Harrow-on-the-Hill station
Encyclopedia
Harrow-on-the-Hill station is a London Underground
station served by National Rail
and London Underground
(LU) trains. It is located between College Road and Lowlands Road in the Greenhill
area of Harrow, about half a mile north of the locality from which it takes its name.
tracks from Marylebone, four LU tracks (paired by speed) to Amersham
and the double-track LU line to Uxbridge
which leaves via a burrowing junction west of the station. Services to Watford
leave the "Main Line" to Amersham at Watford South Junction (not to be confused with Watford Junction) near Rickmansworth.
. The adjacent Underground stations are (toward London) Northwick Park
, (toward Amersham) North Harrow
and (toward Uxbridge) West Harrow
. The Metropolitan line operates a varied pattern of trains and not all trains stop at all stations. "Fast" and "semi-fast" services do not stop between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Finchley Road
. The stations between Harrow and Wembley Park, and between Harrow and Moor Park have no platforms on the Fast Lines.
Trains to London go to either Aldgate
however trains predominantly terminate at Baker Street
. Trains from Amersham/Chesham and Watford generally terminate at Baker Street, with a 10tph service from Uxbridge to Aldgate, however during peak hours all trains go to/from all destinations.
The station was opened as "Harrow" on 2 August 1880, when the Metropolitan Railway was extended from its previous terminus at Willesden Green
. Its name was changed to "Harrow-on-the-Hill" on 1 June 1894. Like a number of other Underground stations the name is an example of marketing rather than precision; in this case the town "proper" of the same name is at the top of Harrow Hill while the station is located in Greenhill
to the North of Harrow Hill which has become the main shopping area in this part of the Borough of Harrow.
Had the governors of Harrow School
not made objections during the planning stage it is possible that the Metropolitan Railway
might have followed a different route taking it closer to the town centre on the hill. The station is at the heart of Metro-land
.
. Services operate between Marylebone station
and Aylesbury
using the separate Network Rail tracks from London to Harrow and sharing London Underground tracks between Harrow and Amersham. Chiltern Railways started operating in 1996 after the privatisation of British Rail
and provide two trains per hour between Aylesbury and London via Harrow.
(GCR) on 15 March 1899. The GCR ran on the former Great Central Main Line
, an intercity
trunk route and provided services from Harrow to destinations such as Rugby
, Leicester
, Nottingham
and Manchester
. The passenger service north of Aylesbury ceased in 1966 due to the Beeching Axe
. There was a goods yard, which closed on 3 April 1967.
The station has two entrances, one on Station Approach (leading to Lowlands Road and Harrow Hill) and one on College Road (for the adjacent Harrow Bus Station and the main shopping area).
The Station is popular as a through route, as it is possible to walk from one entrance to the other without passing through the ticket barrier.
The present main station building replaced older structures at the London end of the platforms (thus leaving Station Road with no station); it consists of a main circulating area built across all tracks with stairs down to all platforms and both street entrances thus requiring a number of steps to be negotiated by all users. During opening hours it also acts as a public footbridge between Lowlands Road and College Road. A pedestrian tunnel connected all platforms to the adjacent but now closed and semi-derelict Post Office
sorting office to enable collection and delivery from trains in earlier years.
publication "Tube Access Guide" dated July 2006 indicates this station as having "Connection only between fast, semi-fast and "all stations" Metropolitan Line services" (NB-without lifts there will only be step-free interchange between Metropolitan Line trains travelling in the same direction) and "Entry and exit not accessible" (see station description above). The Lowlands Road entrance (which is also the route to the car park and the car passenger pick up and set down area) has the fewer number of steps.
, 182
, 183
, 186, 223, 258
, 340
, 395, H9, H10, H11, H14, H17, H18, H19, school route 640 and night route N18.
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 served by National Rail
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...
(LU) trains. It is located between College Road and Lowlands Road in the Greenhill
Greenhill, Harrow
Greenhill is a locality within the London Borough of Harrow. It is located to the north of Harrow Hill in Greater London. It also describes an ecclesiastical parish and ward with similar but not identical boundaries.-Parish:...
area of Harrow, about half a mile north of the locality from which it takes its name.
Railway geography
The station is the junction for four LU tracks from Baker Street (paired by direction), two Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
tracks from Marylebone, four LU tracks (paired by speed) to Amersham
Amersham station
Amersham station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the town of Amersham, in the Chiltern district of Buckinghamshire, England.Amersham station is a terminus of the London Underground's Metropolitan Line...
and the double-track LU line to Uxbridge
Uxbridge tube station
Uxbridge 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...
which leaves via a burrowing junction west of the station. Services to Watford
Watford tube station
Watford is a station at the end of the Watford branch of London Underground's Metropolitan Line in the north-western part of the network in Zone 7, previously zone A.-Location and description:...
leave the "Main Line" to Amersham at Watford South Junction (not to be confused with Watford Junction) near Rickmansworth.
London Underground
The London Underground service at Harrow-on-the-Hill is provided by the Metropolitan lineMetropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
. The adjacent Underground stations are (toward London) Northwick Park
Northwick Park tube station
Northwick Park is a London Underground station on the Metropolitan Line. It is in Zone 4, and lies between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Preston Road.It is served by 'slow' trains...
, (toward Amersham) North Harrow
North Harrow tube station
North Harrow underground station is a London Underground station situated in North Harrow, North West London. The station is on the Metropolitan Line and is the station between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Pinner . Fast Metropolitan Line and Chiltern Railways services pass by using two of the four tracks...
and (toward Uxbridge) West Harrow
West Harrow tube station
West Harrow tube station is a London Underground station in Harrow in north west London.The station is on the Uxbridge branch of the Metropolitan line, between Rayners Lane and Harrow-on-the-Hill stations, and in Travelcard Zone 5....
. The Metropolitan line operates a varied pattern of trains and not all trains stop at all stations. "Fast" and "semi-fast" services do not stop between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Finchley Road
Finchley Road tube station
Finchley Road tube station is a London Underground station at the corner of Finchley Road and Canfield Gardens in the London Borough of Camden, North London. It is on the Jubilee Line, between West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage and on the Metropolitan Line between Baker Street and Wembley Park. It is...
. The stations between Harrow and Wembley Park, and between Harrow and Moor Park have no platforms on the Fast Lines.
Trains to London go to either Aldgate
Aldgate tube station
Aldgate tube station is a London Underground station located at Aldgate in the City of London.The station is on the Circle Line between Tower Hill and Liverpool Street. It is also the eastern terminus of the Metropolitan Line...
however trains predominantly terminate at Baker Street
Baker Street tube station
Baker Street tube station is a station on the London Underground at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road. The station lies in Travelcard Zone 1 and is served by five different lines...
. Trains from Amersham/Chesham and Watford generally terminate at Baker Street, with a 10tph service from Uxbridge to Aldgate, however during peak hours all trains go to/from all destinations.
The station was opened as "Harrow" on 2 August 1880, when the Metropolitan Railway was extended from its previous terminus at Willesden Green
Willesden Green tube station
Willesden Green tube station is a London Underground station in Willesden. It is served by the Jubilee Line and is between Dollis Hill and Kilburn. Metropolitan Line trains also pass through the station, but do not usually stop...
. Its name was changed to "Harrow-on-the-Hill" on 1 June 1894. Like a number of other Underground stations the name is an example of marketing rather than precision; in this case the town "proper" of the same name is at the top of Harrow Hill while the station is located in Greenhill
Greenhill, Harrow
Greenhill is a locality within the London Borough of Harrow. It is located to the north of Harrow Hill in Greater London. It also describes an ecclesiastical parish and ward with similar but not identical boundaries.-Parish:...
to the North of Harrow Hill which has become the main shopping area in this part of the Borough of Harrow.
Had the governors of Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
not made objections during the planning stage it is possible that the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
might have followed a different route taking it closer to the town centre on the hill. The station is at the heart of Metro-land
Metro-land
Metro-land is a name given to the suburban areas that were built to the north west of London in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Middlesex in the early part of the 20th century, and were served by the Metropolitan Railway, an independent company until absorbed by the London...
.
National Rail
The National Rail service at Harrow-on-the-Hill is provided by Chiltern RailwaysChiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
. Services operate between Marylebone station
Marylebone station
Marylebone station , also known as London Marylebone, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It stands midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each...
and Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
using the separate Network Rail tracks from London to Harrow and sharing London Underground tracks between Harrow and Amersham. Chiltern Railways started operating in 1996 after the privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
and provide two trains per hour between Aylesbury and London via Harrow.
History
This service began as the Great Central RailwayGreat Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
(GCR) on 15 March 1899. The GCR ran on the former Great Central Main Line
Great Central Main Line
The Great Central Main Line , also known as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , is a former railway line which opened in 1899 linking Sheffield with Marylebone Station in London via Nottingham and Leicester.The GCML was the last main line railway built in...
, an intercity
Inter-city rail
Inter-city rail services are express passenger train services that cover longer distances than commuter or regional trains.There is no precise definition of inter-city rail. Its meaning may vary from country to country...
trunk route and provided services from Harrow to destinations such as Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. The passenger service north of Aylesbury ceased in 1966 due to the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. There was a goods yard, which closed on 3 April 1967.
Station layout
The station building is above ground with the 6 platforms in a cutting. Two (on the South side) are used by NR services and the other four by the Metropolitan Line; the NR platforms are electrified with the LU system (normal services are operated by diesel trains) and incoming LU trains on some routes can be diverted into them should this be necessary (or on rare occasions because of human error).The station has two entrances, one on Station Approach (leading to Lowlands Road and Harrow Hill) and one on College Road (for the adjacent Harrow Bus Station and the main shopping area).
The Station is popular as a through route, as it is possible to walk from one entrance to the other without passing through the ticket barrier.
The present main station building replaced older structures at the London end of the platforms (thus leaving Station Road with no station); it consists of a main circulating area built across all tracks with stairs down to all platforms and both street entrances thus requiring a number of steps to be negotiated by all users. During opening hours it also acts as a public footbridge between Lowlands Road and College Road. A pedestrian tunnel connected all platforms to the adjacent but now closed and semi-derelict Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
sorting office to enable collection and delivery from trains in earlier years.
Disabled access
The TfLTFL
TFL may refer to:* Tasmanian Football League, an Australian rules football competition* Tensor fasciae latae muscle, a thigh/hip muscle* Transport for London, a public transport organisation in the London area* The Flaming Lips, an American rock band...
publication "Tube Access Guide" dated July 2006 indicates this station as having "Connection only between fast, semi-fast and "all stations" Metropolitan Line services" (NB-without lifts there will only be step-free interchange between Metropolitan Line trains travelling in the same direction) and "Entry and exit not accessible" (see station description above). The Lowlands Road entrance (which is also the route to the car park and the car passenger pick up and set down area) has the fewer number of steps.
External links
Transport links
London bus routes 114, 140London Buses route 140
London Buses route 140 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:Route 140, at its inception, followed a very different route to the one it does today...
, 182
London Buses route 182
London Buses route 182 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:The current route 182 was introduced on 13 June 1970...
, 183
London Buses route 183
London Buses route 183 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London Sovereign.-History:...
, 186, 223, 258
London Buses route 258
London Buses route 258 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, UK. The service is currently contracted to Arriva Shires & Essex.-History:...
, 340
London Buses route 340
London Buses route 340 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva Shires & Essex.-History:...
, 395, H9, H10, H11, H14, H17, H18, H19, school route 640 and night route N18.