Chipping Barnet MP launches petition to support TfL’s bid to extend London Overground to New Barnet and increase train frequency

After starting his parliamentary career with a petition to keep station ticket offices open at New Barnet and Oakleigh Park, a campaign to increase the frequency of train services has now been launched by the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson.

His new petition is seeking support for a proposal by Transport for London to extend the London Overground network to include the Great Northern lines from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North.

If the takeover was approved and the lines became part of London Overground, TFL has plans to increase off-peak services from two to four trains an hour.

A total of 26 stations that would benefit from more trains include Brookmans Park, Potters Bar, Hadley Wood, New Barnet, Oakleigh Park and New Southgate.

Mr Tomlinson (above in 2023) was the prospective Labour candidate when he launched a constituency petition to boost support for a campaign against the closure of railway station ticket offices – a campaign which produced 750,000 objections across the country and forced a government climbdown.

He said the current frequency of trains to London from New Barnet and Oakleigh Park was “not good enough”.

If the line became part of London Overground, TfL hoped to offer a more frequent service which would benefit residents across the Chipping Barnet constituency.

The results of the petition – https://dantomlinson.org.uk/better-rail-barnet/

will be presented by Mr Tomlinson to the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Transport.

Mr Tomlinson, who was appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in September last year, the issued a photograph of himself with the Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance, Barnet Councillors and local campaigners.

TfL announced last December that it had submitted a business case to the Department of Transport for London Overground to take over the Great Northern inner services from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North.

These services are currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railways which is now under public ownership – opening the door to a possible government hand over of control to London Overground.

A TfL make over for the lines could cost £47 million – which would increase to £70 million if Crews Hill station was upgraded as part of the construction of the proposed Crews Hill new town.

Options for increasing the frequency of both lines include an estimate of £239 million to increase off-peak services from two to four an hour and £310 million for increases in peak services of up to eight per hour and off-peak up to six per hour.

Currently TfL is refining its business case for a London Overground take over and a more frequent service.