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The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of 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. Although much of it originated as part of the North London Railway, the current route is the result of a series of amalgamations, closures and re-openings; and has a mixed third-rail and overhead electrical power supply. It is an important freight route and is used by the Richmond to Stratford service of the London Overground, as part of the National Rail network.^[1]

To allow four-car trains to run on the London Overground network, the North London Line between Gospel Oak and Stratford closed in February 2010, with reopening envisaged for 1 June 2010, for installing a new signalling system and for extending 30 platforms. After the reopening the work will continue until May 2011 with a reduced service and none on Sundays.^[2]

History

Formation

North London Line

Legend Aligned dotted routes connect off this map If display breaks up, clicking hide/show buttons may cure it. Waterloo to Reading Line (▲ Reading ) Richmond District line Single track link from platform 3 Link lifted.  LO and LU share tracks Richmond to G'bury Waterloo to Reading Line (◄ Waterloo ) Kew Gardens Kew Railway Bridge across River Thames (Chiswick - Kew Bridge) Hounslow Loop Link lifted Kew (L&SWJR) 1853-1866 Gunnersbury District (◄ Turnham Green) Freight/SOC link lifted District and Piccadilly lines (◄ Up - Down ►) Separate tracks Bollo Lane S. Acton Jn District and freight link lifted South Acton  (LU service to Acton Town 1905-1959) Freight link lifted Hammersmith & Chiswick branch (1857 - 1965) Acton Central Churchfield Road Great Western Main Line (Paddington - Bristol) HUB = Acton Wells Junction Central line New North Main Line To WCML and Dudding Hill Line ◄ West London Line to Clapham Junction Old Oak (or South West/ern) sidings WCML (◄ Up - Down ►) The junction is Willesden Junction Watford DC Line (LO) and Bakerloo (LU) share tracks. (Down ►) Willesden Junction HL/LL (◄ Up) Watford DC Line to Euston, B'loo to El. & Castle From West Coast Main Line Kensal Green Turnback Siding Kensal Green & Harlesden (1861-1873) Brondesbury Park Brondesbury Chiltern Main Line (Marylebone - Birmingham) Metropolitan tracks wrap Jubilee tracks Jubilee line West Hampstead LU West Hampstead NLL MML 3rd crossing (◄ St Pancras - The North ►) Thameslink  West Hampstead TLK Finchley Road & Frognal Hampstead Heath Tunnel above Northern line to Edgware Hampstead Heath Freight link Gospel Oak   Gospel Oak to Barking Line ► Lifted link to Gospel Oak to Barking Line MML 2nd crossing (▲ The North - St Pancras ▼) ▲ Down Watford DC Line ▲ Down West Coast Main Line Kentish Town West (1867-1971, re-opened 1981) Up West Coast Main Line to Euston ▼ Up Watford DC Line to Euston,  Primrose Hill (1855-1992) Northern line to Barnet Camden Road  4-track after here to §§ except 2/3 at ## ◄ St Pancras MML 1st crossing (◄ St Pancras - The North ▲) High Speed 1 (◄ St Pancras - Channel Tunnel ▼) Maiden Lane (NLR) (1887-1917) East Coast Main Line (King's Cross - Edinburgh)  Noise abating covered bridge leads into tunnel Piccadilly line From here to near Homerton HS1 tunnel runs beneath NLL Caledonian Road & Barnsbury first site (1852-1870) Caledonian Road & Barnsbury Dual voltage transfer link. ## = 2/3 track. LH track is ELL Highbury & Islington Victoria line Northern City Line (Moorgate - Finsbury Park) NLL-ECML chord Canonbury Canonbury first site (1858-1870) Mildmay Park (1880-1934) To ELL from 2010.  §§ End of 4-track Dalston Kingsland (1850-1865, re-opened 1983) Dalston Junction (1865-1986) on NLR City Extn to Broad Street Link lifted Graham Road curve ◄ Liverpool Street WAML and Lea Valley Lines Hackney Central   (1850-1944, re-opened 1980) Homerton   (1868-1944, re-opened 1985) HS1 (▲ St Pancras International - Channel Tunnel ►) Victoria Park (1856-1943). Track rebuilt in 1960s Lifted link to Old Ford on former L&BR Hackney Wick River Lee (or Lea) Link to Lea Valley Lines DLR under construction to Stratford International HUB = Stratford also suffixed "Regional" or "(London)"  (HL)  LO from Richmond  (HL)  Great Eastern Main Line  (HL)  Central line  (HL)  DLR from Poplar  (LL)  Jubilee Line  (NLL service 1855-2008) Links to GEML lifted CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS  1) DLR from Poplar platforms now at W end of HL station. 2) NLL S of Stratford to North Woolwich closed Nov 2006  to become DLR from Stratford to Canning Town in 2010. 3) NLL from W uses new platforms at N of HL station. 4) DLR to go N to Stratford International via former NLL platforms. 5) DLR to S to open 2 new stations between Stratford and  West Ham: Stratford High Street (on site of former  Stratford Market railway station) and Abbey Road; also  Star Lane, between West Ham and Canning Town. 6) NLL West Ham and Canning Town become DLR stations. 7) DLR from Stratford to join WA line S of Canning Town. 8) Crossrail to use part of NLL S of Canning Town. Stratford Market (1847-1957) District and H&C lines, shared tracks London, Tilbury and Southend Line West Ham, (NLL service 1979-2006) Link lifted DLR from East India Canning Town (NLL service 1855- 2006) Jubilee line towards North Greenwich From Tidal Basin to past Pontoon Dock DLR route to Woolwich Arsenal is elevated on line of Silvertown Tramway Tidal Basin (1858-1943). Line at left was Silvertown Tramway Royal Victoria Custom House. (NLL service 1855-2006) DLR to Beckton West Silvertown  To Gallions ► Pontoon Dock Connaught Tunnel DLR to Woolwich Arsenal Line at left (Silvertown Tramway) was first EC&TJR route Silvertown & London City Airport (1863-2006) North Woolwich (1847-2006) Woolwich Free Ferry

The North London Line between Richmond and North Woolwich derives from five connecting sections which were opened over 25 years from 1846:

• The easternmost section opened as the Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway in 1846/7 between Stratford and North Woolwich. The later construction of the Royal Victoria Dock necessitated a swing-bridge on the original route south of Canning Town which was rerouted in 1850 via Custom House and the Connaught Tunnel. The original route was retained as the Silvertown Tramway, a local freight line connected at both ends to the new main line.

• The main central section opened from 1850 to 1852 as the East & West India Docks & Birmingham Junction Railway (renamed the North London Railway (NLR) in 1853). This gave a link from the Euston main line near Primrose Hill to the docks at Poplar via Bow.

• In the west, the North & South Western Junction Railway was opened in 1853 from Willesden to a junction with the Hounslow Loop Line near Kew Bridge.

• The last link in the east was opened between the NLR near Victoria Park and Stratford in 1854.

• To obviate NLR trains running on the busy Euston main line, the Hampstead Junction Railway was opened from the NLR at Camden Road to Willesden via Hampstead Heath in 1860.

• To give the NLR direct access to the City of London the City Extension to Broad Street was opened from Dalston Junction in 1865.

• The final part of the route was the opening of a link from South Acton to Richmond by the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) in 1869.

Developments

The line between Broad Street and both Kew Bridge and Richmond was electrified by the LNWR in 1916 on the 4th rail DC system.

In 1944 passenger service on the NLR Poplar branch ceased. Freight traffic probably continued on the branch until the docks on the Isle of Dogs closed during the 1960s and 1980s. The trackbed of the southern part of the branch, from Poplar to Bow, was used for the Docklands Light Railway branch to Stratford.

In 1979 the North Woolwich to Stratford service was extended to Camden Road as the CrossTown LinkLine service using the same Cravens-built diesel multiple unit trains. There were no intermediate stations until in 1980 Hackney Wick, near the site of the former Victoria Park station, opened and Hackney Central re-opened, Homerton re-opened in 1985 (both those stations had closed in 1944. New platforms were built at West Ham for interchange with the adjacent Underground station.

In the 1980s Broad Street station closed and the Tottenham Hale–Stratford link and the station at Lea Bridge ceased to be used by regular passenger trains. The line between Dalston and North Woolwich was electrified on the third-rail system and Broad Street services were diverted to North Woolwich using former Southern Region 2-EPB types built in the 1950s. The two-coach trains soon proved too small and were replaced by Class 313 electric multiple units. The new service was branded by British Rail as the North London Link, and some signs using this name still exist.

In December 2006, the line between Stratford and North Woolwich was permanently closed to make a way for a future Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension from Canning Town to Stratford International (Opening December 13, 2009). The section south of Canning Town is largely duplicated by the DLR King George V branch and the stretch of track from Canning Town to Stratford follows the Jubilee Line. The section south of Stratford had always been the Cinderella end of the line, when there were operating problems it was common for trains to be turned short at Stratford.

The whole of the remaining Silverlink Metro became part of Transport for London's (TfL) London Overground in 2007.

Former services

In addition to the primary Broad Street - Richmond service there were services that linked Broad Street with Harrow & Wealdstone and Watford Junction on the West Coast Main Line. Most of these were routed via the line between South Hampstead and Camden Road, calling at Primrose Hill, although some travelled via Hampstead Heath and switched to the Watford line at Willesden Junction. By the time that Broad Street closed in 1986 the Watford services operated only in the rush hours, and they were diverted to Liverpool Street by way of a new link in Hackney, known as the Graham Road Curve. However, with trains frequently cancelled, and some timed to arrive at Liverpool Street station after the start of the working day (plus the evening workings also being timed to not be suitable for office workers), patronage was very low and after a few years they were withdrawn.

In 2000 Anglia Railways started a service between Basingstoke and Ipswich, utilising parts of the North London Line. The service was called London Crosslink and ran up to five times a day at roughly two-hourly intervals. The service called only at principal stations such as Staines, Feltham and Brentford. On the North London Line the trains called only at Stratford, Highbury & Islington, Camden Road (some services), West Hampstead and Willesden Junction. The service was withdrawn in 2002.

The AC electrification of the eastern part of the North London Line uses the previously unelectrified northern pair of tracks, which were also partially singled at the same time. Between Canonbury and Highbury & Islington there is a line which links to the East Coast Main Line at Finsbury Park. This used to carry passenger trains to / from various North London stations (such as Edgware, Alexandra Palace, High Barnet, Welwyn Garden City and others) over part of the North London Line to Broad Street Station, however since the opening of the Great Northern Electrics suburban electrification which in the 1970s saw trains being diverted into Moorgate and London King's Cross stations; this link has only been used for freight trains. It too was singled concurrent with the AC electrification of the eastern part of the North London Line.

Route

Geographical map of the North London Line

Track

Most of the line runs in a curve across north London. Only Richmond and Kew Gardens stations at the western end are south of the River Thames. The river crossing is made by Kew Railway Bridge on tracks which are shared with the London Underground District Line. The location of the eastern extremity has varied over the years. Between 1944 and 1986 it was at Broad Street station, then it switched to North Woolwich. It was cut back to Stratford. A tunnel, the Hampstead Heath tunnel, runs under Hampstead between Finchley Road & Frognal and Hampstead Heath. The line is double track throughout with a mix of triple and quadruple track between Camden Road and Dalston Kingsland. The former North Woolwich branch included a section of single track between Custom House and North Woolwich stations, and the Broad Street branch was at one time formed of quadruple track.

Electric supply

The line is electrified using the third rail system from Richmond to Acton Central and Camden Road to Dalston Kingsland (southern pair of lines only). Overhead lines are used from Acton Central to Camden Road, Camden Road to Dalston Kingsland (freight lines only) and Dalston Kingsland to Channelsea Junctions (link to Temple Mills, Stratford High Level and Liverpool Street). The line to Broad Street used third rail supply and when the through service to North Woolwich started in 1985 trains used the third rail throughout. When the trains were replaced a few years later by dual-system Class 313 trains it became possible to use the overhead electrification system which had been added to parts of the line for the benefit of freight trains. There had been some unexpected difficulties with earth currents from the third rail system which this overcame. This usage was steadily extended and trains now make a number of changes between electrification systems during their short journey. These are at Dalston Kingsland, Camden Road and Acton Central.

The line is now electrified thus: Third rail Richmond to Acton Central, and Camden Road to Dalston Kingsland. It is electrified at overhead 25kV between Acton Central and Camden Road, and Dalston Kingsland to Stratford. This will change during 2010 when the only section of line to remain on the third-rail system will be Richmond to Acton Central; the rest of the line between Acton Central and Stratford will use 25kV overhead.

Connections

The line crosses or comes into contact with a very large number of railway lines, especially lines radiating from central London. This does provide opportunities to move between separate sectors of suburban London without having to enter the central zone.

Interchanges shown on the tube map

• at Richmond, to and from South West Trains services including the Kingston loop line.
• at Gunnersbury, connecting NLL services north of the station to District line services east of the station.
• at Willesden Junction, with the Bakerloo line, Watford DC Line and West London Line.
• at West Hampstead, with the Jubilee line and First Capital Connect stations, each situated a short walk either side of the NLL station.
• at Gospel Oak, to and from the Gospel Oak to Barking line of London Overground.
• at Highbury & Islington, to and from the Victoria line and the deep-level main line tube via Finsbury Park to Moorgate, currently operated by First Capital Connect (and from January 2011, the East London Line).
• at Stratford, to and from the Central line, Great Eastern Main line National Express East Anglia services between East Anglia and Liverpool Street, the Jubilee line, and Docklands Light Railway.

Other interchanges

• at Brondesbury, to and from Kilburn station on the Jubilee line.
• at Finchley Road & Frognal, to and from Finchley Road station on the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines, a walk of about 400m.
• at Camden Road, which is about 400m from Camden Town on the Northern line.
• at Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, which is about 1/2km from Caledonian Road on the Piccadilly Line.
• at Hackney Central which is about 500m from Hackney Downs station for National Express East Anglia services.
• at South Acton, to and from Acton Town station on the Piccadilly and District lines. This is a walk of a little over 1km.
• at Dalston Kingsland, where interchanges can be made 200m away with the East London Line at Dalston Junction railway station from May 2010

former interchanges

• at North Woolwich passengers could cross the Thames via the Woolwich foot tunnel or the free ferry to Woolwich Arsenal station for connections on the North Kent line to Medway Towns, Gravesend, Dartford, Sidcup, Abbey Wood, Blackheath, Lewisham, Greenwich and Central London

Current operations

Rolling stock

Old and new: a Class 313 and its replacement, a Class 378 Capitalstar at Richmond

London Overground uses Class 378 Capitalstar three-car dual-voltage electric trains, compatible with both 750V DC third-rail and 25kV AC overhead power sources. The trains will be extended to four cars in 2010–11.^[3] The Class 378 Capitalstars replace the Class 313 trains, which were withdrawn from the route in February 2010.

Service levels

Despite published performance figures^[4] the North London Line is regarded by frequent travellers as offering a poor service,^[5] with extremely congested trains and an unreliable service^[6] with some trains cancelled shortly before they are due to arrive. A 2006 London Assembly report described the current service as "shabby, unreliable, unsafe and overcrowded", proposing the transfer of the service to Transport for London (TfL) as a potential solution to improve the quality of the service ^[7] due to upgrade plans ^[8] which coincide with the extension of the East London line.

A report on the future of the line can be found on the London Assembly website^[9].

Current development

Map of the projected London Overground network, with the NLL connected to other lines

East London Line extension

By February 2011, the extended East London Line will connect to the NLL with ELL services joining the line west of Dalston Kingsland, running to Highbury & Islington.^[10]

Increased train frequency

By 2011, according to TfL, all lines will be provided with a 'turn up and go' service, which means a minimum of 4 trains per hour in both directions.^[11]

Planned service patterns^[12] are:

• 4 tph Stratford - Camden Road - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Richmond (as current service)
• 2 tph Stratford - Camden Road - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Clapham Junction
• 2 tph Stratford - Camden Road

Proposed developments

Crossrail (Abbey Wood branch)

The route between Custom House and North Woolwich is proposed to be used by the Crossrail project as part of the Abbey Wood branch. There were plans for this section to be used temporarily by the Royal Docks Heritage Railway but the present status of this project is unclear.

Maiden Lane station

Maiden Lane station may be reopened by Camden Council^[13] however the Office of Rail Regulation has not included this in the current plans^[14].

Possible Crossrail extension to Houslow

• Hounslow council have proposed that part of the North London Line be used as a branch of Crossrail to Hounslow.^[15] This would see Crossrail services stopping at Acton Central and South Acton. It is unlikely to be included in the initial Crossrail bill, but could form part of a later extension.

Closed stations

Silverlink Metro 313117 at North Woolwich on 9 December 2006, the final day of service at that station

Closed stations apart from those on the closed sections of the line are:

• Kensal Green & Harlesden
• Maiden Lane
• Mildmay Park
• Victoria Park station

City Extension

On 1 November 1865 the NLR opened its City Extension mostly on a viaduct from a triangular junction at Dalston to Broad Street in the City with these stations:

• Dalston Junction
• Haggerston
• Shoreditch
• Broad Street.

The extension closed on 30 June 1986, but although the track was lifted the viaduct remains in place and is partially used for the East London Line development.

The extended East London Line will be operated by London Overground, the operators of passenger services on the North London Line, with services eventually running as far as Highbury & Islington in the north for interchange with the Victoria line.

North Woolwich section

On 10 December 2006 the line between Stratford and North Woolwich was closed to allow building between Stratford and Canning Town of a Docklands Light Railway line to Stratford International. Part of the south end of closed section is to be used for Crossrail.^[16]

NLL stations closed were:

• Stratford low level
• West Ham
• Canning Town
• Custom House
• Silvertown
• North Woolwich

DLR and Jubilee line services are not affected at the first three of those stations.

The DLR line to Stratford International will use the former NLL low level platforms at Stratford. NLL trains now terminate at new platforms on the north side of the high level station.

Trivia

• The line was for long the only National Rail route shown on the London Underground map. It was added in 1977^{[citation needed]}.
• The North Cross Route, one side of the Ringway 1 inner ring road, would have paralleled the North London Line.

References

Bibliography

• HP White. 1971. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, Volume 3 - Greater London. ISBN 0-7153-5337-3

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