London Overground users look set to finally enjoy a Boxing Day service this year after Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed talks were now underway between Transport for London, Network Rail and Overground operator Arriva Rail London.
The prospect of a Boxing Day service was first raised in 2016 when the new contract between TfL and Arriva made provision for trains to run on the bank holiday.
TfL and Mr Khan subsequently said that the earliest any service could be introduced was 2017, however in December that year the Mayor said the service would not launch until at least 2018, news which at the time was branded “bitterly disappointing” by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon.
In the end no Boxing Day Overground services ran in 2018.
However Mayor Khan has now told Ms Pidgeon that TfL “is planning to run Boxing Day services on the London Overground this year”.
In response to a question tabled by the AM, he added: “Services will be subject to planned engineering work and TfL is currently finalising the details with Network Rail and Arriva Rail London.”
