5/270 - Farringdon

Farringdon station exterior in 2017,
21st March 2017

Despite being one the original stations to open on the London Underground in 1863, Farringdon station has changed quite a lot of the years, but still regains a certain type of character. 7 million people use national rail services from Farringdon each year, and it is the 18th busiest railway station in the capital. Exciting times are ahead for Farringdon, as when Crossrail opens here in 2018, it is expected the station will be one of the busiest not only in London, but in the UK. With Crossrail trains running every 2 and a half minutes, Thameslink and three London Underground lines, Farringdon will become a major station for the capital. 

Circle line train leaving
the Westbound platform
at Farringdon,
21st March 2017

Farringdon opened as an original terminus for the first London Underground line, known as the Metropolitan Railway, which ran services from Paddington to Farringdon with stations between being; Edgware Road, Baker Street, Great Portland Street, Euston Square and King's Cross St. Pancras. In modern times, Farringdon is served by the Metropolitan line, Circle line and Hammersmith & City line, making the station the 29th busiest on the London Underground network.

Roof at Farringdon station,
21st March 2017

One of the most dominating features at the station is the roof, which was completed in 2015. Three major developments are currently in operation at the station, one of them has already been mentioned, Crossrail. Another development is part of the Thameslink programme, an upgrade to the route to enable more frequent and larger trains, this is expected to finish next year. The Four Lines Modernisation is the third development in place. This is the re signalling of London's four sub surface underground lines, three of which serve Farringdon; Hammersmith and City line, Circle line and Metropolitan line. The fourth line is the District line, but no District line services call at Farringdon. 

Cool Fact

Once all three of these upgrades have been completed by 2023, 200 trains per hour will call at Farringdon, this equates to one train every 20 seconds somewhere at the station, whether it be a Crossrail train, Thameslink train or Underground train.

Farringdon is a station filled with history, yet the station, in 2017 it is still as important to the capital as it was when it opened in 1863. 

More photos 

Farringdon station entrance,
21st March 2017

Platforms at Farringdon,
21st March 2017

Roundel at Farringdon,
21st March 2017

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