View source for Silverlink

{{Short description|Former train operating company in England}}
{{Other uses|Silver link (disambiguation){{!}}Silver link}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox rail company
| name           = Silverlink
| logo           = Silverlink.svg
| image          = 313101 at Kilburn High Road.jpg
| caption        = [[British Rail Class 313|Class 313]] at {{stnlnk|Kilburn High Road}} in 2007
| franchise      = North London Railways<br/>2 March 1997 – 10 November 2007
| regions        = [[Greater London]]
| secregions     = [[Bedfordshire]], [[Buckinghamshire]],<br>[[Hertfordshire]], [[Northamptonshire]]
| fleet          = 67
| stations       = 88
| stationsop     = 
| routekm        = 
| abbr           = SS
| parent_company = [[National Express]]
| website        = [https://web.archive.org/web/20071104144218/http://www.silverlink-trains.com/ Archived website]
| linelength     = 
| tracklength    = 
| notrack        = 
| gauge          =
| oldgauge       = 
| el             = 
| speed          = 
| elevation      = 
| map            = {{Silverlink RDT}}
| map_state      = collapsed
|successors={{ubl|[[London Overground]]|[[London Midland]]}}}}
'''Silverlink'''<ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03007935 Companies House extract company no 3007935] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415102132/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03007935 |date=15 April 2015 }} Silverlink Train Services Limited</ref> was a [[train operating company]] in the United Kingdom owned by [[National Express]] that operated the North London Railways franchise from March 1997 until November 2007. At the end of 2007, Silverlink Metro services were taken over by [[London Overground]] and Silverlink County services were taken over by [[London Midland]].

==History==
The North London Railways franchise was awarded to [[National Express]] on 7 February 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/mc/mc_rfi/mc_afa/mc_1997/1997-02-07|title=NX Awarded North London Railways Franchise|date=7 February 1997|publisher=[[National Express]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064008/http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/mc/mc_rfi/mc_afa/mc_1997/1997-02-07|archive-date=28 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> National Express commenced operating the franchise on 3 March 1997.

After initially trading as '''North London Railways''', in September 1997 the franchise was rebranded as Silverlink.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/nas66623.htm|title=UK Activity Report - National Express|date=30 September 1997|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222024255/http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/nas66623.htm|archive-date=22 February 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The franchise was due to finish on 15 October 2006, but on 11 August 2006 the [[Department for Transport]] granted an extension until 10 November 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riagb.org.uk/news/DfT%20Silverlink.pdf|title=Silverlink franchise extended to November 2007|date=11 August 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923201522/http://www.riagb.org.uk/news/DfT%20Silverlink.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Upon its closure, its London metro services were taken over by [[London Overground]] and the remainder were merged with [[Central Trains]]' western services to form [[London Midland]].

==Branding==
Silverlink had two sub-brands:

'''Silverlink Metro''' was used for services primarily within Greater London: 
*[[North London line|North Woolwich – Richmond]] (the North London Line)
*[[West London line|Willesden Junction – Clapham Junction]] (the West London Line)
*[[Watford DC line|London Euston – Watford Junction]] via [[Willesden Junction station|Willesden Junction]] (the Watford DC line)
*[[Gospel Oak to Barking line|Gospel Oak – Barking]] (the Gospel Oak to Barking Line)
'''Silverlink County''' was used for services beyond Greater London:
*{{rws|Euston||London Euston}} – [[Northampton railway station|Northampton]] ([[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] until 2004)
*[[Abbey Line|Watford Junction – St Albans Abbey]] (the St Albans Abbey Line)
*[[Marston Vale line|Bletchley – Bedford]] (the Marston Vale Line)

===Silverlink Metro===
Silverlink Metro operated these services.

<small>Note: Changes during the franchise period are noted but changes to the lines before and after the franchise are not.</small>

====North London line====
These services ran on the [[North London line]]:
{| style="width: 70%;"
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]] (interchange for [[District line]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Kew Gardens station (London)|Kew Gardens]] (interchange for [[District line]]) 
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; ||{{stn|Gunnersbury}} (interchange for [[District line]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[South Acton railway station (England)|South Acton]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Acton Central railway station|Acton Central]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || {{stn|Willesden Junction}} (interchange for [[Bakerloo line]], [[West London line]] and Watford DC Line)
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Kensal Rise railway station|Kensal Rise]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Brondesbury Park railway station|Brondesbury Park]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Brondesbury railway station|Brondesbury]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[West Hampstead railway station|West Hampstead]] (interchange for [[Jubilee line]] and [[First Capital Connect]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Finchley Road & Frognal railway station|Finchley Road & Frognal]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Hampstead Heath railway station|Hampstead Heath]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Gospel Oak railway station|Gospel Oak]] (interchange for [[Gospel Oak to Barking line]]) 
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Kentish Town West railway station|Kentish Town West]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Camden Road railway station|Camden Road]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Caledonian Road & Barnsbury railway station|Caledonian Road & Barnsbury]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Highbury & Islington station|Highbury & Islington]] (interchange for [[Victoria line]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Canonbury railway station|Canonbury]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Dalston Kingsland railway station|Dalston Kingsland]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Hackney Central railway station|Hackney Central]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Homerton railway station|Homerton]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Hackney Wick railway station|Hackney Wick]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || {{stn|Stratford}} (interchange for [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]], [[Jubilee line]], [[Docklands Light Railway]], [[c2c]] (limited services - early morning, late night and during engineering works only) and [[National Express East Anglia]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || {{stn|West Ham}} †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Canning Town station|Canning Town]]  †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || {{stn|Custom House}} †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Silvertown railway station|Silvertown]] †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[North Woolwich railway station|North Woolwich]] †
|}

† At the end of service on Saturday 9 December 2006 the line between Stratford and North Woolwich closed, as much of the route was duplicated by the [[Docklands Light Railway]] and the [[Jubilee line]], leaving Stratford as the eastern terminus of the North London Line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.silverlink-trains.com/templates/NewsArticle.aspx?id=1162|title=Stratford-North Woolwich service to be withdrawn|date=8 December 2006|publisher=Silverlink|access-date=3 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045802/http://www.silverlink-trains.com/templates/NewsArticle.aspx?id=1162|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

====West London line====
These services ran via the [[West London line]]:
{| style="width: 70%;" 
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Willesden Junction railway station|Willesden Junction]] (interchange for [[North London line|North London Line]], Watford DC Line and [[Bakerloo line]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Kensington (Olympia) station|Kensington (Olympia)]] (interchange for [[District line]] and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]]) 
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[West Brompton station|West Brompton]] (interchange for [[District line]] and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]] (interchange for [[South West Trains]] and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]])
|}

[[Shepherd's Bush railway station|Shepherd's Bush]] on the West London Line was due to open under the franchise (with signage in Silverlink colours installed), but platform widening work meant that it finally opened in September 2008 under [[London Overground]] management, the signage being replaced with the London Overground roundels by that time.

====Watford DC line====
These services ran on the [[Watford DC line]]:

{| style="width: 70%;" 
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[London Euston]] (interchange for [[Northern line]], [[Victoria line]] and [[Virgin Trains|Virgin (West Coast Main Line)]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[South Hampstead railway station|South Hampstead]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Kilburn High Road railway station|Kilburn High Road]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Queen's Park (London) station|Queen's Park]] †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Kensal Green railway station|Kensal Green]] †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Willesden Junction railway station|Willesden Junction]] † (interchange for [[North London Line]] and [[West London Line]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Harlesden railway station|Harlesden]] †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Stonebridge Park railway station|Stonebridge Park]] †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Wembley Central railway station|Wembley Central]] † (interchange for [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] during the peaks)
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[North Wembley railway station|North Wembley]] † 
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[South Kenton railway station|South Kenton]] †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Kenton railway station|Kenton]] †
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Harrow & Wealdstone station|Harrow & Wealdstone]] † (interchange for Northampton Line and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]]) 
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Headstone Lane railway station|Headstone Lane]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Hatch End railway station|Hatch End]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Carpenders Park railway station|Carpenders Park]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Bushey railway station|Bushey]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Watford High Street railway station|Watford High Street]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] (interchange for Northampton Line, St Albans Abbey Line, [[Virgin Trains|Virgin (West Coast Main Line)]], [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]])
|}
† = also served by the [[Bakerloo line]].

====Gospel Oak to Barking line====
These services ran on the [[Gospel Oak to Barking line]]:
{| style="width: 70%;"
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Gospel Oak railway station|Gospel Oak]] (interchange for [[North London Line]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Upper Holloway railway station|Upper Holloway]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Crouch Hill railway station|Crouch Hill]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Harringay Green Lanes railway station|Harringay Green Lanes]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[South Tottenham railway station|South Tottenham]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Blackhorse Road station|Blackhorse Road]] (interchange for [[Victoria line]])
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Walthamstow Queen's Road railway station|Walthamstow Queens Road]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Leyton Midland Road railway station|Leyton Midland Road]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Leytonstone High Road railway station|Leytonstone High Road]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Wanstead Park railway station|Wanstead Park]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Woodgrange Park railway station|Woodgrange Park]]
|-
| style="background:#120C80;" | &nbsp; || [[Barking station|Barking]] (interchange for [[District line]], [[Hammersmith & City line]] and [[c2c]])
|}

===Silverlink County===

====Birmingham/Northampton====

Birmingham Line services ran on the slow lines of the [[West Coast Main Line]]. The service was cut back to Northampton in September 2004, with services north of Northampton being transferred to partner operator [[Central Trains]],<ref>{{cite web |title="Slow" trains between cities cut |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/3637320.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=17 November 2019 |date=8 September 2004 |archive-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422022707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3637320.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and some through services remained. (Central Trains, like Silverlink, was a subsidiary of [[Mobico Group|National Express]] and the operations shared rolling stock.) 

{| style="width: 70%;"
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Euston railway station|London Euston]] (interchange for Watford DC Line and [[Virgin Trains West Coast]] and [[First ScotRail]] sleeper service)
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Harrow & Wealdstone station|Harrow & Wealdstone]] (interchange for Watford DC Line and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] (via [[West London Line]]) )
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Bushey railway station|Bushey]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] (interchange for Watford DC Line, St Albans Abbey Line, Virgin Trains and Southern) 
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Kings Langley railway station|Kings Langley]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Apsley railway station|Apsley]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Hemel Hempstead railway station|Hemel Hempstead]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Berkhamsted railway station|Berkhamsted]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Tring railway station|Tring]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Cheddington railway station|Cheddington]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Leighton Buzzard railway station|Leighton Buzzard]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Bletchley railway station|Bletchley]] (interchange for Marston Vale Line)
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Milton Keynes Central railway station|Milton Keynes Central]] (interchange/terminus for Southern, interchange with Virgin Trains)
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Wolverton railway station|Wolverton]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Northampton railway station|Northampton]] 
|}
Prior to 2004 the service also continued to Birmingham, calling at the following stations:
{| style="width: 20%;"
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || {{rws|Long Buckby}} 
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || {{rws|Rugby}} 
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || {{rws|Coventry}}
<!-- Next group disputed, so suspend pending discussion
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" |   || {{rws|Canley}}
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" |   || {{rws|Tile Hill}}
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" |   || {{rws|Berkswell}}
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" |   || {{rws|Hampton-in-Arden}}
end suspend-->
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || {{rws|Birmingham International}} 
<!-- suspended pending discussion 
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" |   || {{rws|Marston Green}}
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" |   || {{rws|Lea Hall}}
end suspend -->
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} 
|}

====Abbey Line====
These services ran on the [[Abbey Line]]
{| style="width: 70%;"
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] (interchange for Northampton/Birmingham services, [[Virgin Trains|Virgin West Coast]], [[Watford DC Line]] and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]])
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Watford North railway station|Watford North]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Garston (Hertfordshire) railway station|Garston]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Bricket Wood railway station|Bricket Wood]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[How Wood (Hertfordshire) railway station|How Wood]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Park Street railway station (England)|Park Street]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[St Albans Abbey railway station|St Albans Abbey]]
|}

====Marston Vale line====
These services ran on the [[Marston Vale line]] between {{rws|Bedford}} and {{rws|Bletchley}}:
{| style="width: 70%;"
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Bletchley railway station|Bletchley]] (interchange for Northampton Line)
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Fenny Stratford railway station|Fenny Stratford]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Bow Brickhill railway station|Bow Brickhill]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Woburn Sands railway station|Woburn Sands]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Aspley Guise railway station|Aspley Guise]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Ridgmont railway station|Ridgmont]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Lidlington railway station|Lidlington]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Millbrook (Bedfordshire) railway station|Millbrook]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Stewartby railway station|Stewartby]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Kempston Hardwick railway station|Kempston Hardwick]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Bedford St Johns railway station|Bedford St Johns]]
|-
| style="background:#70BC1F;" | &nbsp; || [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] (interchange for [[First Capital Connect]] and [[Midland Mainline (train operating company)|Midland Mainline]])
|}

==Performance==
Silverlink was categorised as a London and South East operator by the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR) and was one of the best performing TOCs in this sector with a PPM ([[Public Performance Measure]]) of 90.8% for the last quarter of the financial year 2006/7.<ref name="railtrends">{{cite web|url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/330-rev2.pdf|title=National Rail Trends 2006-2007 Q4|access-date=9 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927113730/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/330-rev2.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Despite these figures,<ref>{{cite web |date=18 September 2006 |title=Silverlink rises to second position in the national performance league |url=http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/toc-press-story/999831/Silverlink-rises-to-second-position-in-the-national-performance-league |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203224342/http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/toc-press-story/999831/Silverlink-rises-to-second-position-in-the-national-performance-league |archive-date=3 December 2007 |access-date=26 October 2007 |df=dmy-all}} Association of Train Operating Companies [http://www.atoc-comms.org/index.php] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115004512/http://www.atoc-comms.org/index.php|date=15 November 2007}} Press Releases</ref> the Silverlink Metro franchise on the North London Line was regarded by frequent travellers as offering a poor service,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1782035.0.tfl_to_take_on_rail_network.php|title=TfL to take on rail network|publisher=Ealing Times|first=Rachel|last=Sharp|date=24 October 2007|access-date=26 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113234049/http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1782035.0.tfl_to_take_on_rail_network.php|archive-date=13 January 2008|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> with extremely congested trains and an unreliable service<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/content/hackney/gazette/news/story.aspx?brand=HKYGOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshkyg&itemid=WeED25%20Oct%202007%2011%3A49%3A35%3A157|title=Braced for rail strikes|publisher=Hackney Gazette|date=26 October 2007|access-date=26 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128081313/http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/content/hackney/gazette/news/story.aspx?brand=HKYGOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshkyg&itemid=WeED25%20Oct%202007%2011%3A49%3A35%3A157|archive-date=28 November 2007|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> with some trains cancelled shortly before they were due to arrive. A [[London Assembly]] report said passengers found the service ''"shabby, unreliable, unsafe and overcrowded"''.<ref>{{cite web |title=London's Forgotten Railway |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/media/15122/download |publisher=Greater London Authority |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323201141/https://www.london.gov.uk/media/15122/download |archive-date=23 March 2024 |pages=2 |format=PDF}}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
Silverlink inherited a fleet of [[British Rail Class 117|Class 117]] and [[British Rail Class 121|Class 121]] [[diesel multiple unit]]s, and [[British Rail Class 313|Class 313]] and [[British Rail Class 321|Class 321]] [[electric multiple unit]]s, from [[British Rail]].

To replace the elderly Class 117s and 121s, which operated the Gospel Oak - Barking and Bletchley - Bedford services, seven [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150 ''Sprinters'']] were transferred from [[Central Trains]] in summer 1999; an eighth followed in 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= | magazine = [[Today's Railways UK]] |issue=63 |date=March 2006 |page=37}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}} Pending the Sprinters' arrival, Silverlink hired [[British Rail Class 31|Class 31]] locomotives from [[FM Rail|Fragonset]] to top and tail [[British Railways Mark 2|Mark 2]] carriages on Bletchley - Bedford services in 1998/99.

The Class 313s operated Metro services on the electrified routes; they were joined on the Euston - Watford Junction service in 2003 by three [[British Rail Class 508|Class 508]]s transferred from [[Merseyrail]]. The Class 321s operated County services to [[Northampton railway station|Northampton]] and Birmingham; they were joined in 2005 by new [[British Rail Class 350|Class 350]]s. The Watford Junction - St Albans Abbey service was operated for many years by Class 313s, but later was usually operated by Class 321s with Silverlink Metro drivers and Silverlink County guards.

On 16 July 2004, [[Virgin Trains]] announced that it was withdrawing most of its stops at [[Milton Keynes Central railway station|Milton Keynes Central]], which were used by up to 6,000 passengers a day. Commuters became unhappy at the prospect of switching to older Silverlink trains, and a longer journey. Silverlink countered this with the temporary usage of ex-Virgin stock, still in Virgin colours.<ref>{{cite news |title=Commuters angry over train switch |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/3901883.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=16 July 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130122215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/3901883.stm |archive-date=30 November 2020 |access-date=25 January 2007}}</ref>

The [[Strategic Rail Authority]] decided to divert thirty four-carriage [[Siemens Desiro]] trains from an order placed by [[South West Trains]] to provide stock with faster acceleration for the [[West Coast Main Line]] operators. These trains, the Class 350s, were not allocated to a specific operator, but were instead used jointly by Silverlink and Central Trains, both owned by National Express.

Pending the arrival of these trains, from September 2004 Silverlink introduced two sets of [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]] carriages, formerly of Virgin Trains, hauled by Virgin [[British Rail Class 87|Class 87]] and [[DB Cargo UK|EWS]] [[British Rail Class 90|Class 90]] electric locomotives on peak-hour Northampton services.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Loco-hauled Cobblers to return from September |magazine = The Railway Magazine |issue = 1240 |date = August 2004 |page = 6}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = The end for loco-hauled Cobbler services |magazine = [[Today's Railways UK|Entrain]] |issue = 45 |date = September 2005 |page = 15}}</ref> Additionally, five Class 321s were hired from [[National Express East Anglia|One]], another National Express-owned operator.

===Fleet===
{| class="wikitable"
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Routes operated
! rowspan="2" |Built
! rowspan="2" |Period used
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
!mph
!km/h
|-
|[[British Rail Class 121|121 ''Bubble Car'']]
|[[File:19880827-Paddington-Class121.jpg|118px]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]]
|70
|112
|4
|rowspan="2"|Gospel Oak to Barking Line<br>Marston Vale Line
|1960
|1997–2001
|Replaced by Class 150s.
|-
|[[British Rail Class 150|150/1 ''Sprinter'']]
|[[File:Silverlink 150128 Barking.jpg|118px]]
|rowspan="2"|75
|rowspan="2"|120
|8
|1984–1987
|1999–2007
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[British Rail Class 313|313/1]]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Silverlink 313122 at Kensington Olympia 03crop.jpg|118px]]
|rowspan="7"|[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|23
|Silverlink Metro:<br>North London Line<br>West London Line<br>Watford DC Line
|1976–1977
|1997–2007
|Refurbished between 1997 and 2001.
|-
|colspan="7"|[[File:313 Silverlink Metro and London Overground.png|600px]]
|-
|[[British Rail Class 321|321/4]]
|[[File:321409 HarrowWealdstone.jpg|118px]]
|rowspan="2"|100
|rowspan="2"|160
|37
|Silverlink County:<br>Northampton Line<br>St Albans Abbey Line
|1989–1990
|1997–2007
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[British Rail Class 350|350/1 ''Desiro'']]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:350115 at Euston 1.jpg|118px]]
|30
|Silverlink County:<br>Northampton Line
|2004–2005
|2004–2007
|Shared use by [[Central Trains]] and Silverlink on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line.
|-
|colspan="7"|[[File:CT SL Class 350-1 w-pantograph.png|600px]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[British Rail Class 508|508/3]]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:508302 at South Hampstead.jpg|118px]]
|75
|120
|3
|Silverlink Metro:<br>Watford DC Line
|1979–1980
|2003–2007
|Refurbished 2003.
|-
|colspan="7"|[[File:508Silverlink.png|600px]]
|}

[[File:North Woolich (closed) station Mk1.png|thumb|right|200px|Class 313 at [[North Woolwich railway station|North Woolwich]] in 2001, closed in 2006.]]

==Depots==
Silverlink's fleet was maintained at [[Bletchley TMD|Bletchley Depot]].  Following [[Virgin Trains]] ceasing to operate electric locomotives, Silverlink's Metro fleet moved to [[Willesden Traction Maintenance Depot|Willesden Depot]].

In 2006 [[Alstom]] proposed closing Willesden. The depot's closure would have meant the Class 508s would have had to relocate to another depot, and the Class 313s having to return to [[Bletchley TMD|Bletchley Depot]] (which was also due to close). On 12 May 2007, Silverlink took over direct running of the depot and its staff for the final six months of its franchise.

==Demise==
As part of a wider redrawing of the rail franchise map by the [[Department for Transport]], the Silverlink network was to be broken up when it was renewed in November 2007.

The Silverlink Metro services were moved to the control of [[Transport for London]] under the banner of the [[London Overground]].  On 19 June 2007 [[Transport for London]] announced it had awarded the London Overground concession to a [[Arriva UK Trains|Laing Rail]]/[[MTR Corporation|MTR]] joint venture.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160415221008/http://www.therailwaycentre.com/UK%20News%20June%2007/190607_TfL.html MTRLaing appointed to run London Overground]}} ''TheRailwayCentre.Com'' 19 June 2007</ref>

The Silverlink County services were merged with the [[Central Trains]] services around Birmingham to create a new West Midlands franchise.  On 22 June 2007 the [[Department for Transport]] announced it had awarded the West Midlands franchise to [[Govia]].<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2810919/Govia-wins-franchise-for-West-Midlands-rail.html Govia wins franchise for West Midlands rail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415221008/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2810919/Govia-wins-franchise-for-West-Midlands-rail.html |date=15 April 2016 }} ''The Telegraph'' 22 June 2007</ref>

Silverlink's services transferred to [[London Overground Rail Operations]] and [[London Midland]] on 11 November 2007.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Silverlink}}
* {{official website|http://www.silverlink-trains.com}}
* [http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com National Express Group website]

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Network SouthEast]]'''<br>As part of [[British Rail]]'''}}
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Operator of North London Railways franchise
|years=1997–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[London Midland]]'''<br>West Midlands franchise'''}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-aft|after=[[London Overground]]'''<br>London Overground concession'''}}
{{s-end}}

{{UK TOCs|defunct|state=collapsed}}
{{NEXG}}
{{London Overground navbox}}

[[Category:Defunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:London Overground]]
[[Category:Mobico Group]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1997]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:Railway operators in London]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in England]]