The number of passengers using the East London branch of the London Overground has doubled in the line’s first year of service according to new figures published by Transport for London.
TfL’s figures show the line, which runs from Highbury & Islington to New Cross, Crystal Palace and West Croydon via the City of London, has carried over 20 million passengers on its fleet of new air-conditioned trains.
Mike Brown, TfL’s Managing Director of rail services said the extension was now “a major transport artery connecting key hubs in north, east and south London.”
In February a new link connected the line to the wider London Overground network.
Museums along the line have reported an increase in visitor numbers since the line opened.
David Dewing, Geffrye Museum Director said “The new Hoxton Station on the London Overground contributed to The Geffrye Museum’s overall increase of 10% in visit numbers in 2010/11. It has made travel to the museum far easier, especially for those from South East London. Since the Overground opened 9% of our London visitors have come from Lewisham.”
The Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe has reported visitor numbers up 65 per cent since the line opened. Director Robert Hulse said: “The new line has given a huge boost to visitor numbers of the museum”.