London Overground began running public services through to Highbury & Islington yesterday (28 February 2011) from Dalston Junction.

It is the latest stage of the East London Railway revamp and a big step on the way to creating an orbital railway for London.

It will enable many workers from North London to gain direct access to Canary Wharf in Docklands without travelling through central London, as well as providing a link to Croydon, London’s third business district.

Trains from platform 1 at Highbury & Islington depart every 15 minutes to West Croydon while trains to Crystal Palace leave every 15 minutes from platform 2.  

The new link was made possible by the completion of the western curve from Dalston Junction station and realignment of North London Railway tracks from Dalston to Highbury & Islington.

At Highbury & Islington station, ELR passengers are now able to switch to North London Line trains to Richmond and Clapham Junction, the Underground’s Victoria line, and First Capital Connect services to Moorgate and Hertford North, Stevenage, Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City.
 
The core ELR was reopened in April 2010, mainly using existing rail lines but with substantial investment in new bridges, signalling and trains.

Another extension, expected to open in December 2012, will connect Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction via the South London Line, completing a missing link and creating an orbital railway for London.

“The London Overground network continues to grow and offer Londoners real alternatives to journeys requiring a trip through central London,” said Mike Brown, managing director of London Rail.

“This link will be a huge help to passengers based on London’s outer fringes – in Hertfordshire and Welwyn Garden City for example, and for those who travel into the Capital on the Victoria or Piccadilly Tube lines.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson put on a London Overground hat to mark the opening yesterday and said the line would “make it easier for millions of Londoners to whiz from one side of the city to another”.

The East London Line extension carries 70,000 passengers a day which is expected to rise to 100,000 a day.