The
Central line is a
London UndergroundThe London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
line, coloured red on the
tube mapThe Tube map is a schematic transit map representing the lines and stations of London's rapid transit railway systems, namely the London Underground , the Docklands Light Railway and London Overground....
. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at 76 km (47.2 mi), has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground. Overall, it is considered the 'Deep Level' line with the fastest point-to-point speeds on the
London UndergroundThe London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
network, reaching a maximum of 62 mph (100 km/h) once the
1992 StockThe 1992 Tube Stock is the type of train used on the Central line and Waterloo & City line of the London Underground.-Construction:The 1992 Stock was built by ABB for the Central line as the result of the extensive testing of the three 1986 tube stock prototype trains...
was introduced.
The beginnings
- For a detailed history of the line, see Central London Railway
The Central London Railway , also known as the Twopenny Tube, was a deep-level, underground "tube" railway that opened in London in 1900...
.
Although the
Central London RailwayThe Central London Railway , also known as the Twopenny Tube, was a deep-level, underground "tube" railway that opened in London in 1900...
(CLR) was incorporated in 1891 for a line between Shepherd's Bush and Bank (with an extension to
Liverpool StreetLiverpool Street railway station, also known as London Liverpool Street or simply Liverpool Street, is both a central London railway terminus and a connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, England...
authorised in 1892) the time for completion had to be extended twice (1894, 1899); and it was not until 27 June 1900 that it was formally opened, a month before public traffic began to use the railway on 30 July to Bank station. The railway was initially operated by
electric locomotiveAn electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s hauling a train of trailer cars. The distinctive station buildings, few of which survive, were designed by the architect
Harry Bell MeasuresHarry Bell Measures was an English architect.He had a varied career. From 1884 - 1892 he was in-house architect for William Willett producing high quality housing for the well-heeled in London and South East England; these were normally in the an ornate red brick Queen Anne style which was...
.
The tunnels were bored with the nominal diameter of 11 foot, a diameter also used for several later lines, which was increased on curves but reduced to 11 inch close to the stations. The heavy locomotives caused considerable problems with vibration as they weighed 44 LT (44.7 t; 49.3 ST), some three-quarters of which was unsprung.
Upon the formation of the
London Passenger Transport BoardThe London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
(by amalgamation of the CLR with other transport companies in the London area) on 1 July 1933, the railway became known as the
Central London Line; on 23 August 1937 it was simplified to
Central Line.
In the late 1930s the tunnels were expanded and realigned and the stations lengthened. In 1940, the line was converted to the standard tube four rail
electrificationRailway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
. Because of the manner in which tunnel had been enlarged, it was no longer round and for clearance reasons the positive rail within the original tunnels had to be of an unusual shape with the top contact surface 40 mm (1.6 in) higher than normal. This is still the situation today, and the extra height can be observed at most deep-level stations, where the insulating 'pots' stand on small cement mounds. Trains between Liverpool Street and
White CityWhite City tube station is a London Underground station situated on Wood Lane in White City in west London. The station is on the Central Line, between Shepherds Bush and East Acton stations, in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
must have special positive collectors that can lift higher than normal. In turn the current Central line stock cannot run on any other line, partly because they are operated by
automatic train operationAutomatic train operation ensures partial or complete automatic train piloting and driverless functions.Most systems elect to maintain a driver to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies....
, have no
trip-cocksPart of a railway signalling system, a train stop or trip stop is a train protection device that automatically stops a train if it attempts to pass a signal when the signal aspect and operating rules prohibit such movement, or if it attempts to pass at an excessive speed.- Basic operation :The...
, and would interfere with other signalling equipment. There are also clearance problems with the gearboxes.
One legacy of the line's building is that the sections under the
CityThe City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
were built to follow the geography of the streets above, rather than underneath buildings, to take advantage of the free
wayleaveAn easement is a certain right to use the real property of another without possessing it.Easements are helpful for providing pathways across two or more pieces of property or allowing an individual to fish in a privately owned pond...
offered by the government. As a result there are many sharp bends and curves on the track between
St. Paul'sSt. Paul's tube station is a London Underground station in the City of London on the Central Line, between Bank and Chancery Lane stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 1....
, Bank and Liverpool Street. At Bank station, the Central line platforms are so tightly curved it is not possible to see one end of the platform from the other and the traditional "
mind the gap"Mind the gap" is a warning to train passengers to take caution while crossing the gap between the train door and the station platform. It was introduced in 1969 on the London Underground...
" message is particularly stressed here.
For several years from the outset a uniform fare of
two penceThe penny of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, was in circulation from the early 18th century until February 1971, Decimal Day....
(2d) was adopted: the railway was popularly known as the "Twopenny Tube". In July 1907 graduated fares of two pence and three pence (3d) were introduced: a one penny fare was added in 1909.
Extensions of the line
1908:
- Extended in the west by means of a loop to Wood Lane
Wood Lane tube station is a disused station on the Central Line of the London Underground. It was built to serve the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908 and the 1908 Summer Olympics....
Exhibition Station in 1908 for the Franco-British ExhibitionThe Franco-British Exhibition was a large public fair held in London in the early years of the 20th Century. The exhibition attracted 8 million visitors and celebrated the Entente Cordiale signed in 1904 by the United Kingdom and France....
.
1912: Extended eastwards to Liverpool Street.
1920: In the west, a short connecting link was made from Wood Lane station to join the
Great Western RailwayThe Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR)-operated line, the
Ealing and Shepherd's Bush Railway, allowing trains to run to
Ealing BroadwayEaling Broadway is an east-west National Rail and London Underground station in Ealing in west London. The station is located in Haven Green , at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-Services:...
.
1935: As part of the
New Works ProgrammeThe "New Works Programme, 1935 - 1940" was the major investment programme delivered by the London Passenger Transport Board , commonly known as London Transport, which had been created in 1933 to coordinate underground train, tram, trolleybus and bus services in the capital and the surrounding areas...
1935–40, announced in June 1935, London Transport proposed works to extend the Central line as follows:
- "to construct and electrify two additional GWR tracks from North Acton
North Acton tube station is in North Acton, west London in the London Borough of Ealing. The station is on the Central line of the London Underground, between East Acton and Hanger Lane...
to West RuislipWest Ruislip is a Network Rail station located on Ickenham Road between Ickenham and Ruislip in western Greater London; it is served by both London Underground and National Rail trains on independent platforms....
, allowing Central line trains from Wood Lane to use the line;
-
- An extension beyond West Ruislip to Harefield Road
Harefield Road tube station was a proposed London Underground station on the western extension of the Central line beyond its current terminus at West Ruislip....
and DenhamDenham railway station is in Buckinghamshire, England, on the Chiltern Main Line north west of Marylebone towards High Wycombe.-History:The station was built just to the north of Denham village as part of the Great Western and Great Central Joint Railway from Grendon Underwood junction to...
was also planned (and shown on tube maps of the period) but was abandoned, along with the Northern Heights extensions of the Northern line, due to post-war establishment of the Metropolitan Green BeltThe Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London, England. It includes designated parts of Greater London and the surrounding counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey in the South East and East of England regions.-History:The...
around London which restricted development of land in the area.
- "to construct a tube railway in continuation of the Central London Line from Liverpool Street eastwards to points where it will connect with the Loughton
Loughton is a London Underground station, some two miles north of the Greater London boundary, in the Epping Forest district of Essex.It is served by the Central Line and lies between Buckhurst Hill and Debden...
and Grange HillGrange Hill station is a London Underground station on the Central Line which lies in Chigwell in the Epping Forest district of Essex immediately to the west of the boundary with Hainault in the London Borough of Redbridge. The station is between Hainault tube station and Chigwell tube station...
lines (probably near LeytonLeyton tube station is a London Underground station at Leyton. Situated opposite Leyton Mills at the end of Leyton High Street. It is on the Central Line between Stratford and Leytonstone. It is in zone 3.-History:...
and Newbury ParkNewbury Park tube station is a London Underground station in Newbury Park, in the London Borough of Redbridge. It is on the Hainault loop of the Central Line, in Zone 4....
so as to permit running through trains to stations in the West End of LondonThe West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
and beyond without passing over the congested London and North Eastern RailwayThe London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
(LNER) lines at StratfordStratford station is a large multilevel railway station in Stratford, east London. The station is served by the National Rail services National Express East Anglia, London Overground and c2c, by London Underground's Central and Jubilee lines, and by the Docklands Light Railway . Stratford is in...
and "
WW2: Although the works of the latter were completed by the outbreak of war the opening was delayed, and the section, safer as it was from bombing, was used as a long, narrow,
munitionsAmmunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
factory by the
PlesseyThe Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
company.
1946–48: The eastern branch opened in December 1946 as far as Stratford (with trains continuing empty through the new tube tunnels to a temporary reversing facility at Drapers Field, in the cutting south of
LeytonLeyton tube station is a London Underground station at Leyton. Situated opposite Leyton Mills at the end of Leyton High Street. It is on the Central Line between Stratford and Leytonstone. It is in zone 3.-History:...
), with the line beyond Stratford opening as far as Woodford and Newbury Park in 1947. As for the
Fairlop LoopThe Fairlop Loop was a 6.5-mile branch line of the Great Eastern Railway . It opened to freight on 20 April 1903 and to passengers on 1 May 1903. It connected Woodford on the Ongar branch to Ilford on the Main Line, along with an eastward freight connection for freight, excursions and stock...
, the southern link from
Newbury ParkNewbury Park tube station is a London Underground station in Newbury Park, in the London Borough of Redbridge. It is on the Hainault loop of the Central Line, in Zone 4....
to Ilford closed in 1947, whilst the connection to Seven Kings lasted until 1956. The Newbury Park to Woodford via Hainault section opened to tube trains in 1948, as did the section from Woodford to Buckhurst Hill.
British RailBritish Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
(BR) trains continued to access the line via a link from
Temple Mills EastTemple Mills is a northerly part of Stratford, south of Leyton, located within the London borough of Newham in east LondonToday, Temple Mills is surrounded at present by former railway tracks and works belonging to the Great Eastern Railway...
to Leyton. These included the BR locomotives and stock for the Epping – Ongar shuttle (until electrification in 1957), freight trains to sidings (including
FairlopFairlop is a station on the Central Line of the London Underground. It has been in Travelcard Zone 4 since 2 January 2007. It is on the north side of Forest Road, in Fairlop, just north of Barkingside.-History:...
,
BarkingsideBarkingside tube station is a London Underground station on the Central Line. It has been in Travelcard Zone 4 since 2 January 2007. It is on the eastern edge of Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge, at the end of a cul-de-sac called Station Road...
,
Buckhurst HillBuckhurst Hill is a London Underground station, just outside of London, in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is served by the Central Line and is between Woodford and Loughton.-History:...
,
Theydon BoisTheydon Bois is a London Underground station in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is served by the Central Line and is between Debden and Epping...
,
South WoodfordSouth Woodford tube station is a London Underground station on the Central Line, between Snaresbrook and Woodford in Zone 4.-History:The station opened as South Woodford on 22 August 1856 as part of the Eastern Counties Railway branch to Loughton, which was eventually extended to Epping and...
,
LoughtonLoughton is a London Underground station, some two miles north of the Greater London boundary, in the Epping Forest district of Essex.It is served by the Central Line and lies between Buckhurst Hill and Debden...
, , and ) until the mid-1960s, and early-morning and late-night trains between Liverpool Street and
EppingEpping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
(latterly formed by
DMUsA diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
, and last running on 31 May 1970). This section of line now forms a loop and there are some through services to
WoodfordWoodford is a London Underground station in Woodford in the London Borough of Redbridge, United Kingdom.The station is on the Central Line between South Woodford and Buckhurst Hill. The station is also a terminus for services via the Hainault loop....
via
HainaultHainault is a London Underground station on the Central Line in Hainault in the London Borough of Redbridge. Since 2 January 2007 the station is in Travelcard Zone 4. This station is home to one of the three Central Line depots.-History:...
.
- For the western extension, a new pair of tracks for the Central line opened from North Acton to Greenford
Greenford station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Greenford, Greater London, and is owned and managed by LUL. It is the terminus of the National Rail Greenford Branch Line, and is in Travelcard Zone 4.-History:...
opened in 1947, with the section to West Ruislip following in 1948. The powers to extend the line to Denham were never implemented. The Great Western Railway's halts and stations between Old Oak Common West junction and South RuislipSouth Ruislip is a station served by London Underground and Chiltern Railways in South Ruislip in west London. The station is owned, managed and staffed by London Underground. The station is in Travelcard Zone 5.-History:...
were all closed by 1948, with the shuttle to Greenford using a bay in the new Underground station.
1949: Extended to
EppingEpping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
, when London Transport took over the line from British Railways.
1957: Extended from Epping to Ongar, taking over from British Railways.
Richmond extensions
In 1912 plans were published for an extension of the line from Shepherd's Bush under Goldhawk Road, Stamford Brook Road and Bath Road to
Turnham GreenTurnham Green is a London Underground station in Chiswick in west London. The station is located on Turnham Green Terrace, but the actual green is much closer to Chiswick Park station. The station is served by the District and Piccadilly Lines although Piccadilly Line trains normally only stop at...
and
Gunnersburythumb|right|District Line train for Richmond in 1955Gunnersbury station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Gunnersbury in west London. The station is served by the District Line and London Overground trains on the North London Line and is managed by London Underground. On the...
, including stations at Hammersmith Grove, Paddenswick Road, Rylett Road, Stamford Gardens, Turnham Green and Heathfield Terrace. This would have enabled the Central London Railway to run trains through to
RichmondRichmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains....
and possibly beyond. The route was authorised in 1913 but work had not started by the outbreak of World War I the following year. In 1919 an alternative route was published, building a tunnelled link to the disused
London and South Western RailwayThe London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(L&SWR) tracks south of the L&SWR's
Shepherd's Bush stationShepherd's Bush is a closed London and South Western Railway station in Shepherd's Bush, west London. The station was situated on the L&SWR's line between Richmond and the West London Joint Railway...
then via Hammersmith (Grove Road) railway station and Turnham Green. Although authorisation was granted in 1920, the connection was never realised, and the L&SWR tracks were eventually used by the
Piccadilly lineThe Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
when it was extended west of Hammersmith in 1932. However the proposal has occasionally reappeared.
Epping to Ongar branch
Although electrification of this section had begun under the 1935/40 New Works Programme (see above), the line remained steam-hauled (though from 16–27 June 1952 an experimental ACV/BUT three-car lightweight railcar set operated part of the shuttle service Monday-Friday) until 18 November 1957. From that date two-, three- and four-car tube trains were used on the branch. Shorter platforms at North Weald and Blake Hall, coupled with a limited power supply, meant it was not possible to work through trains to and from London, and the line remained a branch, though the shuttle service initially operated between Ongar and Loughton. Expected levels of passenger use never materialised; the line became a heavy loss maker, and was closed on 30 September 1994 and sold to the Pilot Group. The direct connection to Epping was lifted soon after closure, but the remaining section of the branch stayed intact.
A
heritagethumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
passenger service owned by
Epping Ongar Railway Ltd.The Epping Ongar Railway operates on a preserved railway along the final section of the old Great Eastern Railway and London Underground Central Line branch line between Epping and Ongar, with an intermediate station at North Weald...
started operation in October 2004. A train runs on Sundays from Ongar to Coopersale, stopping at North Weald, with a possible extension to Epping in the future. It does not stop at the old
Blake Hall stationBlake Hall station is a disused station in Essex, formerly on the Central Line of the London Underground between North Weald and Ongar. It was named after Blake Hall, a country house located a mile or so to the north east of the station in the village of Bobbingworth, and inhabited by a family of...
, as the station platform was removed upon station closure in 1981.
2003 derailment and closure
A Central line train derailed at
Chancery LaneChancery Lane is a London Underground station in central London. It is on the Central Line between St. Paul's and Holborn stations. The station is located at the junction of High Holborn, Hatton Garden and Gray's Inn Road with subway entrances giving access to the ticket office under the roadway...
on 25 January 2003, injuring 32 passengers, after a
traction motorTraction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
became detached from the train and fell onto the track. The entire line was closed whilst the cause of the failure was determined and appropriate modifications made to the trains. The line was then re-opened in stages. By late March 2003 a limited service was running on the eastern and western extremities of the line, with the central section still closed. Services resumed over that central section on 3 April 2003 and to all stations (albeit at a reduced frequency) on 12 April, with a full service by the end of the month. The initial closure also extended to the
Waterloo & City lineThe Waterloo & City line is a short underground railway line in London, which was formally opened on 11 July 1898. It has only two stations, Waterloo and Bank...
which uses the same "1992 tube stock" trains, but this line, being far shorter – with only two stops and far fewer trains – reopened quickly.
A more minor derailment occurred on a set of points at the London end of the westbound platform at White City on 11 May 2004, but there were no reported injuries. At that time the Central Line was shut between Marble Arch and North Acton while the cause of the failure was investigated.
2007 derailment
Three carriages came off the rails on the westbound Central line between
Mile EndMile End is a London Underground station in Tower Hamlets, East London, served by the Hammersmith & City, District and Central Lines. It is in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
and
Bethnal GreenBethnal Green tube station is a station on the Central Line of the London Underground in Bethnal Green, East London. It lies between Liverpool Street and Mile End stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2. The station was opened as part of the long planned Central Line eastern extension on 4 December...
at about 0900
BSTWestern European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
on 5 July 2007. The cause was attributed to a roll of
tarpaulinA tarpaulin, colloquially tarp, is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with urethane, or made of plastics such as polyethylene. In some places such as Australia, and in military slang, a tarp may be known as a...
which came free from a storage location next to the lines.
London Fire BrigadeThe London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
sent 14 fire engines to the scene, including four
urban search and rescueUrban search and rescue involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces due to natural disasters, structural collapse, transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.USAR teams in different countries may be organised in a...
vehicles. The line was closed between Liverpool Street and
LeytonstoneLeytonstone tube station is on the Central Line of the London Underground, on the boundary of Zones 3 and 4. Towards London the next station is Leyton, while going east from Leytonstone, the line divides into two branches...
and re-opened on 7 July 2007.
Former rolling stock
When opened in 1900, the railway was operated by electric locomotives hauling coaches. The coaches were fitted with gates at each end, similar to those used on the City and South London Railway and the
Glasgow SubwayThe Glasgow Subway is an underground metro line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines...
. The locomotives, with a large unsprung weight, proved highly unsatisfactory and the cause of considerable vibration. They were replaced as early as 1903 with motor cars, with the existing coaching stock being adapted to run as trailers within newly formed
electric multiple unitAn electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s.
By the 1920s the
rolling stockThe history of the London Underground's rolling stock is as complex as the history of the network itself. A wide variety of types have been operated, from the early days of steam locomotives and carriages through to today's electric multiple units...
was in need of modernisation or replacement. Given that the then-new
Standard StockThe Standard Stock title was applied to a variety of Tube stock built between 1923 and 1934, all of which shared the same basic characteristics, but with some detailed differences. This design is also sometimes referred to as 1923 Tube Stock or Pre 1938 Stock...
was too large to work in the line's tunnels, it was decided to modernise the existing fleet. The end gates were removed and replaced by an extension to the passenger accommodation. Two air operated single-leaf sliding doors were inserted into both sides of each carriage. Reconstruction work was carried out by the
Union Construction CompanyThe Union Construction Company was a company set up in 1901 and associated with Charles Yerkes, an American associated with the London Underground at that time...
at
FelthamFeltham is a town in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is located about west south west of central London at Charing Cross and from Heathrow Airport Central...
.
Additional trains were purchased for the opening of the Wood Lane to Ealing Broadway extension in 1920. These were also temporarily used on the Watford extension of the
Bakerloo lineThe Bakerloo line is a line of the London Underground, coloured brown on the Tube map. It runs partly on the surface and partly at deep level, from Elephant and Castle in the south-east to Harrow & Wealdstone in the north-west of London. The line serves 25 stations, of which 15 are underground...
.
The
1900/03 stockThe 1900 Tube Stock were originally built as trailers for use with electric locomotives. This type of London Underground train was the original rolling stock built for the Central London Railway .-1900 Tube Stock:...
and
1920 stockThe 1920 Tube Stock consisted of forty cars built by Cammell Laird in Nottingham, England. These cars were the first tube cars built new with air operated doors...
were finally withdrawn from service in 1939. With the enlargement of the tunnels and modification of the electrical supply, Standard Stock (displaced from the Northern line by new
1938 StockThe 1938 Tube Stock is a London Underground tube stock design. The trains were built by Metro-Cammell and Birmingham RC&W, and were used on the London Underground until 1988. During their long lives they worked on the Bakerloo, Piccadilly, Northern, East London and Central lines...
) was operated – eventually as 8-car trains following platform extensions.
The Standard Stock became increasingly unreliable during the 1950s. Some had been stored during World War II pending the opening of extensions. Plans for replacement (using a production version of the prototype
1960 StockThe London Underground 1960 Stock was a small, prototype class of electric multiple unit designed for the London Underground Central Line. Twelve motor cars were supplied by Cravens, and pairs were made up to four cars by the addition of two converted standard stock trailers...
) were abandoned; new trains of
1962 StockThe 1962 Tube Stock was a type of London Underground tube train built for use on the Central line. They were used on the Central line between 1962 and 1995.-Construction:The 1962 Stock was built by Birmingham RC&W for use on the Central Line...
(virtually identical to the tried and tested 1959 Stock) were ordered instead. These operated until their replacement by
1992 StockThe 1992 Tube Stock is the type of train used on the Central line and Waterloo & City line of the London Underground.-Construction:The 1992 Stock was built by ABB for the Central line as the result of the extensive testing of the three 1986 tube stock prototype trains...
in the early 1990s.
The Epping-Ongar branch was not electrified until 1957, prior to which the service was operated on behalf of
London TransportThe London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1962. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:On 1...
by British Railways using steam hauled coaches. Upon electrification, two-car sets of
1935 StockLondon Underground 1935 Stock was an experimental train design built by Metropolitan Cammell. Twelve two-car units were built....
were initially used, later replaced by 4-car sets of 1962 Stock specially modified to cope with the limited current. The section closed in 1994, and eventually became a heritage railway now known as the Epping Ongar Railway.
The 1967 rolling stock used on the
Victoria lineThe Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
was also used on the Central line's Hainault-Woodford section until 1984. This was made possible because it was this section of line that was converted to automatic operation as a trial for its impending introduction on to the Victoria Line.
Current trains
In common with virtually all other Underground lines, the Central line is worked by a single type of rolling stock. The 1992 Tube Stock was introduced gradually from April 1993 to 17 February 1995, and was the first in London to introduce automated announcements for connections and station stops. The 1992 stock is painted in the standard red, white and blue Underground livery and runs in 8-car sets.
In 1996 the line was fitted with automatic train operation, and this was brought into service in sections over the next few years.
In August 2011, the seating moquette was refurbished. Additionally, the window frames were modified to enable the removal of them for emergency repairs.
Map
The TFL line diagram is available online.
Stations
In order from west to east.
| Station |
Image |
Opened |
Notes |
West RuislipWest Ruislip is a Network Rail station located on Ickenham Road between Ickenham and Ruislip in western Greater London; it is served by both London Underground and National Rail trains on independent platforms....
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Terminus Opened as West Ruislip (for Ickenham); the suffix was later dropped. |
Ruislip GardensRuislip Gardens is a London Underground station. It lies on the Central line, between West Ruislip and South Ruislip, in Travelcard Zone 5. The closest stations on the Metropolitan line and Piccadilly line are Ruislip and Ruislip Manor.- History :...
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South RuislipSouth Ruislip is a station served by London Underground and Chiltern Railways in South Ruislip in west London. The station is owned, managed and staffed by London Underground. The station is in Travelcard Zone 5.-History:...
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NortholtNortholt tube station is a station on the London Underground Central line in Northolt in the London Borough of Ealing. It is in Travelcard Zone 5 and between Greenford and South Ruislip stations.-History:...
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GreenfordGreenford station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Greenford, Greater London, and is owned and managed by LUL. It is the terminus of the National Rail Greenford Branch Line, and is in Travelcard Zone 4.-History:...
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Perivale-History:The Great Western Railway opened "Perivale Halt" on 2 May 1904. The current London Underground station was opened on 30 June 1947. In July 2011 the station was one of 16 London Underground stations made a Grade II listed building,-The station today:...
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Hanger LaneHanger Lane tube station is a London Underground station. It is located on the West Ruislip branch of the Central Line, between Perivale and North Acton stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station is located in Hanger Hill....
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Ealing BroadwayEaling Broadway is an east-west National Rail and London Underground station in Ealing in west London. The station is located in Haven Green , at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-Services:...
( Trains to HeathrowLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
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Terminus – Change for District lineThe District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
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West ActonWest Acton is a London Underground station between Ealing Broadway and North Acton on the Ealing Broadway branch of the Central Line, and is its only intermediate station. The station is a Grade II listed building. It is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station is close to North Ealing tube station on the...
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North ActonNorth Acton tube station is in North Acton, west London in the London Borough of Ealing. The station is on the Central line of the London Underground, between East Acton and Hanger Lane...
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East ActonEast Acton is a London Underground station in East Acton in west London. The station is on the Central Line, between White City and North Acton stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2...
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White CityWhite City tube station is a London Underground station situated on Wood Lane in White City in west London. The station is on the Central Line, between Shepherds Bush and East Acton stations, in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
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Trains run right-handed through this station |
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Holland ParkHolland Park is a London Underground station. On the Central Line, it lies between Shepherd's Bush and Notting Hill Gate stations, in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
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Notting Hill GateNotting Hill Gate tube station is a London Underground station in the street known as Notting Hill Gate. On the Central Line, it is between Holland Park to the west and Queensway to the east. On the District Line and Circle Line it is between High Street Kensington and Bayswater stations...
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Change for Circle and District lineThe District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
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QueenswayQueensway is a London Underground station on the Central Line, just inside the boundary of the City of Westminster with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is at the junction of Queensway and Bayswater Road, and is northwest of Kensington Gardens...
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Opened as Queens Road; renamed 1 September 1946 |
Lancaster GateLancaster Gate is a London Underground station located on the Central Line near Lancaster Gate on Bayswater Road in Bayswater , to the north of Kensington Gardens. It is between Queensway and Marble Arch on the Central line and is in Travelcard Zone 1.-History:Lancaster Gate station was opened on...
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Marble ArchMarble Arch is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster. The station is between Lancaster Gate and Bond Street stations on the Central line, and is in Travelcard Zone 1.-History:...
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Bond StreetBond Street tube station is a London Underground station on Oxford Street, near the junction with New Bond Street. Note that the street-level entrances are approximately 200 metres west of New Bond Street itself...
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Change for Jubilee lineThe Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
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Oxford Circus-External links:* ** ** * Plans of the station after the Victoria Line works , , *...
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Change for BakerlooThe Bakerloo line is a line of the London Underground, coloured brown on the Tube map. It runs partly on the surface and partly at deep level, from Elephant and Castle in the south-east to Harrow & Wealdstone in the north-west of London. The line serves 25 stations, of which 15 are underground...
and Victoria lineThe Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
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Tottenham Court RoadTottenham Court Road is a London Underground station in central London. It is an interchange between the Central line and the branch of the Northern line.On the Central line it is between and , and on the Northern line it is between and...
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Opened as Oxford Street; renamed 9 March 1908 – Change for Northern lineThe Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
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HolbornHolborn is a station of the London Underground in Holborn in London, located at the junction of High Holborn and Kingsway. Situated on the Piccadilly Line and on the Central Line , it is the only station common to the two lines, although the two lines cross each other three times elsewhere...
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Opened as a PiccadillyThe Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
station on 15 December 1906. Central line platforms opened 25 September 1933 and station renamed Holborn (Kingsway); the suffix was later dropped. Change for Piccadilly lineThe Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
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Chancery LaneChancery Lane is a London Underground station in central London. It is on the Central Line between St. Paul's and Holborn stations. The station is located at the junction of High Holborn, Hatton Garden and Gray's Inn Road with subway entrances giving access to the ticket office under the roadway...
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St. Paul'sSt. Paul's tube station is a London Underground station in the City of London on the Central Line, between Bank and Chancery Lane stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 1....
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Opened as Post Office; renamed 1 February 1937 |
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Change for Circle, DistrictThe District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
, NorthernThe Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
and Waterloo & City lineThe Waterloo & City line is a short underground railway line in London, which was formally opened on 11 July 1898. It has only two stations, Waterloo and Bank...
s and DLRThe Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
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Liverpool StreetLiverpool Street railway station, also known as London Liverpool Street or simply Liverpool Street, is both a central London railway terminus and a connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, England...
( Trains to Stansted-Cargo:-Statistics:-Infrastructure:-Terminal and satellite buildings:Stansted is the newest passenger airport of all the main London airports. The terminal is an oblong glass building, and is separated in to three areas: Check-in concourse, arrivals and departures...
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Bethnal GreenBethnal Green tube station is a station on the Central Line of the London Underground in Bethnal Green, East London. It lies between Liverpool Street and Mile End stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2. The station was opened as part of the long planned Central Line eastern extension on 4 December...
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Mile EndMile End is a London Underground station in Tower Hamlets, East London, served by the Hammersmith & City, District and Central Lines. It is in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
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StratfordStratford station is a large multilevel railway station in Stratford, east London. The station is served by the National Rail services National Express East Anglia, London Overground and c2c, by London Underground's Central and Jubilee lines, and by the Docklands Light Railway . Stratford is in...
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Change for Jubilee lineThe Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
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LeytonLeyton tube station is a London Underground station at Leyton. Situated opposite Leyton Mills at the end of Leyton High Street. It is on the Central Line between Stratford and Leytonstone. It is in zone 3.-History:...
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LeytonstoneLeytonstone tube station is on the Central Line of the London Underground, on the boundary of Zones 3 and 4. Towards London the next station is Leyton, while going east from Leytonstone, the line divides into two branches...
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SnaresbrookSnaresbrook station is a London Underground station on the Central Line, located in Snaresbrook.The station is in Zone 4, between Leytonstone and South Woodford tube stations.-History:...
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South WoodfordSouth Woodford tube station is a London Underground station on the Central Line, between Snaresbrook and Woodford in Zone 4.-History:The station opened as South Woodford on 22 August 1856 as part of the Eastern Counties Railway branch to Loughton, which was eventually extended to Epping and...
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WoodfordWoodford is a London Underground station in Woodford in the London Borough of Redbridge, United Kingdom.The station is on the Central Line between South Woodford and Buckhurst Hill. The station is also a terminus for services via the Hainault loop....
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WansteadWanstead tube station is a London Underground station in Wanstead, on the Hainault loop of the Central Line. It is in Zone 4.Construction of the station had started in the 1930s, but was delayed by the onset of World War 2. Wanstead was not opened until December 14, 1947...
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RedbridgeRedbridge tube station is a London Underground station in Redbridge, on the Hainault Loop of the Central line, in Zone 4. It is on the Eastern Avenue....
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Gants HillGants Hill tube station is a London Underground station in Gants Hill, in the London Borough of Redbridge. It is served by the Central Line and is in Zone 4. It is the easternmost station to be entirely below ground on the London Underground network....
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Newbury ParkNewbury Park tube station is a London Underground station in Newbury Park, in the London Borough of Redbridge. It is on the Hainault loop of the Central Line, in Zone 4....
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BarkingsideBarkingside tube station is a London Underground station on the Central Line. It has been in Travelcard Zone 4 since 2 January 2007. It is on the eastern edge of Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge, at the end of a cul-de-sac called Station Road...
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FairlopFairlop is a station on the Central Line of the London Underground. It has been in Travelcard Zone 4 since 2 January 2007. It is on the north side of Forest Road, in Fairlop, just north of Barkingside.-History:...
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HainaultHainault is a London Underground station on the Central Line in Hainault in the London Borough of Redbridge. Since 2 January 2007 the station is in Travelcard Zone 4. This station is home to one of the three Central Line depots.-History:...
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Grange HillGrange Hill station is a London Underground station on the Central Line which lies in Chigwell in the Epping Forest district of Essex immediately to the west of the boundary with Hainault in the London Borough of Redbridge. The station is between Hainault tube station and Chigwell tube station...
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ChigwellChigwell is a London Underground station at Chigwell in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located on the Hainault Loop of the Central Line and is between Grange Hill and Roding Valley stations...
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Roding ValleyRoding Valley is a London Underground station situated in Buckhurst Hill in the Epping Forest district of Essex immediately to the north of the border with Woodford in the London Borough of Redbridge. The station is between Chigwell and Woodford stations, on the Central Line. It is located in...
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Buckhurst HillBuckhurst Hill is a London Underground station, just outside of London, in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is served by the Central Line and is between Woodford and Loughton.-History:...
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LoughtonLoughton is a London Underground station, some two miles north of the Greater London boundary, in the Epping Forest district of Essex.It is served by the Central Line and lies between Buckhurst Hill and Debden...
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| Debden Debden is a London Underground station on the Central Line in Debden, in the Epping Forest district of Essex. The station is between Loughton and Theydon Bois...
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Theydon BoisTheydon Bois is a London Underground station in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is served by the Central Line and is between Debden and Epping...
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| Epping Epping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
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Former stations
- Denham
Denham railway station is in Buckinghamshire, England, on the Chiltern Main Line north west of Marylebone towards High Wycombe.-History:The station was built just to the north of Denham village as part of the Great Western and Great Central Joint Railway from Grendon Underwood junction to...
; never connected
- Harefield Road
Harefield Road tube station was a proposed London Underground station on the western extension of the Central line beyond its current terminus at West Ruislip....
; never opened
- Wood Lane
Wood Lane tube station is a disused station on the Central Line of the London Underground. It was built to serve the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908 and the 1908 Summer Olympics....
; closed 22 November 1947
- British Museum
British Museum tube station was a station on the London Underground's Central Line, located on Bury Place, close to the British Museum in central London, England.-History:...
; 24 September 1933
- North Weald; first served 25 September 1949; closed 30 September 1994.
- Blake Hall
Blake Hall station is a disused station in Essex, formerly on the Central Line of the London Underground between North Weald and Ongar. It was named after Blake Hall, a country house located a mile or so to the north east of the station in the village of Bobbingworth, and inhabited by a family of...
; first served 25 September 1949; closed: 31 October 1981.
- Ongar; first served 25 September 1949; closed 30 September 1994.
Depots
There are three depots on the Central line; West Ruislip near the West Ruislip station, Hainault near the Hainault tube station and White City near the White City tube station.
Future Plans
The developers of the
First Central business park at
Park RoyalPark Royal is an area in northwest London, UK. It is the largest industrial and business park in London, occupying about , and is promoted commercially by the Park Royal Partnership...
, west London were planning a new station between North Acton and
Hanger LaneHanger Lane tube station is a London Underground station. It is located on the West Ruislip branch of the Central Line, between Perivale and North Acton stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station is located in Hanger Hill....
. This would have served the business park and provide a walking distance interchange with
Park Royal stationPark Royal is a station on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground. It is between and and is in Travelcard Zone 3. It is situated on the south side of the east-west Western Avenue , surrounded by residential Ealing and industrial Park Royal...
on the Piccadilly line. This is not being actively pursued.
If the Chelsea–Hackney line is built then it is intended that it will take over the Epping branch of the Central line, and be completed by 2025. This would mean that all/most eastbound services would terminate at Woodford, providing a more frequent service than present for the users of Grange Hill, Chigwell and Roding Valley stations.
It would be possible to provide an interchange with
London OvergroundLondon Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
at
Shoreditch High StreetShoreditch High Street is a railway station in Shoreditch, London. The station is located on Bethnal Green Road close to Shoreditch High Street and is served by London Overground services running on the extended East London Line under the control of the London Rail division of Transport for London...
station which opened in 2010, but it is believed that the disadvantages to existing passengers outweigh the benefits.
Hillingdon CouncilThe London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
is planning to lobby Transport for London to extend the line to
UxbridgeUxbridge is a London Underground station in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, north-west London. The station is the terminus of the Uxbridge branches of both the Metropolitan Line and the Piccadilly Line. The next station towards London is Hillingdon. The station is 15.5 miles west of...
, linking the Central line to the Metropolitan and Picadilly lines near Ruislip depot. Transport for London has stated that the link would become viable only when the Metropolitan line's signalling is upgraded near 2017.
External links