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The Barking to Gospel Oak line is to close for eight months from June for a major upgrade costing £130million.

Commuters of the busy but neglected route face far longer journeys by alternative services. Many will have to use the District, Victoria or Northern lines to get near their destinations and then rely on a bus. This means 30 to 60 minutes’ extra travel each way.

Existing two-carriage diesel trains will be replaced with eight faster and greener four-car electric stock. Electrification work will mean the reconstruction of at least 12 bridges to accommodate new power cables.

The line, now part of Transport for London’s Overground network, has been frequently condemned by commuters for poor service.

Receptionist Charlotte Harris, 26, who uses the service from Barking to work in Leytonstone, said the closure will double her commute time.

She said: “I am seriously considering changing my job as I’m a single mum and won’t be able to make it to work on time as well as dropping my daughter at school.”

Fabio D’Souza, 24, who makes a daily commute from Gospel Oak to Crouch Hill, said: “I have clients who want training at 6am before they start work so I am a little worried. Buses at peak times are just a no-go.”

IT worker Kay Otis, 31, who commutes from Gospel Oak to south Tottenham, said: “I cannot imagine waking up any earlier than I already do to get to work. But I am glad our tax money is being spent on something that will help commuters in the long run.”

Mike Stubbs, TfL’s director of London Overground, said: “Electrifying the line will double capacity on this busy route. It also is needed to enable a new rail extension to Barking Riverside, which will support up to 11,000 new homes.

“No final decisions have been made, but we are aware of the disruption this will cause and so we are pressing for the shortest possible timescale.”