4/270 - Borough

Borough station exterior in 2017,
February 9th 2017

Borough maybe a small station on the Bank branch of the Northern line, but it has had a rich history. If you want to know what Borough looked like when it opened in 1890, take the Northern line to Kennington station as they were near enough identical at the time. Even below the surface the two stations are similar as they both use lifts to get to platform level. However, at Borough station the Southbound platform is directly below the Northbound platform, where as at Kennington they are on the same level. At Borough, this means only the Northbound platform is accessible to those with mobility restrictions. 

Borough opened in 1890 when the City and South London Railway (C&SLR) ran surfaces between Stockwell and King William Street. The C&SLR, which became the Northern line, ran the first deep level underground services in London. King William Street, which is close to the present day Monument station, closed in 1900 when the line extended to Moorgate. The map below shows how the area would have looked like on a tube map in 1900, not how St. Paul's was originally called Post Office and Embankment at the time was called Charing Cross. 

Diagram of the Tube Map in 1900 in a Harry Beck style

Roundel on the Southbound
platform at Borough,
9th February 2017

Air-raid shelter

During World War Two large parts of the network were used as air-raid shelters. However at Borough because the line changed its route in 1900 by extending to Moorgate, there were tunnels that were no longer used, and subsequently used during World War Two as air-raid shelters between 1940 and 1945. There were six entrances on Borough High Street to access the disused tunnels. When the Jubilee line extension was being built in the 1990s, the tunnels at King William Street were cut through in order for the line to reach London Bridge. The tunnels still remain north of Borough. 

Southbound platform at
Borough,
9th February 2017

Cool Fact

Borough is the least used station on the Bank branch of the Northern line, with all the other stations having an annual passenger usage in excess of 10 million. Also, Borough is one of only nineteen stations on the network where there are no escalators down to platform level, instead you have to use lifts. 

Borough station is filled with history, although London Bridge might be closer to Borough market, if you are going to visit the market, why not visit a station rich in history? 

More photos

A view of The Shard from
the entrance to Borough
station,
9th February 2017

Borough station exterior,
9th February 2017

Remember to follow my Instagram, tubespottingdan for more pictures and updates. 

3/270 - Putney Bridge

Craven Cottage, Fulham V
Hull City,
29th January 2017

If there is anything I enjoy as much as the London Underground it is football. For me, Craven Cottage is one my favourite football grounds in the country. It is filled with history, has a unique character and its nearest station is lovely, Putney Bridge. I am not a Fulham fan, we will save the club I support for another time, but I have been to Craven Cottage six times, most recently on 14th February 2017 to watch the Whites take on Nottingham Forest. Going to the match was a great reason to check out and explore Putney Bridge.

Putney Bridge from Eastbound
platform,
14th February 2017

The station opened in 1880 when the District Railway extended their line from West Brompton to the station, originally called Putney Bridge & Fulham. The station was the terminus until 1889 when the District Railway built the Fulham Railway Bridge across the Thames to East Putney, and on to Wimbledon. In 1902, the station was renamed as Putney Bridge & Hurlingham due to being close to Hurlingham Park. It was not until 1932 when the station was named just Putney Bridge, how we know the station today. 

Putney or Fulham?

Despite all the name changes over the years, one thing has remained constant, and that is Putney Bridge has always featured in the station name. However, the station is not actually located in Putney, it is in fact located in Fulham. The station is closer to the actual bridge than East Putney station is. 

Cool fact

If you are an EE, Virgin, Vodafone, Three or O2 customer you can access station WiFi at 253 (although TFL say 250) of the 270 London Underground stations, and you have guessed it, Putney Bridge is not one of them. Why does Putney Bridge not have WiFi? TFL have not published a reason, it is more than likely because Putney Bridge is above ground and you can still access 3G and 4G. 

Waiting room at Putney
Bridge on Eastbound platform,
14th February 2017

Putney Bridge has some interesting designs. Large parts of the station are painted in a gorgeous green colour, including the waiting rooms in both platforms. Putney Bridge also has some old roundels on platform level which adds to the character, of not only the station, but the area. On match days, the station has other entrances and exits that negate going through the main station building. 

Putney Bridge is a little jewel in west London. The whole area is filled with character. On a sunny summers day this year, why not grab your oyster card and come to Putney Bridge? 

More photos

Putney Bridge roundel on
Westbound platform,
14th February 2017

Exits for match days only,
14th February 2017

Putney Bridge station exterior,
14th February 2017

Please send in any questions you have, I will endeavour to answer them each time I update my blog. Remember to follow my Instagram, tubespottingdan for more pictures.

2/270 - Mile End

Mile End Station,
9th February 2017

Mile End is a station that will always mean something to me. Because I study at the near by Queen Mary University of London, Mile End is perhaps the station I have visited the most on the entire network. Mile End is called Mile End because it is situated roughly one mile away from Aldgate, the original boundary of the City of London. 

The station first opened in 1902, when the District Railway extended from Whitechapel to Upminster. Metropolitan line services started serving the station in 1936, later to be run by the Hammersmith & City line in 1988. Major works were conducted in the 1940s to expand the station to accommodate the Central line expanding Eastwards from Liverpool Street to Epping (and Ongar) by 1949, with Central line services serving Mile End in 1946. 

A west bound District line
train at platform 2, with an east
bound Central line train at
platform 4 in the background,
9th February 2017 

Why is Mile End unique?

Mile End is the only subterranean station on the network where there is a cross-platform interchange with a sub-surface line (District and Hammersmith & City lines) and a deep level line (Central line). This makes Mile End one of the most connected stations in the East of London. 

What to do in Mile End?

Other than visiting one of the many chicken shops around Mile End, there is plenty to do. Mile End is close to one of London's best park, Victoria Park or the 'People's Park'. The park was known as the People's Park because it was a recreational centre for large amounts of the working classes of East London. Activities such as swimming in the pond, or even walking through acres of grass were popular and the only place many in the East End could do so. Now, home to Lovebox festival, Victoria Park is still a popular park in East London. 

Mile End tiles,
15th February 2017

Design 

If you use Mile End regularly I wonder if you've noticed the line colours in the stations tilling? Green around the sides of the pillars on the platform signify the District line, and the red at the top signify the Central line. Some of you will be wondering what about pink for the Hammersmith and City line? The H&C did not take over the line from Hammersmith to Barking until 1988, and at Mile End, like many other stations, they have not got around to reflecting this in their station tiles. 

More photos

Mile End platform signage,
15th February 2017

Please send in any questions you have, I will endeavour to answer them each time I update my blog. Remember to follow my Instagram, tubespottingdan for more pictures.  

1/270 - Gants Hill

Gants Hill Roundel,
15th February 2017

If you are following my Instagram account (@tubespottingdan) you will know I am making my way round the entire network, and visiting every station in the process. I am going to write a blog entry for every London Underground station, and I have struggled to decide which station I was going to review first, but on my visit to Gants Hill today I decided I have to start with Gants Hill. 

Gants Hill at first appears to be just a busy roundabout, with only the small roundels (left) at the five entrances to the Central line station suggesting there is a tube station around. The station is situated below the roundabout, with no surface building, however, once you have made your way through the ticket barriers and down the escalator you are in for a treat. 

Eastern bound platform,
15th February 2017

70 years as a major station on the Hainault loop

Gants Hill opened in December 1947 and is the busiest station on the Hainault loop, with 6.59 million people using the station each year. The reason I decided to blog about Gants Hill first is because it really is a beautiful station. Work to build the station started in the 1930's, but World War Two saw work being suspended. During this time the station, like many, was used as an air raid shelter. Despite London Underground stations commonly being used as air raid shelters, Gants Hill is the easternmost station to be entirely underground on the network. 

The dominating roof at Gants
Hill, 15th February 2017

Holden's masterpiece 

Charles Holden is perhaps the most famous architect on the Underground, so you will hear his name quiet often in this blog. Holden designed 47 stations in London, most of which are on the Piccadilly line, but I quite like Gants Hill. Those of you who follow my Instagram will know I am a fan of uplighting in tube stations, and Gants Hill features these illuminating the prominent arched roof. Holden drew inspiration from the Moscow Metro, hence being able to see and walk through to the platform in the opposite direction. 

Tube inspired clock,
15th February 2017

There are some interesting things to look out for if you visit Gants Hill. The uplights form part of the structure for benches in the concourse. There is a London Underground inspired clock on both platforms, and dotted around the entire station are the little roundels in the tiles. Another interesting thing to look for are the platform signage which still cover up North Weald and Ongar stations, which were closed in September 1994, the same day the famous Aldwych station closed.

From the surface, Gants Hill is a busy roundabout, yet beneath the surface there is a gem. If you have never been to Gants Hill, you really should. 

More photos

The large roundabout in which Gants Hill is situated beneath,
15th February 2017

The platforms at Gants Hill,
3rd April 2017

Bench on the concourse at Gants Hill,
15th February 2017

Please send in any questions you have, I will endevour to answer them each time I update my blog. Remember to follow my Instagram, tubespottingdan for more pictures.

Stations that opened in February

Each month I will look back at which of the 270 stations opened in the same month. Five stations on the network opened in February.

1866 - Westbourne Park

Westbourne Park was served by the Metropolitan line for the majority of its existence, until the Hammersmith and City line took over services from Hammersmith to Barking in 1990. When the Circle line extended from Edgware to Hammersmith in 2009, the station was given another line. Between 1872 and 1992, Westbourne Park was part of the Great Western Main Line from Paddington to Bristol, but now only London Underground services serve the station. 

Have I been to Westbourne Park? 

No, I have not. However, Westbourne Park is near the Notting Hill Carnival, and subsequently has an entrance and exit that is only open one day a year, and that is on the day of the carnival. 

1875 - Liverpool Street

Hamilton Hall, inside Liverpool Street Station,
23rd February 2016

Liverpool Street is the 5th busiest station on the London Underground network, and the 3rd busiest station in the United Kingdom. Liverpool Street station has had a long history with providing commuter services from the East of England to London. When the metropolitan line was extended from Moorgate to Aldgate in 1875, Liverpool Street became connected to the underground network. The station was served exclusively by the metropolitan line until 1920 when the Central line expanded from Bank. In 1949, the Circle line appeared as an individual line on the network, and the Hammersmith and City line appeared in 1990 taking us to the four lines we know Liverpool Street is served by today. London Overground have ran services from Liverpool Street since 2015, with Crossrail (or the Elizabeth line) serving the station in 2019, replacing current TFL rail services from Liverpool Street to Shenfield. 

Have I been to Liverpool Street?

Yes. I have been to Liverpool Street many times, mainly for train services to Norwich or Ipswich when I go to football matches, but also to visit Hamilton Hall, arguably one of the nicest Wetherspoons in London, if not the country. 

London Bridge Station,
9th February 2017

1900 - London Bridge

London Bridge is the 6th busiest station on the London Underground network, receiving just under 2 million less passengers annually than Liverpool Street. Similarly to Liverpool Street, London Bridge underground station serves the busy London Bridge station, the 4th busiest in the United Kingdom, as well as tourists visiting the area. London Bridge opened in 1900 when the Northern line was extended from Borough to Moorgate, which saw King Williams Street station close. London Bridge was finally served by its second and final line, the Jubilee line in 1999 as part of the Jubilee line extension from Charing Cross to Stratford. 

Have I been to London Bridge?

Yes. I have been to London Bridge to catch trains to Sussex and Kent, as well as to go up the Shard, which on a clear day offers amazing views of the capital. 

1912 - Stamford Brook

Taking its name from a tributary of the river Thames, Stamford Brook opened in 1912 and has only ever been served by the district line. Although, the line which Stamford Brook is situated on was served by the metropolitan line between 1877 and 1906, and currently the Piccadilly line goes through Stamford Brook, but does not stop. 

Have I been to Stamford Brook?

I have not, but an interesting fact about the station is on 5th January 1964, Stamford Brook became the first station to have automatic ticket barriers installed. 

1915 - Queen's Park

Since uploading this article, I took a photo of
Queen's Park from a London Overground service,
10th March 2017

The latest station to be opened in February is Queen's Park. A main line station has been at Queen's Park since 1879, but it was not until the Bakerloo line opened here in 1915 that the station was served by London Underground. There are plans that by next year, 6 trains a day from London to Blackpool will stop at Queen's Park, subsequently bringing back timetabled services to the station, as since 2013, the station has only been served by the Bakerloo line and London Overground services. 

Have I been to Queen's Park?

Not yet. However, Queen's Park is an example of a station I have been through, but never exited the station, therefor I cannot count it as a station I have visited. Currently refurbishments are being conducted to make Queen's Park a step-free station by 2019. 

News - TFL announce plans for an extension to the Bakerloo Line

The current terminal of the Bakerloo line,
9th February 2017 

The Bakerloo line, which terminates at Elephant & Castle, will be extended further South East to Lewisham. The planned extension will see four new stations being added to the London Underground network with two new stations at Old Kent Road, a connection with the Overground at New Cross Gate, and a connection with the DLR at Lewisham. But the plans will not stop there. There is potential for the Bakerloo Line to extended further into south east London in the future. 

Interior of a 1972 stock at Elephant & Castle,
9th February 2017

TFL want the extension to be completed by 2029, in line with the upgraded plans to the rest of the line. Since 2014, the Bakerloo line has the oldest stock of train on the entire network, with the 1972 stock. By 2033, the Bakerloo line will receive a new stock of train, the New Tube for London (NTfL). The NTfL will be rolled out to the Piccadilly line, Central line and Waterloo & City line in 2025, 2030 and 2032 respectively. This new stock of train will increase the capacity of the Bakerloo line alone by 25%. 

DLR sign at Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich,
9th February 2017

What does this mean for the DLR?

If the plans go ahead, it will increase the number of Underground lines the DLR network is connected to from seven to eight. This is important as the DLR is often wrongly seen as being poorly connected. Furthermore, Lewisham will be the first DLR station south of the river Thames to have an interchange with a London Underground line. 

Cool Fact

The extension will mean that Elephant & Castle will no longer be a terminating station, and thus making the Waterloo & City line the only line to have a terminating station(s) in zone 1. 

The Bakerloo line extension will be part of a series of planned extensions to the London Underground network. Already being built is the Metropolitan line extension, which will see the closure of Watford station. However, new stations will be open at Casslobridge and Watford Vicarage Road, as well as two London Overground stations being added to the Underground network at Watford High Street and Watford Junction. However, a report in the Watford Observer reveals how construction has recently halted. On the other hand, the Northern Line Extension (NLE) is expected to open in 2020, and this will see two new stations added to the Network at Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms. There is a possibility for the NLE to expanded in the future to Clapham Junction also.