Leytonstone tube station
Encyclopedia
Leytonstone tube station is on the Central Line
of the London Underground
, on the boundary of Zones 3 and 4. Towards London the next station is Leyton
, while going east from Leytonstone, the line divides into two branches. On the direct route to Woodford
and Epping
the next stop is Snaresbrook
, and on the Hainault
loop
it is Wanstead
.
on 22 August 1856. In turn it became, from 1862, part of the Great Eastern Railway
system and then in 1923 part of the London & North Eastern Railway before being transferred to London Transport in 1947. This formed part of the "New Works Programme 1935 - 1940" that was to see major changes at Leytonstone with the station becoming the junction of the existing Epping branch, newly electrified, with the new tube tunnel running under Eastern Avenue towards Newbury Park
. This work saw a complete reconstruction of the station along with the removal of the level crossing at Church Lane and its replacement by an underbridge. The work stopped in May 1940 due to wartime priorities; further delays were caused by the station buildings being hit by a German bomb in January 1944. During the war, the new tunnels were used as an aircraft component factory; the part closest to Leytonstone was a public air-raid shelter.
The station was first served by the Central Line on 5 May 1947 when it became the temporary terminus of the line, passengers changing on to steam shuttle onwards to Epping
. This ceased on 14 December 1947 with the extension of Underground services to Woodford and Newbury Park.
Alfred Hitchcock
(born August 13, 1899 in Leytonstone
), the London Borough of Waltham Forest
commissioned the Greenwich Mural Workshop to create a series of mosaics of Hitchcock's life and works in the tube station. Work was started in June 2000 and unveiled May 3, 2001.
west of the station, and then running into the normal eastbound platform via a crossover.
adjacent to Leytonstone High Road railway station
, about 400 metres (430 yards) south of the tube station platforms. Despite this proximity there is no direct interchange between the two services, and passengers must either walk or take a bus along the high road for approximately 10 minutes to access the other station. If using an Oyster card
, this is counted as part of a single journey.
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
of the 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...
, on the boundary of Zones 3 and 4. Towards London the next station is Leyton
Leyton tube station
Leyton tube station is a London Underground station at Leyton. Situated opposite Leyton Mills at the end of Leyton High Street. It is on the Central Line between Stratford and Leytonstone. It is in zone 3.-History:...
, while going east from Leytonstone, the line divides into two branches. On the direct route to Woodford
Woodford tube station
Woodford is a London Underground station in Woodford in the London Borough of Redbridge, United Kingdom.The station is on the Central Line between South Woodford and Buckhurst Hill. The station is also a terminus for services via the Hainault loop....
and Epping
Epping tube station
Epping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
the next stop is Snaresbrook
Snaresbrook tube station
Snaresbrook station is a London Underground station on the Central Line, located in Snaresbrook.The station is in Zone 4, between Leytonstone and South Woodford tube stations.-History:...
, and on the Hainault
Hainault tube station
Hainault is a London Underground station on the Central Line in Hainault in the London Borough of Redbridge. Since 2 January 2007 the station is in Travelcard Zone 4. This station is home to one of the three Central Line depots.-History:...
loop
Fairlop Loop
The Fairlop Loop was a 6.5-mile branch line of the Great Eastern Railway . It opened to freight on 20 April 1903 and to passengers on 1 May 1903. It connected Woodford on the Ongar branch to Ilford on the Main Line, along with an eastward freight connection for freight, excursions and stock...
it is Wanstead
Wanstead tube station
Wanstead tube station is a London Underground station in Wanstead, on the Hainault loop of the Central Line. It is in Zone 4.Construction of the station had started in the 1930s, but was delayed by the onset of World War 2. Wanstead was not opened until December 14, 1947...
.
History
The station was opened by the Eastern Counties RailwayEastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
on 22 August 1856. In turn it became, from 1862, part of the Great Eastern Railway
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
system and then in 1923 part of the London & North Eastern Railway before being transferred to London Transport in 1947. This formed part of the "New Works Programme 1935 - 1940" that was to see major changes at Leytonstone with the station becoming the junction of the existing Epping branch, newly electrified, with the new tube tunnel running under Eastern Avenue towards Newbury Park
Newbury Park, London
Newbury Park is a district of Ilford in North-East Greater London, situated in the London Borough of Redbridge east of Gants Hill. The main road is the Eastern Avenue , which until the 1920s was a country lane called Hatch Lane. The main landmark in this town is the Tube station whose post-war bus...
. This work saw a complete reconstruction of the station along with the removal of the level crossing at Church Lane and its replacement by an underbridge. The work stopped in May 1940 due to wartime priorities; further delays were caused by the station buildings being hit by a German bomb in January 1944. During the war, the new tunnels were used as an aircraft component factory; the part closest to Leytonstone was a public air-raid shelter.
The station was first served by the Central Line on 5 May 1947 when it became the temporary terminus of the line, passengers changing on to steam shuttle onwards to Epping
Epping tube station
Epping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex...
. This ceased on 14 December 1947 with the extension of Underground services to Woodford and Newbury Park.
Notable events
In honour of the centenary of the birth of film directorFilm director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
(born August 13, 1899 in Leytonstone
Leytonstone
Leytonstone is an area of east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is a high density suburban area, located seven miles north east of Charing Cross in the ceremonial county of Greater London and the historic county of Essex...
), the London Borough of Waltham Forest
London Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is in northeast London, England. Officially, it forms part of Outer London as it borders Essex. However, it can be seen that the NE London boundary does not extend far compared to elsewhere in the city...
commissioned the Greenwich Mural Workshop to create a series of mosaics of Hitchcock's life and works in the tube station. Work was started in June 2000 and unveiled May 3, 2001.
The station today
The station has three platforms. The centre platform is generally used for through services going westbound, but can be used to terminate trains from both directions. However, due to the configuration of the tracks, trains going eastbound from this platform can only access the Epping branch. Trains needing access to the Hainault branch can do so by shuntingShunt (railway operations)
Shunting, in railway operations, involves the process of sorting items of rolling stock into complete train sets or consists. The United States terminology is "switching"....
west of the station, and then running into the normal eastbound platform via a crossover.
Leytonstone High Road station
The Central Line passes under the Gospel Oak to Barking LineGospel Oak to Barking line
The Gospel Oak – Barking Line is a railway line in north and east London which connects Gospel Oak in North London and Barking in East London as part of the London Overground network. It is sometimes known as the Goblin , although this is a nickname rather than an official title...
adjacent to Leytonstone High Road railway station
Leytonstone High Road railway station
Leytonstone High Road station is a railway station in Leytonstone, London in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, between and . It has two platforms that are elevated approximately 20 feet above ground level, each of which contains a metal shelter, covered but...
, about 400 metres (430 yards) south of the tube station platforms. Despite this proximity there is no direct interchange between the two services, and passengers must either walk or take a bus along the high road for approximately 10 minutes to access the other station. If using an Oyster card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
, this is counted as part of a single journey.