Whitechapel | |
---|---|
Bengali: হোয়াইটচ্যাপেল | |
Location | Whitechapel |
Local authority | London Borough of Tower Hamlets |
Managed by | London Underground |
Owner | Transport for London |
Station code(s) | ZLW |
Number of platforms | 6 |
Accessible | Yes |
Fare zone | 2 |
London Underground annual entry and exit | |
2019 | 13.09 million [1] |
2020 | 7.62 million [2] |
2021 | 6.21 million [3] |
2022 | 14.27 million [4] |
2023 | 17.45 million [5] |
National Rail annual entry and exit | |
2019–20 | 13.312 million [6] |
2020–21 | 4.142 million [6] |
2021–22 | 9.273 million [6] |
2022–23 | 23.307 million [6] |
2023–24 | 35.247 million [6] |
Key dates | |
10 April 1876 | Opening of ELR station |
6 October 1884 | Opening of DR station |
2 June 1902 | Rebuilding of DR station |
1995–1998 | East London line closed |
2007–2010 | East London line closed |
27 April 2010 [7] | East London line reopened |
24 May 2022 | Elizabeth line opened |
Other information | |
External links | |
Coordinates | 51°31′10″N0°03′40″W / 51.5195°N 0.0612°W |
London transportportal |
Whitechapel is an interchange station in Whitechapel, East London for London Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line services. [8] The station is located behind a street market of the same name and opposite Tower Hamlets Town Hall. The station was comprehensively rebuilt in the late 2010s and early 2020s as part of the Crossrail project.
The station lies between Aldgate East and Stepney Green stations on the District and Hammersmith & City lines of the Underground, and between Shoreditch High Street and Shadwell stations on the Windrush line of the Overground. To the west of Whitechapel, on the Elizabeth line, is Liverpool Street; to the east the line splits, with one branch heading towards to Stratford and the other to Canary Wharf. Whitechapel is in Travelcard Zone 2.
This section needs additional citations for verification .(March 2015) |
Whitechapel station was originally opened in 1876 when the East London Railway (ELR, now the East London line) was extended north from Wapping to Liverpool Street station. The ELR owned the tracks and stations but did not operate trains. From the beginning, various railway companies provided services through Whitechapel including the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR), the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LC&DR), Great Eastern Railway (GER) and the South Eastern Railway (SER). [9]
On 6 October 1884, the District Railway (DR, now the District line) opened a new station adjacent to the deeper ELR station as the terminus of an extension from Mansion House [10] (part of the extension also formed the final section of the Circle line [10] [11] ). The new station was given the name "Whitechapel (Mile End)". The ELR passenger service between Whitechapel and Liverpool Street was withdrawn in 1885. The station received its present name on 13 November 1901.
On 1 February 1902, the DR station was temporarily closed for rebuilding. It reopened on 2 June 1902, when the DR opened the Whitechapel & Bow Railway, a joint venture with the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LT&SR). [10] The new extension ran eastwards to Bromley-by-Bow where it joined the LT&SR's tracks. [10] DR services then operated regularly to Upminster and as far as Southend-on-Sea in the summer. [10]
The DR tracks were electrified in 1905 and electric trains replaced steam trains. [10] Services going eastwards were cut back to the limit of electrification at East Ham; later they were re-extended to Barking in 1908, and to Upminster in 1932. [10] [12]
On 3 December 1906, the Metropolitan Railway (MR, which in 1933 became the Metropolitan line) extended its service to Whitechapel as the eastern terminus of its service. [13] The MR also ran trains over the southern section of ELR via a connection (St Mary's Curve) between the DR tracks west of Whitechapel and the ELR tracks north of Shadwell station. When the tracks of the ELR were electrified in 1913, the MR ended services to the DR station and extended its ELR service through Whitechapel to Shoreditch (at that time the terminus of the line, but now closed). The change of service took place on 31 March 1913.
On 30 March 1936, the Metropolitan line began operating again through the District line station as far as Barking. [13]
During the 1980s, the London Transport considered converting the East London line into a light railway similar to the Docklands Light Railway, or restoring the then-disused connection to Liverpool Street reconnecting Whitechapel to Liverpool Street via Shoreditch. [14] [ full citation needed ] [15]
The line had also become a line in its own right (though it was still grouped operationally with the Metropolitan line) and, from 1990, its colour on the map changed to orange. At the same time, the Hammersmith-Barking section of the Metropolitan line has also been operated separately as the Hammersmith & City line after it appeared as a completely separate line and its colour changed to pink on the tube map. [13]
On 25 March 1995, during the construction of the Jubilee Line Extension, the East London line was closed to allow repair works on the Thames Tunnel. General renovations and new signalling works were undertaken at the same time. The line reopened south from Whitechapel on 25 March 1998 and north from Whitechapel on 27 September 1998.
Throughout its life, Whitechapel has been used extensively as an eastern terminus; however, since the timetable change in December 2009, trains have reversed at Plaistow instead of Whitechapel. This is owing to operational changes related to the construction work to build one large island platform.
In preparation for the extension of the East London line to Dalston Junction and Highbury & Islington, the line north of Whitechapel to Shoreditch was closed on 9 June 2006. Services to Shoreditch had previously been run during peak hours and Sunday mornings only; these were replaced by a bus link.
Work on the extension of the East London line commenced and the line was closed on 22 December 2007. It reopened on 27 April 2010 when tracks on a new alignment were connected to a disused North London line viaduct from Shoreditch to Dalston, making Whitechapel part of the London Overground network. Temporary bus services operated during the closure, of which rail replacement route ELW remained in service until the ELL fully opened on 23 May 2010. [16] The southern extension of phase 1 from New Cross Gate to Crystal Palace and West Croydon was completed simultaneously with that to Dalston in 2010 and a full service began in May 2010. [17]
In early 2015, because there were no services running on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines between Edgware Road and Aldgate East/Tower Hill, a revised Circle line service operated between Edgware Road and Barking via Victoria. This occurred because of track drainage replacement and station works at Euston Square, Moorgate and Liverpool Street. It was the first time a regular Circle line service had called at Whitechapel.[ citation needed ]
Owing to Crossrail work that took place at Whitechapel station, Night Overground services initially did not stop at that station until works were complete. [18] From December 2019, Night Overground began to stop additionally at Whitechapel. [19]
In the 2010s and early 2020s, the station was comprehensively rebuilt as part of the Crossrail project. [20] The work was undertaken by a joint venture of Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall and Taylor Woodrow Construction. [21]
The work involved restoring the historic station entrance, building a new station concourse and ticket hall above the Underground and Overground tracks, widening the sub-surface line platforms, and providing an intermediate concourse above the Overground tracks – as well as platforms and other infrastructure for Elizabeth line services. [20] [22] 10 lifts provide step free access to all platforms, with 3 escalators providing access down to the Elizabeth line platforms. [23] A new north-south, free public access route through the station is also provided, shortening journeys for local residents. [20]
Originally forecast in the early 2010s to cost £110m, the work at Whitechapel is estimated to have cost around £830m. [24] Crossrail CEO Mark Wild stated that Whitechapel was “one of the most challenging Elizabeth Line stations to construct”, [22] with challenges including building the new concourse above live railway lines, as well as ensuring continued use of the station by passengers. [23] A temporary ticket hall off Court Street maintained access into the station during the 5 year period that the main entrance was closed. [25] [20]
The revamped original entrance reopened on 23 August 2021. [22]
When opened on 24 May 2022, [8] services initially ran between Paddington and Abbey Wood only. Since 6 November 2022, the line splits into two branches just east of the station: one towards Shenfield, joining the Great Eastern Main Line just south of Stratford, and the other continuing to Abbey Wood [26] The Elizabeth Line platforms lie to the north of the station, with access via escalators down from the intermediate concourse above the Overground tracks.
Whitechapel station has bilingual station signage, owing to the large Bengali community in the local area. In March 2022, station signs on the platforms bear "Whitechapel" and also "হোয়াইটচ্যাপেল" in Bengali. [27] It is one of the relatively few stations in England to have bilingual signage, others being Southall (Punjabi), Wallsend (Latin), Hereford (Welsh), Moreton-in-Marsh (Japanese) and St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International (all French). Mayor of London Sadiq Khan stated that he was "delighted" that the signage was installed ahead of Bangladesh Independence Day on 26 March. [27] The installation was applauded by not only Bangladeshi diplomats, but also Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal. [28]
This section needs additional citations for verification .(March 2015) |
Whitechapel has the unusual situation where the District and Hammersmith & City line London Underground platforms are located above the Windrush line London Overground platforms.
The station used to have six platforms in open cuttings north of Whitechapel Road. The Hammersmith & City and District lines had two eastbound and two westbound (although trains could have reversed direction from any platform during times of disruption or engineering work). There was a siding beside platform 4 track accessed from the east side of the station which could accept a 6-car C or D stock train. There was another siding from platform 1 eastbound. This was of sufficient length and signalled to hold only a six car C stock train and when it was holding a train the platform (one) could only be used as a terminal, to reverse trains east to west, not as a through platform. The Windrush line (now part of London Overground) has one northbound and one southbound platform. They are sited at the eastern end of the station and are in a deeper cutting.
In September 2011 the track was permanently removed from platforms 2, 3, and 4. Platform 4 has been extended over the trackbed and westbound trains use the route of the old siding which has been connected to the main line at the western end to provide a through route. This platform is renumbered platform 2. Trailing crossovers are provided at each end of the station. The two island platforms were combined to form one large island platform with a central circulating area. A new double-ended centre reversing siding has been constructed beyond West Ham to compensate for the loss of reversing facilities from Whitechapel. Since December 2009 Hammersmith & City line trains have not been scheduled to reverse at Whitechapel. Outside peak hours they currently reverse alternately at Plaistow and Barking.
The St Mary's curve connection between the District line track and the East London line [29] was used for passenger traffic until 1941, but was subsequently only used to transfer empty trains to and from the other sub-surface lines. The curve was often lit and could easily be seen from the left-hand side of East London line trains entering Whitechapel station from the south, prior to the refurbishment of the East London line that commenced in late December 2007. The points on the District line, connecting it to the curve, were removed in summer 2008. Just west of Whitechapel is the site of the former St Mary's station, one of the many closed London Underground stations. [29]
In 1997, Vitreous enamel panels designed by Doug Patterson were installed on the East London line (now part of the London Overground) platforms. [30]
On the Elizabeth line platforms, colourful paper collages of local residents by Chantal Joffe have been recreated in aluminium. This work is titled "A Sunday afternoon in Whitechapel". [31] [32]
Services at Whitechapel are operated by the Elizabeth line; the Windrush line of the London Overground; and the District and Hammersmith & City lines of the London Underground.
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:
Operator/line | Frequency to destination |
---|---|
London Underground District line [33] | Eastbound 3 tph to ‹See TfM› Barking 12 tph to ‹See TfM› Upminster |
Westbound 3 tph to ‹See TfM› Wimbledon 6 tph to ‹See TfM› Richmond 6 tph to ‹See TfM› Ealing Broadway | |
London Underground Hammersmith & City line [34] | Eastbound 6 tph to ‹See TfM› Barking |
Westbound 6 tph to Hammersmith | |
London Overground Windrush line [35] | Northbound 8 tph to Dalston Junction 8 tph to ‹See TfM› Highbury & Islington |
Southbound 4 tph to New Cross 4 tph to Crystal Palace 4 tph to ‹See TfM› West Croydon 4 tph to Clapham Junction | |
Elizabeth line [36] | Eastbound 8 tph to Abbey Wood 8 tph to Shenfield |
Westbound 6 tph to ‹See TfM› London Paddington 4 tph to Heathrow Terminal 4 2 tph to ‹See TfM› Heathrow Terminal 5 2 tph to Maidenhead 2 tph to Reading |
London Buses routes 25, 205, 254, D3 and night routes N25, N205 and N253 serve the station. [37] The 106 which displays Whitechapel as the destination and previously stopped outside the station entrance has been re-routed and terminates a 5 minute walk away in Cavell Street [38]
The East London line is part of the London Overground, running north to south through the East, Docklands and South areas of London. It was previously a line of the London Underground.
The Hammersmith & City line is a London Underground line that runs between Hammersmith in west London and ‹See TfM›Barking in east London. Coloured pink on the Tube map, it serves 29 stations over 15.8 miles (25.5 km). Between ‹See TfM›Farringdon and Aldgate East it skirts the City of London, the capital's financial heart, hence the line's name. Its tunnels are just below the surface and are a similar size to those on British main lines. Most of the track and all stations are shared with the District, Circle or Metropolitan lines. Over 141 million passenger journeys are made each year on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines.
Liverpool Street station, also known as London Liverpool Street, is a major central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, in the ward of Bishopsgate Without. It is the terminus of the West Anglia Main Line to Cambridge, the Great Eastern Main Line to Norwich, commuter trains serving east London and destinations in the East of England, and the Stansted Express service to Stansted Airport.
Highbury & Islington is an interchange station in the London Borough of Islington, north London for London Underground, London Overground and National Rail services. The station is served by the Underground's Victoria line, the Overground's Mildmay and Windrush lines and Great Northern's Northern City line.
Clapham Junction is a major railway station near St John's Hill in south-west Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, England, 2 miles 57 chains from ‹See TfM›London Victoria and 3 miles 74 chains from ‹See TfM›London Waterloo. Despite its name, Clapham Junction is not in Clapham, a district 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south-east.
Richmond, also known as Richmond (London), is an interchange station in Richmond, Greater London on the Waterloo to Reading and North London lines. It is a western terminus of both the District line of the London Underground and the Mildmay line of the London Overground. South Western Railway services on the Waterloo to Reading Line are routed through Richmond, which is between North Sheen and St Margarets stations, 9 miles 57 chains (15.6 km) down the line from ‹See TfM›London Waterloo.
West Ham is a London Underground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and National Rail intermodal interchange station in West Ham, London, United Kingdom. The station is served by London Underground's District, Hammersmith & City and Jubilee lines, the Stratford International branch of the DLR, and c2c National Rail services.
Farringdon is an interchange station located in Clerkenwell, London, England, in the London Borough of Islington, just outside the boundary of the City of London for London Underground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services.
Aldgate East is a London Underground station on Whitechapel High Street in Whitechapel, in London, England. It takes its name from the City of London ward of Aldgate, the station lying to the east of the ward. It is on the Hammersmith & City line between Liverpool Street and Whitechapel, and on the District line between Tower Hill and Whitechapel, in Travelcard Zone 1.
Barbican is a London Underground station situated near the Barbican Estate, on the edge of the ward of Farringdon Within, in the City of London in Central London. It has been known by various names since its opening in 1865, mostly in reference to the neighbouring ward of Aldersgate.
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Stepney Green is a London Underground station located on Mile End Road in Stepney, London, United Kingdom. It is between Whitechapel and Mile End on the District line and the Hammersmith & City line, and is in Travelcard Zone 2.
Barking is an interchange station serving the town of Barking, east London. It is served by London Underground, London Overground and National Rail main line services. It is located on Station Parade, in the town centre.
Seven Sisters is an interchange station located in the Seven Sisters area of the London Borough of Haringey, North London for London Underground and London Overground services.
Westbourne Park is a London Underground station in the Notting Hill area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, between Ladbroke Grove and Royal Oak stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 2.
Honor Oak Park is an interchange station between the Windrush line of the London Overground and National Rail services operated by Southern, located in the suburban area of Honor Oak in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is 4 miles 59 chains down the line from ‹See TfM›London Bridge, between Brockley and Forest Hill. It is located in Travelcard Zone 3.
Gunnersbury is an interchange station in Gunnersbury, London, situated on the District line of the London Underground and the Mildmay line of the London Overground. The station is located off Chiswick High Road (A315) and opened on 1 January 1869.
Shoreditch High Street is a station on the Windrush line of the London Overground, located on Bethnal Green Road in Shoreditch, East London. Situated in Travelcard Zone 1, it is located between Whitechapel and Hoxton stations. The station opened on 27 April 2010 as part of the East London line extension, replacing the nearby London Underground station at Shoreditch which closed in 2006.
Hoxton is a station on the Windrush line of the London Overground, located in the London Borough of Hackney in East London. It is on the Kingsland Viaduct, with the station entrance situated on Geffrye Street near Dunloe Street and Cremer Street, behind the Museum of the Home.
The transport system now known as the London Underground began in 1863 with the Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground railway. Over the next forty years, the early sub-surface lines reached out from the urban centre of the capital into the surrounding rural margins, leading to the development of new commuter suburbs. At the turn of the nineteenth century, new technology—including electric locomotives and improvements to the tunnelling shield—enabled new companies to construct a series of "tube" lines deeper underground. Initially rivals, the tube railway companies began to co-operate in advertising and through shared branding, eventually consolidating under the single ownership of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL), with lines stretching across London.
A working party set up by London Regional Transport and British Rail to examine potential sites for light railway networks in London has revealed its findings
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