Royal Oak tube station
Encyclopedia
Royal Oak tube station is a station of the London Underground
, on the Hammersmith & City
and Circle lines, between and stations. The station is on Lord Hills Bridge and is in Travelcard Zone 2
for the London Underground
. Although not heavily used at other times, the station is extremely busy during the annual Notting Hill Carnival
. Because of its low usage the ticket office is normally only open from 07.00 to 09.00, Mondays to Fridays, at other times ticket machines or Oyster cards must be used.
The station opened on 30 October 1871, although the Metropolitan Railway
extension to Hammersmith had opened in 1864. It is close to the elevated Westway
section of the A40 road
. The station may be named after a nearby public house
, "The Royal Oak" (later "The Railway Tap" and now "The Porchester").
(GWR) main line was first opened in June 1838, the first stop out of Paddington was at , 13 miles (20.92142 km) from . Intermediate stations were opened over the years, and the first stop became progressively closer to Paddington: a station at (5 miles (8.0467 km) from Paddington) was opened in December 1838, and one at (4 miles (6.43736 km) from Paddington) in 1868. In the meantime, the Hammersmith and City Railway
had opened from Green Lane Junction (near the present Westbourne Park tube station
) to on 13 June 1864, with the first stop on that route originally at , 1 miles (1.60934 km) out, although one opened at Westbourne Park (1 miles (1.60934 km) out) in 1866.
An agreement between the GWR and the Metropolitan Railway
(who had co-owned the Hammersmith & City with the GWR since 1867) came into force on 1 July 1868, although it did not become legal until the following year. Under the agreement, various improvements were to be made; these included the provision of a station at Royal Oak, and the reconstruction of Westbourne Park. On 30 October 1871 the station at Royal Oak opened, 53 chains (1.1 km) out; it was situated between Ranelagh Bridge and Lord Hills Bridge, and access was from the latter. As originally built, it had three platform faces; one for down trains and two, each side of an island, for up trains. It was served by both main line and Hammersmith & City trains, and, for over sixty years, this was the first stop out of Paddington for main line trains; it remains the first stop for Hammersmith & City services.
During the quadrupling of the Great Western Main Line
(GWML) in 1878, a dive-under
, known as Subway Tunnel, was constructed between Royal Oak and Westbourne Park. This was for Hammersmith & City services, allowing them to cross the main line without interfering with the flow of traffic; it was brought into use on 12 May 1878. To accommodate the additional track of the main line, it was necessary to reduce Royal Oak station to two platform faces; the former down platform was removed (its track becoming the up main), and the southern of the two former up platforms became the down platform.
Trains along the GWML ceased to call at Royal Oak from 1 October 1934, but the Hammersmith & City service remained. Ownership of the station was not transferred to London Transport
until 1 January 1970. The first GWML stop out of Paddington is now .
in 1906. To avoid the need for locomotives to make the 6 miles (9.7 km) round trip from Paddington just to be turned, coaled and watered, a small maintenance facility for locomotives was constructed on the southern side of the line, directly opposite Royal Oak station, which occupied part of the site of Westbourne Lodge and its grounds. It was known as Ranelagh Bridge depot, and opened in 1907. There was a turntable, a water tower, a coaling stage and sidings where about 15 locomotives could be held awaiting their next trip west. The turntable was removed in April 1964, and the depot facilities were altered to suit Diesel locomotives; the depot closed in 1980.
scheme to link East and West London by main-line railway. The station itself is not part of the Crossrail scheme.
, 36
and night route N18. Due to width restrictions on the bridge these stops are not directly outside the station. Barclay's Cycle Hire
point in Gloucester Terrace.
}
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...
, on the Hammersmith & City
Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line is a subsurface London Underground line. It connects Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, running through the northern part of central London. It is coloured salmon pink on the Tube map...
and Circle lines, between and stations. The station is on Lord Hills Bridge and is in 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:...
for 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...
. Although not heavily used at other times, the station is extremely busy during the annual Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...
. Because of its low usage the ticket office is normally only open from 07.00 to 09.00, Mondays to Fridays, at other times ticket machines or Oyster cards must be used.
The station opened on 30 October 1871, although 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...
extension to Hammersmith had opened in 1864. It is close to the elevated Westway
Westway (London)
The Westway is a long elevated dual carriageway section of the A40 route in west London running from Paddington to North Kensington. The road was constructed between 1964 and 1970 to relieve congestion at Shepherd's Bush caused by traffic from Western Avenue struggling to enter central London on...
section of the A40 road
A40 road (London)
The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs from outside St. Paul's Cathedral to Fishguard. The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs from outside St. Paul's Cathedral to Fishguard. The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs...
. The station may be named after a nearby public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, "The Royal Oak" (later "The Railway Tap" and now "The Porchester").
History
The station
When the Great Western RailwayGreat 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) main line was first opened in June 1838, the first stop out of Paddington was at , 13 miles (20.92142 km) from . Intermediate stations were opened over the years, and the first stop became progressively closer to Paddington: a station at (5 miles (8.0467 km) from Paddington) was opened in December 1838, and one at (4 miles (6.43736 km) from Paddington) in 1868. In the meantime, the Hammersmith and City Railway
Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line is a subsurface London Underground line. It connects Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, running through the northern part of central London. It is coloured salmon pink on the Tube map...
had opened from Green Lane Junction (near the present Westbourne Park tube station
Westbourne Park tube station
Westbourne Park is a London Underground station on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, between Ladbroke Grove and Royal Oak stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2 in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . Although the Metropolitan Railway had been extended to Notting Hill and Hammersmith...
) to on 13 June 1864, with the first stop on that route originally at , 1 miles (1.60934 km) out, although one opened at Westbourne Park (1 miles (1.60934 km) out) in 1866.
An agreement between the GWR and 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...
(who had co-owned the Hammersmith & City with the GWR since 1867) came into force on 1 July 1868, although it did not become legal until the following year. Under the agreement, various improvements were to be made; these included the provision of a station at Royal Oak, and the reconstruction of Westbourne Park. On 30 October 1871 the station at Royal Oak opened, 53 chains (1.1 km) out; it was situated between Ranelagh Bridge and Lord Hills Bridge, and access was from the latter. As originally built, it had three platform faces; one for down trains and two, each side of an island, for up trains. It was served by both main line and Hammersmith & City trains, and, for over sixty years, this was the first stop out of Paddington for main line trains; it remains the first stop for Hammersmith & City services.
During the quadrupling of the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
(GWML) in 1878, a dive-under
Flying junction
A flying junction or flyover is a railway junction at which one or more diverging or converging tracks in a multiple-track route cross other tracks on the route by bridge to avoid conflict with other train movements. A more technical term is "grade-separated junction"...
, known as Subway Tunnel, was constructed between Royal Oak and Westbourne Park. This was for Hammersmith & City services, allowing them to cross the main line without interfering with the flow of traffic; it was brought into use on 12 May 1878. To accommodate the additional track of the main line, it was necessary to reduce Royal Oak station to two platform faces; the former down platform was removed (its track becoming the up main), and the southern of the two former up platforms became the down platform.
Trains along the GWML ceased to call at Royal Oak from 1 October 1934, but the Hammersmith & City service remained. Ownership of the station was not transferred to London Transport
London Transport Executive (GLC)
The London Transport Executive was the executive agency within the Greater London Council, responsible for public transport in Greater London from 1970 to 1984...
until 1 January 1970. The first GWML stop out of Paddington is now .
Ranelagh Bridge depot
There had been a locomotive depot at Westbourne Park since 1855, which was replaced by the Old Oak Common depotOld Oak Common TMD
Old Oak Common TMD is situated to the west of London, in Old Oak Common. The Traction Maintenance Depot is the main facility for the storage and servicing of locomotives and multiple-units which utilise Paddington Station. The depot codes are 'OC' for the diesel depot, and 'OO' for the carriage shed...
in 1906. To avoid the need for locomotives to make the 6 miles (9.7 km) round trip from Paddington just to be turned, coaled and watered, a small maintenance facility for locomotives was constructed on the southern side of the line, directly opposite Royal Oak station, which occupied part of the site of Westbourne Lodge and its grounds. It was known as Ranelagh Bridge depot, and opened in 1907. There was a turntable, a water tower, a coaling stage and sidings where about 15 locomotives could be held awaiting their next trip west. The turntable was removed in April 1964, and the depot facilities were altered to suit Diesel locomotives; the depot closed in 1980.
Royal Oak Portal
Currently under construction to the North of the Hammersmith & City line, immediately West of Royal Oak Underground Station, Royal Oak Portal is the Western tunnel entrance for the CrossrailCrossrail
Crossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...
scheme to link East and West London by main-line railway. The station itself is not part of the Crossrail scheme.
In popular culture
- The station appears in the 2006 film KidulthoodKidulthoodKidulthood is a 2006 British drama film about the life of several teenagers in Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road area of inner west London. It was directed by Menhaj Huda and written by Noel Clarke, who also stars in the film and directed the sequel, Adulthood...
. - Lord Hills Bridge is mentioned in the song "Nature Springs" on the album The Good, The Bad & The Queen.
- Royal Oak is mentioned in Peter Ackroyd's 1987 novel Chatterton (Part I, Chapter 4)
Transport links
London bus routes 18London Buses route 18
London Buses route 18 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 36
London Buses route 36
London Buses route 36 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-The Beginning:...
and night route N18. Due to width restrictions on the bridge these stops are not directly outside the station. Barclay's Cycle Hire
Barclays Cycle Hire
Barclays Cycle Hire is a public scheme bicycle sharing scheme that was launched on 30 July 2010 in London, United Kingdom. The scheme's bicycles are informally referred to as Boris bikes, after Boris Johnson, who was the Mayor of London at the time of the official launch.BCH commenced operations...
point in Gloucester Terrace.
External links
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