The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has stepped up its opposition to Transport for London's plans to change the status of the East London Line (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/04/rmt_escalates_opposition_to_ea.html#more

Current plans will create a "frighteningly complex hybrid" of Tube and rail networks with an inevitable undermining of safety across the proposed London Overground network , the RMT says. Activists have distributed campaign postcards to commuters at Whitechapel , Canada Water and New Cross stations.

"We asked London Underground and Network Rail exactly who would be responsible for operations and infrastructure on the East London Line and London Rail concession and the answers are simply frightening," general secretary Bob Crow said.

According to the RMT , TfL's plans mean at least eight organisations will be involved in running the new service. Of these eight , two will be responsible for signalling operations , two for infrastructure maintenance , two for infrastructure renewals , one for train and station operations and one for train maintenance.

The existing East London Line is part of the London Underground network with signalling , train and station operations controlled by LU. Maintenance and renewals are sub-contracted to infraco Metronet.