Rayners Lane tube station
Encyclopedia
Rayners Lane is a London Underground
station in the district of Rayners Lane
in north west London
, amid a 1930s development originally named Harrow Garden Village
. The station is on the Uxbridge branch
of both the Metropolitan Line
, between Eastcote
and West Harrow
stations, and the Piccadilly Line
, between Eastcote
and South Harrow
stations. The station is located to the west of the junction of Rayners Lane, Alexandra Avenue and Imperial Drive (A4090). It is in Travelcard Zone 5
. The railway line here is considered to be the border of North Harrow
and South Harrow
. This is also where both the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines share track to Uxbridge and separate going towards Central London.
The Metropolitan Railway
(Harrow and Uxbridge Railway) constructed the line between Harrow on the Hill and Uxbridge
and commenced services on 4 July 1904 with, initially, Ruislip
being the only intermediate stop. At first, services were operated by steam trains, but track electrification
was completed in the subsequent months and electric trains began operating on 1 January 1905.
Progressive development in the north Middlesex
area over the next two decades led to the gradual opening of additional stations along the Uxbridge branch to encourage the growth of new residential areas. Rayners Lane opened as Rayners Lane Halt on 26 May 1906.
On 1 March 1910, an extension of the District Line
was opened from South Harrow
to connect with the Metropolitan Railway at Rayners Lane junction east of the station enabling District Line trains to serve stations between Rayners Lane
and Uxbridge from that date. On 23 October 1933 District Line services were replaced by Piccadilly Line trains. The station was rebuilt in the early 1930s to a design by Charles Holden
which features the large cube-shaped brick and glass ticket hall capped with a flat reinforced concrete
roof and geometrical forms typical of the new stations built in this period.
To the west of the station, there is a reversing siding between the running tracks and, during the day, half of the Piccadilly line service reverses here. Two sidings are located south of the station but these are no longer used: there is no connection with the running lines.
During early mornings and late evenings, Piccadilly line trains usually terminate here. At these times, passengers must use the Metropolitan trains to continue on towards Uxbridge.
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...
station in the district of Rayners Lane
Rayners Lane
Rayners Lane is a suburban district in the London Borough of Harrow between Pinner and West Harrow.-History:During the Middle Ages the Rayners Lane road was used when transporting grain to the mill on Pinner Green. The road was originally called Bourne Lane as it crossed several streams including...
in north 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...
, amid a 1930s development originally named Harrow Garden Village
Harrow Garden Village
Harrow Garden Village was a housing development in the 1930s around Rayners Lane tube station in London, England, which until then had been a "country halt" on the Metropolitan Line. This was Metro-land's flagship development, begun in by E S Reid, with streets full of semi-detached houses fronted...
. The station is on the Uxbridge branch
Uxbridge tube station
Uxbridge is a London Underground station in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, north-west London. The station is the terminus of the Uxbridge branches of both the Metropolitan Line and the Piccadilly Line. The next station towards London is Hillingdon. The station is 15.5 miles west of...
of both the Metropolitan Line
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
, between Eastcote
Eastcote tube station
Eastcote is a London Underground station in Eastcote in north London. The station is on the branch of both the Metropolitan line and Piccadilly line, between and stations. The station is located on Field End Road...
and West Harrow
West Harrow tube station
West Harrow tube station is a London Underground station in Harrow in north west London.The station is on the Uxbridge branch of the Metropolitan line, between Rayners Lane and Harrow-on-the-Hill stations, and in Travelcard Zone 5....
stations, and the Piccadilly Line
Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
, between Eastcote
Eastcote tube station
Eastcote is a London Underground station in Eastcote in north London. The station is on the branch of both the Metropolitan line and Piccadilly line, between and stations. The station is located on Field End Road...
and South Harrow
South Harrow tube station
South Harrow is a London Underground station on the Uxbridge branch of the Piccadilly Line. The station is between Sudbury Hill and Rayners Lane. It is located on Northolt Road . The station is in Travelcard Zone 5...
stations. The station is located to the west of the junction of Rayners Lane, Alexandra Avenue and Imperial Drive (A4090). It is in Travelcard Zone 5
Travelcard Zone 5
Fare zone 5 is an outer 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. The zone was created in May 1983 and in January 1991 part...
. The railway line here is considered to be the border of North Harrow
North Harrow
North Harrow is a residential area of North West Outer London. Despite its name, it is actually to the north-west of central Harrow. It has grown outwards from the North Harrow tube station which is on the Metropolitan Line which runs from Aldgate to Watford. It is one stop away from Harrow town...
and South Harrow
South Harrow
South Harrow has grown out of the village of Roxeth as a result of urbanization and easier access from Central London by rail. South of the old village centre , and beyond the newly developed shopping area, lies South Harrow tube station and the High Street .-History:Much of the local history,...
. This is also where both the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines share track to Uxbridge and separate going towards Central London.
The Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
(Harrow and Uxbridge Railway) constructed the line between Harrow on the Hill and Uxbridge
Uxbridge tube station
Uxbridge is a London Underground station in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, north-west London. The station is the terminus of the Uxbridge branches of both the Metropolitan Line and the Piccadilly Line. The next station towards London is Hillingdon. The station is 15.5 miles west of...
and commenced services on 4 July 1904 with, initially, Ruislip
Ruislip tube station
Ruislip is a London Underground station in Ruislip in west London. The station is on the Uxbridge branch of both the Metropolitan line and Piccadilly line, between Ruislip Manor and Ickenham stations. The station is located on West End Road...
being the only intermediate stop. At first, services were operated by steam trains, but track electrification
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
was completed in the subsequent months and electric trains began operating on 1 January 1905.
Progressive development in the north Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
area over the next two decades led to the gradual opening of additional stations along the Uxbridge branch to encourage the growth of new residential areas. Rayners Lane opened as Rayners Lane Halt on 26 May 1906.
On 1 March 1910, an extension of the District Line
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
was opened from South Harrow
South Harrow tube station
South Harrow is a London Underground station on the Uxbridge branch of the Piccadilly Line. The station is between Sudbury Hill and Rayners Lane. It is located on Northolt Road . The station is in Travelcard Zone 5...
to connect with the Metropolitan Railway at Rayners Lane junction east of the station enabling District Line trains to serve stations between Rayners Lane
Rayners Lane
Rayners Lane is a suburban district in the London Borough of Harrow between Pinner and West Harrow.-History:During the Middle Ages the Rayners Lane road was used when transporting grain to the mill on Pinner Green. The road was originally called Bourne Lane as it crossed several streams including...
and Uxbridge from that date. On 23 October 1933 District Line services were replaced by Piccadilly Line trains. The station was rebuilt in the early 1930s to a design by Charles Holden
Charles Holden
Charles Henry Holden, Litt. D., FRIBA, MRTPI, RDI was a Bolton-born English architect best known for designing many London Underground stations during the 1920s and 1930s, for Bristol Central Library, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London's headquarters at 55 Broadway and for the...
which features the large cube-shaped brick and glass ticket hall capped with a flat reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
roof and geometrical forms typical of the new stations built in this period.
To the west of the station, there is a reversing siding between the running tracks and, during the day, half of the Piccadilly line service reverses here. Two sidings are located south of the station but these are no longer used: there is no connection with the running lines.
During early mornings and late evenings, Piccadilly line trains usually terminate here. At these times, passengers must use the Metropolitan trains to continue on towards Uxbridge.
External links
- Tube departure board for Rayners Lane station
- London's Transport Photographic Archive
- One platform shows a London Underground style roundel name board, the other a Metropolitan Railway Diamond name board.