Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail (NR) have announced the final phases of re-signalling work on the London Overground network.

The work is part of a multi-million pound upgrade project to increase capacity on London Overground services due to be delivered by May 2011.

The upgrade work involves the testing and commissioning of the signalling systems that were installed in early 2010, the installation of further signalling, and completing the refurbishment of several stations.

When the complete upgrade is finished in mid-2011, London Overground will run more frequent services with longer trains providing greater capacity.

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Services from Richmond and Clapham Junction to Stratford will run four times per hour, all day every day.

There will be six trains per hour between Willesden Junction and Camden Road, and eight trains per hour between Camden Road and Stratford.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's Transport Advisor, said: "This work is part of the vital investment we are making in the Capital's transport network, which in turn will support economic growth across the whole of the UK.

"One of the Mayor's key priorities is to maintain and improve London's transport services and continue to improve what it feels like to live in and move around London."

Andrew Munden, Network Rail Route Director, said: "London relies on rail to get more than a million people to and from work every day, which is why investment in projects like the London Overground upgrade is so important to the Capital's economy.

"This project will provide vital additional capacity in time for the Olympic Games and help meet growing demand on this busy commuter line, supporting economic growth across vast swathes of London."

The improvement work is part of an upgrade that will see more than 200 signals, seven kilometres of track and 69 sets of points improved, and 30 station platforms lengthened.

(CD/GK)