time – it is the Chinese Communist Party essentially running part of our railway system.”
He added: “I am looking forward to Bob Crow of the RMT negotiating with them.” |
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