Ten thousand free tickets will be given out to passengers to travel on London Overground’s new East London railway on its first day of operating a full public service on Sunday 23 May.

The offer will mark the first time that passengers on London Overground’s new trains will be able to travel the complete length of the new £1billion route from Dalston Junction in the north all the way to West Croydon, Crystal Palace and New Cross in south London.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, said: ‘I’m thrilled for every community situated along the route of this incredible stretch of track with its phenomenal new trains and stations. Its tube-style service will make getting around the capital massively easier and bring jobs and opportunities along the length of the line. This £1 billion upgrade is the perfect example of the sort of investment in infrastructure that must be protected by the new Government if London is to maintain its role as a leading world city.’