Wapping tube station
Encyclopedia
Wapping railway station is on the northern bank of the river Thames
in Wapping
, East London
, England
. It is in Zone 2, and on the East London Line
of London Overground between and .
After recent temporary closures for remodelling, the station reopened for preview services on 27 April 2010 for services to and , and from 23 May 2010 trains to/from New Cross Gate were extended to West Croydon
/ .
The station occupies the north end of the former Thames foot tunnel
built by Marc Isambard Brunel
between 1825-1843, and subsequently adapted for railway traffic. Access to the station is by lift or a flight of stairs built into one of the original access shafts of the Thames Tunnel.
The station was originally opened as the northern terminus of the East London Railway on 7 December 1869 as Wapping and Shadwell, and the station was renamed Wapping on 10 April 1876, when the line was extended northwards to , via a new station at . The earliest trains were provided by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
, whose system connected with the line at . Underground trains of the Metropolitan
and the Metropolitan District Railway
s first served the station on 1 October 1884, but the station was last served by District trains on 31 July 1905.
The station was extensively remodelled between 1995 and 1998, when the entire East London Line - including Wapping station - was closed due to repair work on the East London Line's Thames Tunnel
.
system. During this time the station was heavily refurbished.
The proposed extension of the East London Line raised concerns that the station would have to be closed due to its platforms being too short (only 4 cars long) to accommodate the new rolling stock planned for the extended line (which could be 6 or 8 cars long). However, on 16 August 2004 then-Mayor of London
Ken Livingstone
announced that the station would remain open.
From 2012, 4 additional trains per hour will go to via on the new Clapham Junction Extension, due to open in May that year.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in Wapping
Wapping
Wapping is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which forms part of the Docklands to the east of the City of London. It is situated between the north bank of the River Thames and the ancient thoroughfare simply called The Highway...
, East London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is in Zone 2, and on the East London Line
East London Line
The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
of London Overground between and .
After recent temporary closures for remodelling, the station reopened for preview services on 27 April 2010 for services to and , and from 23 May 2010 trains to/from New Cross Gate were extended to West Croydon
West Croydon station
West Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
/ .
History
Thames Tunnel
The Thames Tunnel is an underwater tunnel, built beneath the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, connecting Rotherhithe and Wapping. It measures 35 feet wide by 20 feet high and is 1,300 feet long, running at a depth of 75 feet below the river's surface...
built by Marc Isambard Brunel
Marc Isambard Brunel
Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, FRS FRSE was a French-born engineer who settled in England. He preferred the name Isambard, but is generally known to history as Marc to avoid confusion with his more famous son Isambard Kingdom Brunel...
between 1825-1843, and subsequently adapted for railway traffic. Access to the station is by lift or a flight of stairs built into one of the original access shafts of the Thames Tunnel.
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
, whose system connected with the line at . Underground trains of the Metropolitan
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...
and the 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...
s first served the station on 1 October 1884, but the station was last served by District trains on 31 July 1905.
The station was extensively remodelled between 1995 and 1998, when the entire East London Line - including Wapping station - was closed due to repair work on the East London Line's Thames Tunnel
Thames Tunnel
The Thames Tunnel is an underwater tunnel, built beneath the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, connecting Rotherhithe and Wapping. It measures 35 feet wide by 20 feet high and is 1,300 feet long, running at a depth of 75 feet below the river's surface...
.
London Overground
The East London Line closed on 22 December 2007, and reopened on 27 April 2010 when it became part of the new London OvergroundLondon Overground
London 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...
system. During this time the station was heavily refurbished.
The proposed extension of the East London Line raised concerns that the station would have to be closed due to its platforms being too short (only 4 cars long) to accommodate the new rolling stock planned for the extended line (which could be 6 or 8 cars long). However, on 16 August 2004 then-Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
announced that the station would remain open.
Services
All times below are correct as of the December 2010 timetables.East London Line
Mondays to Saturdays there is a service every 5-10 minutes throughout the day, while on Sundays before 13:00 there is a service every 5-9 minutes, changing to every 7-8 minutes until the end of service after that. Current off peak frequency is:- 8 Northbound to Highbury & IslingtonHighbury & Islington stationHighbury & Islington station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is served by the Victoria line, London Overground's East and North London Lines and First Capital Connect's Northern City Line....
- 4 Northbound to
- 4 Southbound to West CroydonWest Croydon stationWest Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
- 4 Southbound to
- 4 Southbound to
From 2012, 4 additional trains per hour will go to via on the new Clapham Junction Extension, due to open in May that year.