North Acton tube station
Encyclopedia
North Acton tube station is in North Acton
, west London
in the London Borough of Ealing
. The station is on the Central line
of the London Underground
, between East Acton
and Hanger Lane
. It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 2
and Zone 3
.
(NNML) of the Great Central
and Great Western
opened in 1903 and its North Acton railway station followed in 1904.
The Great Western Railway
(GWR) built the Ealing & Shepherd's Bush Railway, which connected the Central London Railway
(CLR) with the GWR's Ealing Broadway station
. CLR trains began using the route on 3 August 1920, The stations at North Acton and were built and owned by the GWR, and both opened on 5 November 1923. As Transport for London
explains:
North of the Central line tracks were two freight lines, removed in the 1960s, running alongside the Central line as far as White City
, to the north of those at a slightly higher level were the two tracks of the NNML
The footbridge to the NNML platforms is on the extreme left of this 1933 photograph.
The NNML platforms closed when the Central line was extended on new track from North Acton to Greenford station
in 1947. Between South Ruislip station
and Old Oak Junction, the GWR line was progressively run down, and in many places it is now single-track, including the stretch running past the tube station. By May 2008, only freight trains and a once-daily passenger service provided by Chiltern Railways
used this stretch of line.
The Underground station had only two platforms until in the early 1990s, for operational flexibility, an island platform was created by building a third platform north of the other two, where the old freight line track bed had been. The third platform became the eastbound road and the erstwhile eastbound platform (now the middle platform) was resignalled to allow it to be used also for terminating and starting services. This change allows shuttle services to be run to White City
from Ealing Broadway and from West Ruislip in the event of problems elsewhere on the Central line, and at certain times of the day some trains coming from central London are scheduled to terminate at North Acton .
This is the last station before the Central line splits into the West Ruislip
and Ealing Broadway
branches. Approximately half the trains stopping at the station head to each destination. The support centre for Carphone Warehouse, NEC
and numerous other companies have offices in the vicinity. There are approximately 600 new flats directly opposite the station which are being populated as of July 2007, and there is a Holiday Inn
Express hotel next door to the station with the Ramada Encore hotel another five minutes' walk away. A new Tesco 'Express' store is now open along with a Lebanese restaurant in the opposite block.
. This would, however, be in an area with no extra passenger generation, and merely to move the station for interchange purposes has never been sufficient reason. The idea was revived in February 2008, when the Greater London Authority
stated in a 'Park Royal draft Opportunity Area Planning Framework' that
In 2004, the multinational Diageo
company agreed to build Central line platforms at Park Royal
station to the west of North Acton, as part of its First Central business park, built on the site of the now demolished Guinness
brewery. By mid-2009 this had not yet happened. Such a new station might influence whether adjacent stations were ever moved (particularly Hanger Lane
station not far to the west). The entrance to a 'North London Line' North Acton station could be just a few metres on the other side of Victoria Road from the current North Acton station eastern entrance. There is a footpath to the west immediately next to the railway, from nearby Chase Road to Park Royal Road.
North Acton
North Acton is a place in West London, UK. It is part of Acton and on the edge of the industrial district of Park Royal. It is located in the London Borough of Ealing.-Commercial activity:...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Ealing
The London Borough of Ealing is a borough in west London.-Location:The London Borough of Ealing borders the London Borough of Hillingdon to the west, the London Borough of Harrow and the London Borough of Brent to the north, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to the east and the London...
. The station is on the Central line
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...
, between East Acton
East Acton tube station
East Acton is a London Underground station in East Acton in west London. The station is on the Central Line, between White City and North Acton stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2...
and Hanger Lane
Hanger Lane tube station
Hanger Lane tube station is a London Underground station. It is located on the West Ruislip branch of the Central Line, between Perivale and North Acton stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station is located in Hanger Hill....
. It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 2
Travelcard Zone 2
Fare zone 2 is an inner zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services.-Background:...
and Zone 3
Travelcard Zone 3
Fare zone 3 is a zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services...
.
History
The joint New North Main LineNew North Main Line
The New North Main Line or NNML is a currently little-used railway line about eleven miles long in north-west London.-History:It opened in 1903 as part of a joint project by the Great Central Railway and the Great Western Railway to improve their access from London to the midlands and north of...
(NNML) of the Great Central
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
and Great Western
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
opened in 1903 and its North Acton railway station followed in 1904.
The Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) built the Ealing & Shepherd's Bush Railway, which connected the Central London Railway
Central London Railway
The Central London Railway , also known as the Twopenny Tube, was a deep-level, underground "tube" railway that opened in London in 1900...
(CLR) with the GWR's Ealing Broadway station
Ealing Broadway station
Ealing Broadway is an east-west National Rail and London Underground station in Ealing in west London. The station is located in Haven Green , at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-Services:...
. CLR trains began using the route on 3 August 1920, The stations at North Acton and were built and owned by the GWR, and both opened on 5 November 1923. As Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
explains:
White City tube station
White City tube station is a London Underground station situated on Wood Lane in White City in west London. The station is on the Central Line, between Shepherds Bush and East Acton stations, in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
, to the north of those at a slightly higher level were the two tracks of the NNML
The footbridge to the NNML platforms is on the extreme left of this 1933 photograph.
The NNML platforms closed when the Central line was extended on new track from North Acton to Greenford station
Greenford station
Greenford station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Greenford, Greater London, and is owned and managed by LUL. It is the terminus of the National Rail Greenford Branch Line, and is in Travelcard Zone 4.-History:...
in 1947. Between South Ruislip station
South Ruislip station
South Ruislip is a station served by London Underground and Chiltern Railways in South Ruislip in west London. The station is owned, managed and staffed by London Underground. The station is in Travelcard Zone 5.-History:...
and Old Oak Junction, the GWR line was progressively run down, and in many places it is now single-track, including the stretch running past the tube station. By May 2008, only freight trains and a once-daily passenger service provided by Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
used this stretch of line.
The Underground station had only two platforms until in the early 1990s, for operational flexibility, an island platform was created by building a third platform north of the other two, where the old freight line track bed had been. The third platform became the eastbound road and the erstwhile eastbound platform (now the middle platform) was resignalled to allow it to be used also for terminating and starting services. This change allows shuttle services to be run to White City
White City tube station
White City tube station is a London Underground station situated on Wood Lane in White City in west London. The station is on the Central Line, between Shepherds Bush and East Acton stations, in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
from Ealing Broadway and from West Ruislip in the event of problems elsewhere on the Central line, and at certain times of the day some trains coming from central London are scheduled to terminate at North Acton .
Today
Passenger access is down from the booking hall, which is part-way down the southern side of the cutting with two exits up to Victoria Road.This is the last station before the Central line splits into the West Ruislip
West Ruislip station
West Ruislip is a Network Rail station located on Ickenham Road between Ickenham and Ruislip in western Greater London; it is served by both London Underground and National Rail trains on independent platforms....
and Ealing Broadway
Ealing Broadway station
Ealing Broadway is an east-west National Rail and London Underground station in Ealing in west London. The station is located in Haven Green , at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-Services:...
branches. Approximately half the trains stopping at the station head to each destination. The support centre for Carphone Warehouse, NEC
NEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
and numerous other companies have offices in the vicinity. There are approximately 600 new flats directly opposite the station which are being populated as of July 2007, and there is a Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
Express hotel next door to the station with the Ramada Encore hotel another five minutes' walk away. A new Tesco 'Express' store is now open along with a Lebanese restaurant in the opposite block.
Development
There have been vague and uncosted suggestions over the years to move the station to the east to provide an interchange with the North London LineNorth London Line
The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail...
. This would, however, be in an area with no extra passenger generation, and merely to move the station for interchange purposes has never been sufficient reason. The idea was revived in February 2008, when the Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
stated in a 'Park Royal draft Opportunity Area Planning Framework' that
In 2004, the multinational Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
company agreed to build Central line platforms at Park Royal
Park Royal tube station
Park Royal is a station on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground. It is between and and is in Travelcard Zone 3. It is situated on the south side of the east-west Western Avenue , surrounded by residential Ealing and industrial Park Royal...
station to the west of North Acton, as part of its First Central business park, built on the site of the now demolished Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
brewery. By mid-2009 this had not yet happened. Such a new station might influence whether adjacent stations were ever moved (particularly Hanger Lane
Hanger Lane tube station
Hanger Lane tube station is a London Underground station. It is located on the West Ruislip branch of the Central Line, between Perivale and North Acton stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station is located in Hanger Hill....
station not far to the west). The entrance to a 'North London Line' North Acton station could be just a few metres on the other side of Victoria Road from the current North Acton station eastern entrance. There is a footpath to the west immediately next to the railway, from nearby Chase Road to Park Royal Road.