Central Line (original) (raw)

The Central Line is a line of the London Underground. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running East-West across London, and is the longest line on the Underground. Until the closure of the Epping-Ongar section, the far terminus at Ongar was the furthest point from London on the network.

The line is coloured red on the Tube map.

History

The line was first opened as the Central London Railway between Shepherd's Bush and Bank in 1900. It was later extended over GWR lines in the west and LNER lines in the east. The trains on the Central Line were the first in London to introduce regular audible interior announcements telling passengers the name of the next expected stop and what onward connections they should expect there. These announcements, in a female voice, are automated.

2003 derailment and closure

A Central Line train derailed at Chancery Lane on January 25, 2003, injuring 32 passengers, after a motor became detached from the train. The entire line was closed whilst the cause of the failure was determined and appropriate modifications made to the trains. The line was then re-opened in stages. By late March 2003 a limited service was running on the eastern and western extremities of the line, with the central section still closed. Services resumed over that deeper central section on April 3 and to all stations (albeit at a reduced frequency) on April 12, with a full service expected by the end of the month. The initial closure also extended to the Waterloo and City Line which uses the same "1992 tube stock" trains, but this line, being far shorter - with only two stops and far fewer trains - reopened quickly.

Map

Geographically accurate map of the Central Line ()

Stations

in order from west to east

West Ruislip branch

• Terminus: West Ruislip (for Ickenham), opened: November 11, 1948. The suffix was later dropped.
• Ruislip Gardens, opened: November 11, 1948.
• South Ruislip, opened: November 11, 1948.
• Northolt, opened: November 11, 1948.
• Greenfold, opened: June 30, 1947.
• Perivale, opened: June 30, 1947.
• Hanger Lane, opened: June 30, 1947.

branch joins at North Acton:

Ealing Broadway branch

• Terminus: Ealing Broadway, opened: August 3, 1920.
• West Acton, opened: November 5, 1923.

branch joins at North Acton:

• North Acton, opened: November 5, 1923.
• East Acton, opened: August 3, 1920.
• White City, opened: November 23, 1947.
• Wood Lane, opened: May 14, 1908. Closed: November 22, 1947.
• Shepherd's Bush, opened: July 30, 1900.
• Holland Park, opened: July 30, 1900.
• Notting Hill Gate
• Queensway
• Lancaster Gate
• Marble Arch
• Bond Street
• Oxford Circus
• Tottenham Court Road
• British Museum (closed since 1933)
• Holborn
• Chancery Lane
• St Paul's
• Bank
• Liverpool Street
• Bethnal Green
• Mile End, opened: December 4, 1946.
• Stratford, First Served: December 4, 1946.
• Leyton, First Served: May 5, 1947.
• Leytonstone, First Served:

Splits into two branches

Woodford branch

• Wanstead, opened: December 14, 1947.
• Redbridge, opened: December 14, 1947.
• Gants Hill, opened: December 14, 1947.
• Newbury Park, First Served: December 14, 1947.
• Barkingside, First Served: May 31, 1948.
• Farilop, First Served: May 31, 1948.
• Hainault, First Served: May 31, 1948.
• Grange Hill, First Served: November 21, 1948.
• Chigwell, First Served: November 21, 1948.
• Roding Valley, First Served: November 21, 1948.

Terminates at Woodford [see Ongar Branch](except for rush hours)

Ongar branch

• Snaresbrook, First Served: December 14, 1947.
• South Woodford (George Lane),First Served: December 14, 1947. Renamed:(South Woodford):
• Terminus for Woodford branch: Woodford, First Served: December 14, 1947.
• Buckhurst, First Served: November 21, 1948.
• Loughton, First Served: November 21, 1948.
• Debden, First Served: September 25, 1949.
• Theydon Bois, in Essex. First Served: September 25, 1949.
• Terminus: Epping, in Essex. First Served: September 25, 1949.
• North Weald, First Served: September 25, 1949. Closed: September 30, 1994.
• Blake Hall, First Served: September 25, 1949. Closed: October 31, 1981.
• Ongar, First Served: September 25, 1949. Closed: September 30, 1994, shortly after a nearby security bunker once available to government and defence staff in a national emergency situation was withdrawn from use.

External links

• Central Line - London Underground page with line facts and brief history
• Central Line history - London Underground detailed line history

Line closure 2003

• "Central Line back by Easter" - London Underground press release dated 20th March, 2003
• "Central Line update" - London Underground page with Q&A about the closure, cause, reopening plans etc.
• "Central Line joins up the West End in time for Easter shoppers" London Underground press release dated 1st April, 2003

For the medical meaning of "central line", see central line.