Ealing Broadway station
Encyclopedia
Ealing Broadway is an east-west National Rail
and London Underground
station in Ealing
in west London
. The station is located in Haven Green (B455), at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3
.
platforms by First Great Western
and Heathrow Connect
. London Underground provide services to the three District
and the two Central Line
platforms.
For National Rail services, the next station to the east is , but most trains run non-stop to . To the west, the next three local stations are , and .
Ealing Broadway is the western terminus for both of the London Underground lines; on the District line, the next station to the east is , and on the Central Line, .
(GWR) opened its pioneering broad gauge
tracks through Ealing Broadway between and on 6 April 1838, although Ealing Broadway station did not open until the following 1 December. As the only station in the area when it opened, it was initially named 'Ealing', and changed its name later.
Metropolitan District Railway
(MDR, now the District Line) services commenced on 1 July 1879, when the MDR opened a new branch from on its line. The MDR built its own three-platform station to the north of the GWR one, although following the installation of a connection between the two railways to the east of the stations, MDR trains also served the GWR station from 1 March 1883, on a short-lived service running to station, which was withdrawn as unremunerative on 30 September 1885. It was also intended to use the connection for a service to station (via ), which was never introduced.
Following electrification
of the main District line route through to in 1903, the section to Ealing Broadway was electrified in 1905, and the first electric
trains ran to Ealing Broadway on 1 July 1905. The original brick-built MDR station was replaced with a stone-faced building sometime between 1907 and 1916.
Prior to World War I
, plans were made by the GWR to construct a new, mainly-freight line between Ealing
and Shepherd's Bush
, to connect west-to-south with the West London Railway
. The Central London Railway
(CLR, now the Central Line) would use the line by extending its tracks the short distance north from its terminus at Wood Lane
(now closed), to meet the new GWR tracks. CLR services to two new platforms at Ealing Broadway, built between the GWR and MDR stations, started on 3 August 1920, with, initially, just one intermediate stop at . The line also carried GWR steam freight trains until 1938, when the links at Ealing Broadway and west of were removed, and the line was fully transferred to London Underground.
Originally separate companies, by 1920 the MDR (by now known as the District Railway) and the CLR were both owned by the Underground Electric Railways Company of London
(LER). Despite this, the CLR services operated via the GWR station building, not the Underground one.
The GWR-built station was demolished in the 1970s and replaced by a low concrete structure containing shops and a ticket hall, with a high-rise office building above. The new station building served all the lines, and the separate District Line station ticket hall was closed, although the building remains, and the original station entrance is now a shop.
On 8 June 2006, a 14-year old boy was killed whilst trespassing on the District line railway track at Platform 9.
All platforms are accessed through ticket barriers.
First Great Western
Heathrow Connect
London Underground
trains to call at Ealing Broadway. Services are expected to commence in 2018, after the station has been rebuilt with a spacious glass structure.
The West London Business
group backs a Surbiton-to-Brent Cross light rail
, called the West London Orbital underground railway, based on Copenhagen Metro
technology, which would include a station underground at Ealing Broadway.
The London Group of the Campaign for Better Transport has published a plan in 2008 for an off-road orbital North and West London Light railway
(NWLLR), sharing the Dudding Hill Line
freight corridor, and using the middle two of the six track beds at North Acton tube station
. In April 2009, Ealing Council voted to call on Transport for London fund a feasibility study into the light-rail proposal.
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
and London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
station in Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The station is located in Haven Green (B455), at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3
Travelcard Zone 3
Fare zone 3 is a zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services...
.
Services
National Rail services are provided at the four Great Western Main LineGreat Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
platforms by First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
and Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Connect is a train operating company in London provided jointly by Heathrow Express and First Great Western, connecting Heathrow Airport with station. The service follows the same route as the Heathrow Express service but serves intermediate stations en route, thus connecting several...
. London Underground provide services to the three District
District Line
The 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...
and the two Central Line
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
platforms.
For National Rail services, the next station to the east is , but most trains run non-stop to . To the west, the next three local stations are , and .
Ealing Broadway is the western terminus for both of the London Underground lines; on the District line, the next station to the east is , and on the Central Line, .
History
The Great Western RailwayGreat Western Railway
The 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) opened its pioneering broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
tracks through Ealing Broadway between and on 6 April 1838, although Ealing Broadway station did not open until the following 1 December. As the only station in the area when it opened, it was initially named 'Ealing', and changed its name later.
Metropolitan District Railway
Metropolitan District Railway
The Metropolitan District Railway was the predecessor of the District line of the London Underground. Set up on 29 July 1864, at first to complete the "Inner Circle" railway around central London, it was gradually extended into the suburbs...
(MDR, now the District Line) services commenced on 1 July 1879, when the MDR opened a new branch from on its line. The MDR built its own three-platform station to the north of the GWR one, although following the installation of a connection between the two railways to the east of the stations, MDR trains also served the GWR station from 1 March 1883, on a short-lived service running to station, which was withdrawn as unremunerative on 30 September 1885. It was also intended to use the connection for a service to station (via ), which was never introduced.
Following electrification
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
of the main District line route through to in 1903, the section to Ealing Broadway was electrified in 1905, and the first electric
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
trains ran to Ealing Broadway on 1 July 1905. The original brick-built MDR station was replaced with a stone-faced building sometime between 1907 and 1916.
Prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, plans were made by the GWR to construct a new, mainly-freight line between Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
and Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
, to connect west-to-south with the West London Railway
West London Line
The West London Line is a short railway in inner West London which links lines at in the south to lines near Willesden Junction in the north. It has always been an important cross-London link especially for freight services...
. The Central London Railway
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...
(CLR, now the Central Line) would use the line by extending its tracks the short distance north from its terminus at Wood Lane
Wood Lane (Central Line) tube station
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....
(now closed), to meet the new GWR tracks. CLR services to two new platforms at Ealing Broadway, built between the GWR and MDR stations, started on 3 August 1920, with, initially, just one intermediate stop at . The line also carried GWR steam freight trains until 1938, when the links at Ealing Broadway and west of were removed, and the line was fully transferred to London Underground.
Originally separate companies, by 1920 the MDR (by now known as the District Railway) and the CLR were both owned by the Underground Electric Railways Company of London
Underground Electric Railways Company of London
The Underground Electric Railways Company of London Limited , known operationally as The Underground for much of its existence, was established in 1902. It was the holding company for the three deep-level "tube"A "tube" railway is an underground railway constructed in a circular tunnel by the use...
(LER). Despite this, the CLR services operated via the GWR station building, not the Underground one.
The GWR-built station was demolished in the 1970s and replaced by a low concrete structure containing shops and a ticket hall, with a high-rise office building above. The new station building served all the lines, and the separate District Line station ticket hall was closed, although the building remains, and the original station entrance is now a shop.
On 8 June 2006, a 14-year old boy was killed whilst trespassing on the District line railway track at Platform 9.
The station today
The combined station has nine platforms:- four National Rail (platforms 1 to 4). Platforms 1 and 2 are for non-stop trains, except during engineering work and disruption. Platforms 1 and 3 serve trains leaving London, while 2 and 4 are into London. Most of the National Rail platforms are open to the elements, although there are some waiting rooms on each platform.
- two Central line (5 and 6), which have a shared awning canopy.
- three District Line (7 to 9). District Line platforms 8 and 9 are partially covered by a short canopy, and retain a number of examples of early solid-disc Underground signs, used before Edward JohnstonEdward JohnstonEdward Johnston, CBE was a British-Uruguayan craftsman who is regarded, with Rudolf Koch, as the a father of modern calligraphy, in the form of the broad edged pen as a writing tool, a particular form of calligraphy....
designed the familiar roundel in 1919.
All platforms are accessed through ticket barriers.
Timetable
The typical off-peak service frequency is:First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
- 6tph (trains per hour) to (First Great Western)
- 4tph run non-stop
- 2tph call at
- 2tph to
- 2tph to
- 2tph to , with some continuing to
Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Connect is a train operating company in London provided jointly by Heathrow Express and First Great Western, connecting Heathrow Airport with station. The service follows the same route as the Heathrow Express service but serves intermediate stations en route, thus connecting several...
- 2tph to Paddington (does not call at )
- 2tph to (Heathrow Connect)
London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
- 6tph on the District LineDistrict 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...
to via - 9tph on the Central LineCentral LineThe Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
of which:- 6tph to via (Central Line)
- 3tph to via Hainault (Central Line)
Transport links
London bus routes 65, 83, 112, 207, 297, 427, 607, E1, E2, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11 and night routes N7, N11 and N207.Proposals
There are plans for CrossrailCrossrail
Crossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...
trains to call at Ealing Broadway. Services are expected to commence in 2018, after the station has been rebuilt with a spacious glass structure.
The West London Business
West London Business
West London Business is a Chamber of Commerce organisation representing and promoting business in west London. It represents business and enterprise with any commercial focus across the six 'West London Alliance' boroughs:* Brent* Ealing...
group backs a Surbiton-to-Brent Cross light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, called the West London Orbital underground railway, based on Copenhagen Metro
Copenhagen Metro
Copenhagen Metro is a rapid transit system serving Copenhagen, Frederiksberg and Tårnby in Denmark. The system opened between 2002 and 2007, and has two lines, M1 and M2. The driverless light metro supplements the larger S-train rapid transit system, and is integrated with DSB local trains and...
technology, which would include a station underground at Ealing Broadway.
The London Group of the Campaign for Better Transport has published a plan in 2008 for an off-road orbital North and West London Light railway
North and West London Light Railway
The North and West London Light Railway , formerly proposed-named as Brent Cross Railway, is a potential light rail service proposed by the London group of the Campaign for Better Transport, intended to serve parts of north, northwest and west London, being similar to the Docklands Light Railway...
(NWLLR), sharing the Dudding Hill Line
Dudding Hill Line
The Dudding Hill Line is a railway line in north-west London running from Acton to Cricklewood. The line has no scheduled passenger service, no stations, no electrification, and a 30 mph speed limit with semaphore signalling, and is lightly used by freight and very occasional passenger charter...
freight corridor, and using the middle two of the six track beds at North Acton tube station
North Acton tube station
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...
. In April 2009, Ealing Council voted to call on Transport for London fund a feasibility study into the light-rail proposal.