20/270 - Mill Hill East

Consisting of just one platform, Mill Hill East is the least used station on the Northern line, however, it was never supposed to be like this. Opening in 1867 on the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway (EH&LR), World War Two had an influential impact on railways in this part of north London. The approach to the station, on the Dollis Brook Viaduct, is the highest point above ground on the London Underground.

The EH&LR built a branch line between Finsbury Park and Edgware in the 1860s, however, the line was purchased by the Great Northern Railway who operated services from King’s Cross through Finsbury Park and on to Potters Bar. Mill Hill East was originally called Mill Hill. This section of railway was intended to be double track, but only a single track was laid as the Great Northern Railway prioritised building a double track formation on the more popular Finsbury Park to High Barnet line in 1872. The formation of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in the 1920s, which took over Great Northern Railway services, saw Mill Hill change its name to Mill Hill East in 1928.

The London Passenger Transport Board announced a plan to take over some LNER lines in 1935, which became known as the North Heights project. As works began between Finchley Central and Edgware in 1938, the outbreak of World War Two considerably slowed progress, and only the single track between Finchley Central and Mill Hill East was electrified. This work was mainly completed to provide a service to the nearby Inglis Barracks. The electrification of the single branch line was completed by 1941 when the station re-opened as part of the Northern Line. 

After World War Two, a review of the North Heights project was conducted, but the majority of funds was spent on London Underground maintenance. As a result, works were never re-started, although the line between Finchley Central and Edgware appeared on London Underground maps as under construction until the 1950s. 

The building at Mill Hill East is the original EH&LR station building, and as a result is one of the oldest parts of the London Underground system. 2007 saw refurbishment of the station, with new CCTV cameras, help points and re-decoration of walls and floors. 

Mill Hill East receives a service every 11 to 15 minutes, with shuttle services off-peak to Finchley Central. During peak hours, Northern Line trains do extend to Morden. Mill Hill East is well worth a visit. The station building is impressive and historic, and it is interesting to think railways in this area could have been very different. 

19/270 - Southgate

Southgate Station's impressive exterior

Unless you have been living under a rock, the big news is London is still celebrating England reaching the semi-final of the world cup, the first time in 28 years. With this in mind, there really was only one station to visit today, Southgate. Opening in 1933, Southgate station is another example of the brilliance of Charles Holden. Holden made huge influences on the London Underground, but the Piccadilly line features some of his finest work, and Southgate is often regarded as one of his best.

The Piccadilly line extended from Arnos Grove to Enfield West (now Oakwood) in March 1933, with Southgate being the only stop in between. The Piccadilly line finally reached Cockfosters in July 1933, despite a severe recession that threatened the expansion project. During the same period, the Piccadilly line expanded west to Hounslow. Before opening, the station had alternative names proposed such as Southgate Central and Chase Side, but Southgate is the only name the station has ever had. When the station opened on 13 March 1933, local residents were given a free return journey to Piccadilly Circus. 

Original uplighting at Southgate station

The station is famous for its Art Deco and Streamline Moderne design, influenced by Charles Holden. By using a perfect blend of reinforced concrete and glass, Holden designed 47 stations in London, and 26 are on the Piccadilly line. The impressive circular flat-roof is supported by a central column in the ticket hall. The top of the building features an illuminated Tesla coil, which is worth seeing at night time. The station is circular to allow for an outer-ring of shops, offices, toilets and staff rooms. The escalators at Southgate feature original up-lighting. 

The Westbound platform at Southgate station

The station is not without change, however. In 2008, the station received new tiling at the platform level, a new ticket hall floor and modern signage throughout the station. Southgate station won the National Railway Heritage Award in 2008 for the modernisation of a heritage station. Furthermore, between all the underground stations between Finsbury Park and Cockfosters on the Piccadilly line feature their own unique colour scheme, albeit subtle, this was to help illiterate passengers, similar to the more famous unique tiling patterns of Piccadilly line stations in central London.  The subtle colour at Southgate station is yellow.

Southgate station is the northernmost station on the London Underground network to have underground platforms, this is due to the hill the station building is located on. Interestingly, the platforms at Southgate station are labelled 'Westbound' and 'Eastbound', however, the 'Westbound' platforms run south-east and the 'Eastbound' platforms run north-west. 

As the nation sings 'Southgate you're the one' as Gareth Southgate and the England team are making history, now is a perfect time to visit one of London's most treasured stations. Try and visit at night time, you will not be disappointed. 

For more photos and facts, please follow me on Instagram and Twitter where my name is tubespottingdan. 

Elton & Orston: Least used station in Nottinghamshire

Elton & Orston,
25th May 2018

Yesterday I visited a station that I have been past numerous times but never explored, Elton & Orston. With just 128 journeys being recorded in 2016/17, Elton & Orston is the least used station in the county of Nottinghamshire. The station has limited facilities, but there is something fascinating by Britain's quiet rural railway stations such as Elton & Orston.

A Class 156 train passing
through Elton & Orston,
25th May 2018

Elton & Orston is located on the Nottingham-Skegness railway line, operated exclusively by East Midlands Trains. Despite being roughly two trains an hour in each direction using the line, Elton & Orston only receives two services a day; one towards Nottingham at 06:25, and one towards Skegness at 17:10. There are no services on Sundays from this station either. National Rail actually states "This station is served by a very sparse train service, currently only one train a day in each direction. The nearest stations with a more frequent service are Bottesford or Aslockton". 

Both Bottesford and Aslockton are located on the same line as Elton & Orston, the Nottingham-Skegness line. Firstly, Bottesford is slightly under 4 miles from Elton & Orston by road and receives roughly one train in each direction every two hours. With 65,465 journies being recorded in 2016/17, Bottesford, despite being considerably busier than Elton & Orston, is the least used station in Leicestershire. Furthermore, Bottesford is the only station in Leicestershire to not have a direct service with Leicester. Secondly, Aslockton receives a slightly more frequent service than Bottesford and is 3 miles from Elton & Orston by road. Aslockton saw 30,572 journies in 2016/17, despite having more services than Bottesford. 

A view of Elton & Orston
from the barrow crossing,
25th May 2018

Elton & Orston is the joint 10th least used station in the country, alongside Stanlow & Thornton in Cheshire. There are limited facilities at Elton & Orston, there are two shelters, litter bins, a help point, a car park and bicycle storage, other than that, there is not much going on. There are two platforms at the station, and in order to change between the two, you have to use a barrow crossing over the tracks. There are no ticketing facilities at this station, however, you can purchase tickets with the train guard at no extra cost. 

Station sign on the platform,
25th May 2018

The station code for Elton & Orston is ELO. Hold On Tight, a few Electric Live Orchestra references are coming up. There was no Mr. Blue Sky on my visit to the station. If you need assistance at Elton & Orston, you will need to use the Telephone Line at the Help Point. I waited for the 17:10 towards Skegness and got off at Grantham in order to make the Last Train to London. Please Don't Bring Me Down, I promise this is the end of ELO. 

What makes Britain's railways so special? Partly it is stations such as Elton & Orston. There are over 2500 railway stations in Britain with millions of daily journies, however, there are small stations that only serve a handful of journies. Despite just 128 annual journies, Elton & Orston, like every station, plays an important role in building communities and connections. 

News: UK government to take over rail services on the East Coast Main Line

Class 91 Virgin Trains East Coast
locomotive at London King's Cross
16th May 2018

There was huge railway news this afternoon as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announces the state takeover of the East Coast Main Line.

The current operators, Virgin Trains East Coast (owned by Stagecoach and Virgin Trains), will hand over services to the government on 24 June 2018. This is the third time in over a decade that the government have felt the need to intervene with an East Coast franchise. Taking over services in March 2015, Virgin Trains East Coast was initially intended to operate services until 2023, however, the news today comes as no surprise.

The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, addressed the House of Commons today stating "we will start with the launch of a new long-term brand for the East Coast mainline through the recreation of one of Britain's iconic rail brands, the London and North Eastern Railway" (LNER). Whilst this decision is highly politically, I will let you decide for yourselves whether the railways should be nationalised. 

London King's Cross
16th May 2018

The LNER operated services along the East Coast Main Line from 1923 until 1948. The East Coast Main Line connects London with many northern cities such as Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, with other operators using the track, such as Hull Trains and Great Northern. There are numerous questions that have arisen today that need to be answered. 

Short-term issues for passengers

Virgin Trains East Coast stated on Twitter earlier "Following today's franchise announcement, please be assured services are unaffected. You can continue to make bookings and travel with us as normal." For regular Virgin Trains East Coast passengers, such as myself, services should not be affected up to and beyond the 24 June. The Transport Secretary today has also stated that season tickets, timetables and employment conditions would remain unchanged. 

Long-term plans

Despite short-term questions being addressed, some of Virgin Trains East Coast stakeholders have long-term concerns. Under Virgin Trains East Coast, there has been an increase in services of 11%, and there have been plans put in place to further increase services. Passengers to and from Lincoln have been concerned today, as there is currently one train in each direction (07:30 from Lincoln Central and 19:06 from London King's Cross*), however, there have been long plans under Virgin Trains East Coast to increase services to one every two hours along this route. Whether these plans will be enforced under LNER is yet to be seen.

Furthermore, many Virgin Trains East Coast passengers have been excited ahead of the launch of Azuma on the network. Class 800s, Intercity Express Trains, have been introduced across Britain since October 2017, with 23 of them planned to be slowly introduced on the East Coast by the end of this year, with the nickname Azuma, which is Japanese for East. Will these be making an appearance for passengers under LNER? It is likely the Class 800s will be replacing the Class 43s and Class 91s currently used as planned, however, it is unclear whether the 'Azuma' name will still be present. 

Is this the beginning of the state taking control of the entire rail network? Perhaps not, as it is likely a new process to find a next franchise will begin in 2020. Whilst there are numerous questions that are not yet answered, in the short term passengers should not be affected. 

*From Lincoln Central 07:30 Monday-Friday, 07:33 Saturday and none on Sunday. From London King's Cross 19:06 Monday-Friday, 18:08 Saturday and 19:08 Sunday. 

I am back!

North Ealing

Wow, so 2017 and 2018 have been really busy years for me. I have not had much time to keep you updated with this blog, until now!

I have been busy with coursework, dissertation and exams, but finally, they are all over. So what does this mean? This means I will be back to blogging all things about the London Underground. However, one thing has changed since I last posted a blog entry, I now no longer live in London (for now?). I will keep on posting about the London Underground, but I will also, as some of you may have seen on my Instagram, be posting more generally about railways in Britain.

So just a reminder;

I have always been fascinated by the railways of Britain. That is probably because I come from an area, ironically, with little railways, Lincolnshire. Growing up I hardly ever used railways, because my parents drove everywhere as we had no services near where I live. When I turned fourteen, however, I started using railways and my love for them has grown ever since. Most weekends, and indeed weekdays I am travelling around Britain's railways and I thought it was about time I shared some of my personal highlights with you.

From quirky least used stations, to gorgeous Victorian architecture, to film locations and interestingly named stations, there is plenty to discover and enjoy from over 2500 stations. Many people see travelling by train as a chore, if this is you, welcome. I may convince you to experience something exciting on your next journey. I may even reveal a secret about a journey you do regularly that you thought you knew like the back of your hand.

Perhaps most exciting of all, is Britain's railways are going to become more accessible, more frequent and hopefully more popular in the near future, with more services and stations being introduced.

King's Cross St. Pancras

My interest in railways does not stop at National Rail, I am also fascinated by the London Underground and heritage railways. This blog is not a trainspotting blog. I have never written down a train's number, and nor do I have any desires to spot every train, but what I am interested in is the railways that help connect us all.

So sit back, relax and enjoy. You never know, the next time you go a train journey you might be inspired to experience something new.

Down in the tube station at midnight? - Night Tube, one year on

Westminster during the
Night Tube,
April 8th 2017

This weekend London celebrates one year since the start of a necessary service that helped modernise the city, Night Tube. Operating at weekends and now on five London Underground lines, getting Night Tube was a controversial and complicated procedure, but one year on, the capital is already seeing the benefits. 

Despite being an enthusiast of the London Underground, it took six months before I used the Night Tube for the first time. My first experience of travelling on the London Underground late at night occurred after Chelsea played Arsenal in February 2017 when my friend and I completely lost track of time in the pubs around Earl's Court. The Night Tube has received plenty of criticism about the type of user at night, mainly questions about those who have drank too much alcohol. However, campaigners for the Night Tube would argue that it is safer than people using illegal minicabs or the rise in Uber. One thing that struck me that night was the variety of people using the Night Tube, it was not just those who have been out partying in the evening, but people who work during the night, or who work in 24-hour entertainment, and those who have been to events in museums or concert halls that finished late into the evening. 

If you have never used Night Tube, or if you are planning to visit London and need to travel late at night, it is important to know that the services only operate on Friday and Saturday nights, and currently on just five lines. You can use services 24-hours on the entirety of the Victoria line and Jubilee line, the other three lines that Night Tube operates on, the Central line, the Northern line and Piccadilly line, only have services on part of the lines. The Central line operates between Ealing Broadway and Hainault, and between White City and Loughton. The Northern line operates between Morden and High Barnet or Edgware (via Charing Cross), this therefore means that the Mill Hill East and Bank branches are not served. Finally, the Piccadilly line operates between Cockfosters and Heathrow Terminal 5, but not Heathrow Terminal 4 nor the branch between Acton Town and Uxbridge. 

This is not the end for Night Tube? It was announced recently that London Overground services between Dalston Junction and New Cross are scheduled to begin on the Night Tube in December 2017. This has caused controversy amongst enthusiast as it is not correct to call London Overground night services Night Tube. Likewise, there are rumours that the Dockland Light Railway will be providing services throughout the night on Friday and Saturdays by around 2021. It is expected that once signal upgrades have been completed on the Bakerloo and Waterloo & City lines they will join Night Tube. I personally do not believe that the Waterloo & City line is likely to join Night Tube based on the fact currently the line does not operate on Sundays. However, I could well be wrong. 

Has the Night Tube been a success in its opening year? It is predicted that Night Tubes 8 millionth user is likely to use the service this weekend on the services first birthday. With more services and the capital becoming more accustomed to the logistics of the Night Tube it is highly likely that more and more people will be using this necessary and important service. At the end of the day I am all for encouraging people using public transport as much as possible.  

30 years of the Docklands Light Railway

A DLR train at Pontoon
Dock, 7th April 2017

Opening on the 30th July 1987, the DLR today celebrates 30 years of serving East London. With just 15 stations open in 1987, the DLR has massively expanded and carries over 122 million passengers a year to and from 45 stations, connecting the Docklands, East London, South London and the City together. Famous for being driver less, sitting at the front of the DLR is still something that makes me excited. Although it is not a London Underground line, I thoroughly enjoy riding around on the DLR. So sit back, relax, as I take you on a quick journey through 30 years of history.

The view of Docklands
from Tower Bridge,
17th June 2017

The docks are an important part of London's history, but with various factors in the 1960s such as the rise of air travel to transport goods, boats becoming too large to navigate the Thames and good increasingly being transported in containers meant less staff were needed to take goods off boats as a crane could do most of the work, meant that this part of London was in serious decline. In 1966 the area lost a major railway, the London and Blackwall Railway, which closed due to reduced passengers numbers. However, in 1981 the government created the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) which became incredibly influential in regenerating the Docklands which were a site of low population, high unemployment and lack of leisure and recreation facilitates. 

Platforms at Royal Victoria,
7th April 2017

There was a demand for a cost effective transportation to be built to supply the Docklands to connect the new business district at Canary Wharf, with the City and with the newly opened London City Airport. A variety of proposals were considered, with ideas such as having a terminus at Aldgate East, and allowing DLR trains to integrate with the London Underground network and use the District line tracks to serve other stations in the city. However, the cheapest and easiest option was to use the site of the old Minories railway station, becoming Tower Gateway, which is located close to Tower Hill London Underground station. The original route from Tower Gateway to Stratfrod and Island Gardens was mainly built on disused railway viaducts or disused surface railway formations. 

How did the DLR expand?

How the DLR integrates
with the London Underground
at Canning Town,
4th April 2017

Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the DLR on the 30th July 1987, but passenger services did not begin until 31st August 1987. In 1991 the station at Canary Wharf opened to the public, as did the DLR platforms at Bank. Tower Gateway received criticism due to there not being a direct interchange with the London Underground, and the railway usage was larger than expected. The DLR than expanded further east out to Beckton in 1994 and Pudding Mill Lane station opened in 1996. The tunnel under the river Thames to Lewisham opened in 1999. Another new branch was opened in 2005, originally terminating at King George V, but then extended under the Thames to Woolwich Arsenal in 2009. Langdon Park opened in 2007, before a new branch from Canning Town to Stratford International was built via. West Ham in 2011. 

The DLR is an important
service to Canary Wharf,
4th April 2017

Only five stations on the DLR have ticket barriers, but this does still mean you need to pay to use the other 40 stations. To ensure passengers are correctly paying for the DLR, random on-train inspections are conducted regularly. So make sure you remember to tap in and tap out to avoid paying a penalty fine of up to £80. The DLR integrates with local bus services, London Overground, Emirates Airline, National rail services, TFL Rail (which is currently slowly becoming part of Crossrail), London City Airport, Riverboat services and the London Underground. The DLR is also fully accessible to wheelchairs, with access available at each station. 

I believe the DLR has been a success over the last 30 years, and the fact there are ongoing plans to expand the railway further is testament to this. To mark 30 years of service, Transport for London have produced Destination DLR, which includes 30 thing to do by using the Docklands Light Railway. Out of the 30 things they suggest you do, I highly recommend the following five things:

1) Crossrail Place

The new Crossrail station
at Canary Wharf,
4th April 2017

Canary Wharf is a modern business district that is home to some of the worlds largest businesses. The area is currently undergoing exciting times in terms of transport as Crossrail nears completion. If you want a taste as to what lies ahead visit the impressive roof garden and sample the facilities that will soon become heart of the station in December 2018.

2) Museum of London Docklands

If you are interested in the history of this part of London I strongly recommend that you visit the Museum of London Docklands which is a short distance from West India Quay. Until 3rd September 2017 you can discover 8,000 years of human history that was unearthed by the Crossrail project. 

3) Greenwich Market

Greenwich Market is a gem in the middle of Maritime Greenwich, which itself is home to the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum. If you love street food, then Greenwich Market is perfect for you. From Ethiopian Vegetarian Food, to German Bratwurst, to Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Greenwich Market has plenty of choice for you to dive into, as well as quirky market stalls.

4) MBNA Thames Clippers

If you are a commuter and you want a more relaxing way to travel across London, or a tourist and want to see the sights of London, then why not try using MBNA Thames Clippers? Piers near DLR stations include Canary Wharf, Masthouse Terrace (near Mudchute and Island Gardens), Greenwich (nearer Cutty Sark for Maritime Museum than Greenwich station) and Woolwich (Royal Arsenal). Services go to Putney, Chelsea Harbour, Westminster, Blackfriars, Tower and many more locations along the river Thames. 

5) Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,
June 2014

London is not only celebrating 30 years of the DLR, but fiver years since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To marvel in some of the sights and sounds of London 2012 you can still visit the Olympic Park. Until 2nd September 2017 explore the UK's largest urban park, slide down The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, or if you are not a thrill seeker, visit the top for some incredible views of the Olympic Park. You can also swim in the same pool where Michael Phelps broke the record for the most Olympic medals won. 

The DLR itself is a pleasant transportation experience, as well as providing access to many of London's leading attractions and venues, from the Cutty Sark to the ExCeL. Why not grab your Oyster card and explore the wonders of the DLR?