Victoria Line
Encyclopedia
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground
line running from the south (Zone 2) to the north-east (Zone 3) of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map
. It is the only line on the Underground, except for the two-station Waterloo & City line
, that is entirely below ground, the only section of track to emerge above ground being the connection from Seven Sisters
to the line's depot at Northumberland Park
.
183 million passengers use the Victoria line each year, making it the fourth most heavily used line on the network in absolute figures, but in terms of the average number of journeys per mile it is by far the most intensely used line. Each platform constructed specifically for the Victoria line from new is 132.6 metres (435 ft) long. The line has hump-backed stations which allow trains to store gravitational potential energy
as they slow down and release it when they leave a station. This provides an energy saving of 5% and makes the trains run 9% faster.
The only station on the Victoria Line to have no form of interchange is Pimlico
.
to Walthamstow
was first proposed by a Working Party set up by the British Transport Commission
in 1948. The main purpose was to relieve congestion in the central area. The necessary Private Bill
was introduced into Parliament in 1955. It described a line from Victoria to Walthamstow (Wood Street
). There was also a proposal, though not included in the Bill, for a subsequent extension from Victoria to Fulham Broadway station
on the District line
.
Construction began in 1962 on the Walthamstow-Victoria section and continued until 1972, when Pimlico station
was opened. A test tunnel from Tottenham
to Manor House
under Seven Sisters Road
had been bored in 1959 and was later incorporated into the running tunnels.
In August 1967 the government gave approval for the Brixton extension. Preparatory work had already started at Bessborough Gardens near Vauxhall Bridge Road in May 1967. In June 1968 a proposal to build a station at Pimlico
was approved.
The name "Victoria line" dates back to 1955; other suggestions were "Walvic line" (Walthamstow – Victoria) and "Viking line" (Victoria – King's Cross). During the planning stages, it was known as Route C and then was named the Victoria line after Victoria Station by David McKenna, whose suggestion was seconded by Sir John Elliot.
The line was designed to relieve congestion on other lines, in particular the Piccadilly line
, as well as to maximise possible interchanges. It had been intended to build the line beyond Walthamstow Central
to Wood Street (Walthamstow), where it would have surfaced to terminate next to the British Rail
station. Proposals were also made to extend the line as far as South Woodford
or Woodford
, to provide interchange with the Central line
. However, in a late decision in 1961 the line was cut back to Walthamstow (Hoe Street) station, renamed Walthamstow Central in 1968.
Every Victoria line station apart from Pimlico was built as an interchange station
, and several existing stations were rearranged to allow for cross-platform interchange
with the new line. In some cases this was achieved by placing the Victoria line platforms on either side of the existing station; in others, the Victoria line uses one of the older platforms and the existing line was diverted into a new platform. Particularly significant is the direct interchange with the Bakerloo line
at Oxford Circus
, a pivotal node at the heart of the whole network, facilitating a wide range of north-south journeys across central London
.
At Euston
, northbound Victoria and Northern line (Bank branch)
trains run along adjacent platforms, although they travel in opposite directions. Other cross-platform interchanges are provided at Stockwell
(with the Northern line), Highbury & Islington
(with First Capital Connect
, originally the Northern City Line
), and at Finsbury Park
(with the Piccadilly line).
All Victoria line stations were originally tiled in blue/grey. Each station was decorated with tiled motifs in seating recesses to help identify the station. During the construction of the Jubilee line
in the late 1970s, the original motifs on Green Park station
were replaced by motifs matching the new design for the Jubilee line platforms. These were in turn replaced in 2009 by replicas of the original design.
The official opening ceremony took place at Victoria station on 7 March 1969: Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a commemorative plaque on the station concourse. After a short ceremony, Her Majesty bought a 5d ticket (five old pence = 2.08p) and travelled to Green Park.
Princess Alexandra
opened the Brixton
extension on 23 July 1971, making a journey from Brixton
to Vauxhall
. The Prince of Wales
and the Duke of Edinburgh
had previously visited the line during its construction: in July 1968, they visited tunnel workings under Vauxhall Park.
When the line was opened it was served by a fleet of 8-car trains of 1967 Tube Stock trains
. These were later supplemented by a number of cars of 1972 Mark I Tube Stock
converted to be compatible with the 1967 stock. Ultimately there were 43 trains, each made up of two four-car units. These were replaced by 2009 Tube Stock
between 2009 and 2011 (see below).
In the early planning stages of the line an articulated type of rolling stock
was considered, but the idea was dropped because of difficulties in transferring the stock to Acton Works for heavy overhauls. With the demise of Acton Works this requirement no longer exists, and the new 2009 tube stock
has a wider profile and slightly longer carriages which preclude it running on other deep-level tube lines.
The line is equipped with an Automatic Train Operation
system (ATO); the train operator (driver) closes the train doors and presses a pair of "start" buttons, and if the way ahead is clear, the ATO drives the train at a safe speed to the next station and stops it there. This system has operated since the line opened in 1968, making the Victoria line the world's first full-scale automatic railway.
Replacement of the 1967 rolling stock began in July 2009 as part of Transport for London
's 5-year £10 billion redevelopment project. A new fleet of 47 8-car trains called 2009 Tube Stock
were built by Bombardier Transportation
. The first prototypes began testing in 2008. The main fleet began to be introduced in 2009 and went into main service in 2010. The last of the 1967 stock trains ran on 30 June 2011, after which the whole service was provided by 2009 stock.
The signalling is being replaced with a more modern ATO system from Westinghouse Rail Systems
. LUL claims that this is the world's first ATO-on-ATO upgrade. Installation is well advanced, and the new system will be fully in use by the end of 2012, allowing up to 33 trains per hour instead of 27. This in combination with the new, faster trains will increase the line's capacity overall by 21%.
and Tottenham Hale
, adversely affecting lighting levels. At most stations there is still a concrete staircase between the up and down escalator
s, where an additional escalator could be installed. The lack of a third escalator can cause severe congestion at peak times. However, in recent years an additional escalator has been installed in place of the fixed stairway at Brixton (2004) and Vauxhall (2006). There have been station closures for safety reasons, when both escalators have been unserviceable. Over many years, heavy equipment has been installed in fenced-off sections at the ends of platforms owing to the lack of anywhere else to install them.
Supporters of Tottenham Hotspur
(and the club itself) have campaigned for a surface station to be built next to Northumberland Park Station
, adjacent to the line's depot. This would improve the football ground's transport links, seen as essential if the club's wish to redevelop their ground and increase its capacity is to become a reality. The idea was looked into, but Network Rail
owns the necessary land and needs it for its own expansion plans.
If the Chelsea–Hackney line were to be built it would relieve congestion on the Victoria line, offering an alternative route across central London between Victoria and King's Cross St. Pancras
.
For many years there have been proposals to extend the line one stop southwards from Brixton to Herne Hill
. Herne Hill station would be on a large reversing loop
with one platform. This would remove a critical capacity restriction by eliminating the need for trains to reverse at Brixton. However, it would be expensive and cannot currently be justified on cost-benefit grounds. Because the current line is heavily overcrowded this is considered to be the only extension proposal with any realistic prospect of coming to fruition; but to have any hope of being built, it would have to be seen to be effective in reducing overcrowding (by enabling trains to run more frequently) and not to increase it.
The following stations have step-free access from the street to platform level on the Victoria line: Tottenham Hale
, King's Cross St. Pancras
and Brixton
.
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...
line running from the south (Zone 2) to the north-east (Zone 3) of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map
Tube map
The Tube map is a schematic transit map representing the lines and stations of London's rapid transit railway systems, namely the London Underground , the Docklands Light Railway and London Overground....
. It is the only line on the Underground, except for the two-station Waterloo & City line
Waterloo & City Line
The Waterloo & City line is a short underground railway line in London, which was formally opened on 11 July 1898. It has only two stations, Waterloo and Bank...
, that is entirely below ground, the only section of track to emerge above ground being the connection from Seven Sisters
Seven Sisters station
Seven Sisters station is a National Rail and London Underground Victoria Line station in the Seven Sisters area of the London Borough of Haringey, north London.The station is in Travelcard Zone 3....
to the line's depot at Northumberland Park
Northumberland Park Depot
Northumberland Park Depot is the service and storage area for trains on the Victoria Line of the London Underground, the only part of the line not in tunnel....
.
183 million passengers use the Victoria line each year, making it the fourth most heavily used line on the network in absolute figures, but in terms of the average number of journeys per mile it is by far the most intensely used line. Each platform constructed specifically for the Victoria line from new is 132.6 metres (435 ft) long. The line has hump-backed stations which allow trains to store gravitational potential energy
Potential energy
In physics, potential energy is the energy stored in a body or in a system due to its position in a force field or due to its configuration. The SI unit of measure for energy and work is the Joule...
as they slow down and release it when they leave a station. This provides an energy saving of 5% and makes the trains run 9% faster.
The only station on the Victoria Line to have no form of interchange is Pimlico
Pimlico tube station
Pimlico is a London Underground station in Pimlico, City of Westminster. It is on the Victoria line between Victoria and Vauxhall in Zone 1. The station opened on 14 September 1972 more than a year after the rest of the line had become fully operational....
.
History
A tube railway running from VictoriaVictoria, London
Victoria is a commercial and residential area of inner city London, lying wholly within the City of Westminster, and named after Queen Victoria....
to Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
was first proposed by a Working Party set up by the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
in 1948. The main purpose was to relieve congestion in the central area. The necessary Private Bill
Private bill
A private bill is a proposal for a law that would apply to a particular individual or group of individuals, or corporate entity. If enacted, it becomes a private Act . This is unlike public bills which apply to everyone within their jurisdiction...
was introduced into Parliament in 1955. It described a line from Victoria to Walthamstow (Wood Street
Wood Street railway station
Wood Street railway station is in Walthamstow, now part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in north east London. It is in Travelcard Zone 4, and the station and all trains are operated by National Express East Anglia...
). There was also a proposal, though not included in the Bill, for a subsequent extension from Victoria to Fulham Broadway station
Fulham Broadway tube station
Fulham Broadway is a London Underground station on the branch of the District Line. It is between and stations and is in Travelcard Zone 2. The station is located on Fulham Broadway . It is notable as the nearest station to Stamford Bridge stadium, the home of Chelsea Football Club...
on 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...
.
Construction began in 1962 on the Walthamstow-Victoria section and continued until 1972, when Pimlico station
Pimlico tube station
Pimlico is a London Underground station in Pimlico, City of Westminster. It is on the Victoria line between Victoria and Vauxhall in Zone 1. The station opened on 14 September 1972 more than a year after the rest of the line had become fully operational....
was opened. A test tunnel from Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
to Manor House
Manor House, London
Manor House is a district of North London.-Location:Built up in the mid 19th century as part of an area called Brownswood Park, today, like other areas of London, it is a district without a formal town centre, but distant enough from other town centres that it has come to be recognised as an area...
under Seven Sisters Road
Seven Sisters Road
Seven Sisters Road is a road in north London, England which runs within the boroughs of Islington, Hackney and Haringey. It is an extension of Camden Road, running from Holloway Road at the Nags Head crossroads then on to another crossroads with Blackstock Road and Stroud Green Road...
had been bored in 1959 and was later incorporated into the running tunnels.
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
was approved.
The name "Victoria line" dates back to 1955; other suggestions were "Walvic line" (Walthamstow – Victoria) and "Viking line" (Victoria – King's Cross). During the planning stages, it was known as Route C and then was named the Victoria line after Victoria Station by David McKenna, whose suggestion was seconded by Sir John Elliot.
The line was designed to relieve congestion on other lines, in particular 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...
, as well as to maximise possible interchanges. It had been intended to build the line beyond Walthamstow Central
Walthamstow Central station
Walthamstow Central is a London Underground and commuter rail station. It is the terminus of the Victoria line, and is on the branch of the London commuter rail network operated by National Express East Anglia...
to Wood Street (Walthamstow), where it would have surfaced to terminate next to the British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
station. Proposals were also made to extend the line as far as South Woodford
South Woodford tube station
South Woodford tube station is a London Underground station on the Central Line, between Snaresbrook and Woodford in Zone 4.-History:The station opened as South Woodford on 22 August 1856 as part of the Eastern Counties Railway branch to Loughton, which was eventually extended to Epping and...
or Woodford
Woodford tube station
Woodford is a London Underground station in Woodford in the London Borough of Redbridge, United Kingdom.The station is on the Central Line between South Woodford and Buckhurst Hill. The station is also a terminus for services via the Hainault loop....
, to provide interchange with the Central line
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
. However, in a late decision in 1961 the line was cut back to Walthamstow (Hoe Street) station, renamed Walthamstow Central in 1968.
Every Victoria line station apart from Pimlico was built as an interchange station
Interchange station
An interchange station or a transfer station is a train station for more than one railway route in a public transport system, and allows passengers to change from one route to another. Transfer may occur within the same mode, or between rail modes, or to buses...
, and several existing stations were rearranged to allow for cross-platform interchange
Cross-platform interchange
A cross-platform interchange is a type of interchange between different lines in a metro system. The term originates with the London Underground; such layouts exist in other networks but are not commonly so named...
with the new line. In some cases this was achieved by placing the Victoria line platforms on either side of the existing station; in others, the Victoria line uses one of the older platforms and the existing line was diverted into a new platform. Particularly significant is the direct interchange with the Bakerloo line
Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo line is a line of the London Underground, coloured brown on the Tube map. It runs partly on the surface and partly at deep level, from Elephant and Castle in the south-east to Harrow & Wealdstone in the north-west of London. The line serves 25 stations, of which 15 are underground...
at Oxford Circus
Oxford Circus tube station
-External links:* ** ** * Plans of the station after the Victoria Line works , , *...
, a pivotal node at the heart of the whole network, facilitating a wide range of north-south journeys across central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
.
At Euston
Euston tube station
Euston tube station is a London Underground station served by the Victoria Line and both branches of the Northern Line. It directly connects with the Euston mainline station above it. The station is in Travelcard Zone 1....
, northbound Victoria and Northern line (Bank branch)
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
trains run along adjacent platforms, although they travel in opposite directions. Other cross-platform interchanges are provided at Stockwell
Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
(with the Northern line), Highbury & Islington
Highbury & Islington station
Highbury & Islington station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is served by the Victoria line, London Overground's East and North London Lines and First Capital Connect's Northern City Line....
(with First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
, originally the Northern City Line
Northern City Line
The Northern City Line is a railway line from Moorgate to Finsbury Park in London, once part of the Great Northern Electrics line. It should not be confused with the City branch of the Northern line, nor with the North London Line...
), and at Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park station
Finsbury Park Station is a busy transport interchange in North London. The interchange consists of an interconnected National Rail station, London Underground station and two bus stations. The main entrances are by the eastern bus station on Station Place...
(with the Piccadilly line).
All Victoria line stations were originally tiled in blue/grey. Each station was decorated with tiled motifs in seating recesses to help identify the station. During the construction of the Jubilee line
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
in the late 1970s, the original motifs on Green Park station
Green Park tube station
Green Park tube station is a London Underground station located on the north side of Green Park, close to the intersection of Piccadilly and the pedestrian Queen's Walk...
were replaced by motifs matching the new design for the Jubilee line platforms. These were in turn replaced in 2009 by replicas of the original design.
Opening
The first section to be opened was between Walthamstow Central and Highbury & Islington. There was no initial opening ceremony: instead the normal timetable started on Sunday 1 September 1968. The first train left Walthamstow Central for Highbury & Islington at about 6.30 am. Later that year, the section between Highbury & Islington and Warren Street was opened, again without ceremony.The official opening ceremony took place at Victoria station on 7 March 1969: Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a commemorative plaque on the station concourse. After a short ceremony, Her Majesty bought a 5d ticket (five old pence = 2.08p) and travelled to Green Park.
Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
opened the Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
extension on 23 July 1971, making a journey from Brixton
Brixton tube station
Brixton tube station, a station on the London Underground opened on July 23, 1971, is the southern terminus of the Victoria line.It is located in Brixton Road, and is about 100m from Brixton railway station . From the ticket hall, three escalators take passengers to and from the platforms...
to Vauxhall
Vauxhall station
Vauxhall station is a National Rail, London Underground and London Buses interchange station in central London. It is at the Vauxhall Cross road junction opposite the southern approach to Vauxhall Bridge over the River Thames in the London district of Vauxhall...
. The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
had previously visited the line during its construction: in July 1968, they visited tunnel workings under Vauxhall Park.
Service and rolling stock
Trains run every two minutes during peak periods. In normal service all trains run from Brixton to Seven Sisters, with roughly three out of five continuing to Walthamstow Central.When the line was opened it was served by a fleet of 8-car trains of 1967 Tube Stock trains
London Underground 1967 Stock
The 1967 Stock was a fleet of deep-level tube stock which operated on the Victoria line between 1 September 1968 and 30 June 2011, and was the original rolling stock provided from the line's opening...
. These were later supplemented by a number of cars of 1972 Mark I Tube Stock
London Underground 1972 Stock
The London Underground 1972 stock is a fleet of trains used on the London Underground. The 1972 Stock was ordered to make up the shortfall in trains on the Northern line's 1959 Tube Stock fleet...
converted to be compatible with the 1967 stock. Ultimately there were 43 trains, each made up of two four-car units. These were replaced by 2009 Tube Stock
London Underground 2009 Stock
The 2009 Tube Stock is a type of London Underground train built by Bombardier as part of its Movia family at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England. 47 eight-car units are being built for the Victoria line and have replaced the original 1967 tube stock...
between 2009 and 2011 (see below).
In the early planning stages of the line an articulated type of rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
was considered, but the idea was dropped because of difficulties in transferring the stock to Acton Works for heavy overhauls. With the demise of Acton Works this requirement no longer exists, and the new 2009 tube stock
London Underground rolling stock
The history of the London Underground's rolling stock is as complex as the history of the network itself. A wide variety of types have been operated, from the early days of steam locomotives and carriages through to today's electric multiple units...
has a wider profile and slightly longer carriages which preclude it running on other deep-level tube lines.
The line is equipped with an Automatic Train Operation
Automatic train operation
Automatic train operation ensures partial or complete automatic train piloting and driverless functions.Most systems elect to maintain a driver to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies....
system (ATO); the train operator (driver) closes the train doors and presses a pair of "start" buttons, and if the way ahead is clear, the ATO drives the train at a safe speed to the next station and stops it there. This system has operated since the line opened in 1968, making the Victoria line the world's first full-scale automatic railway.
Replacement of the 1967 rolling stock began in July 2009 as part of Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
's 5-year £10 billion redevelopment project. A new fleet of 47 8-car trains called 2009 Tube Stock
London Underground 2009 Stock
The 2009 Tube Stock is a type of London Underground train built by Bombardier as part of its Movia family at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England. 47 eight-car units are being built for the Victoria line and have replaced the original 1967 tube stock...
were built by Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
. The first prototypes began testing in 2008. The main fleet began to be introduced in 2009 and went into main service in 2010. The last of the 1967 stock trains ran on 30 June 2011, after which the whole service was provided by 2009 stock.
The signalling is being replaced with a more modern ATO system from Westinghouse Rail Systems
Westinghouse Rail Systems
Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd is a British supplier of railway signalling and control equipment to the rail industry worldwide. Its head office is in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where it manufactures a variety of mechanical and electrical/electronic railway signalling equipment...
. LUL claims that this is the world's first ATO-on-ATO upgrade. Installation is well advanced, and the new system will be fully in use by the end of 2012, allowing up to 33 trains per hour instead of 27. This in combination with the new, faster trains will increase the line's capacity overall by 21%.
Possible future projects
When the Victoria line was built, budget restrictions meant that station infrastructure standards were lower than on older lines and on later extension projects. Examples include narrower than usual platforms and undecorated ceilings at Walthamstow Central, Blackhorse RoadBlackhorse Road station
Blackhorse Road station is a London Overground and London Underground station on the junction of Blackhorse Road with Forest Road in the Walthamstow neighbourhood of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. The station below ground is on the Victoria Line of the London Underground...
and Tottenham Hale
Tottenham Hale station
Tottenham Hale, is a National Rail and London Underground Victoria Line station in Tottenham, north London. It is on Hale Road near the Tottenham Hale one-way gyratory system...
, adversely affecting lighting levels. At most stations there is still a concrete staircase between the up and down escalator
Escalator
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.Escalators are used around the...
s, where an additional escalator could be installed. The lack of a third escalator can cause severe congestion at peak times. However, in recent years an additional escalator has been installed in place of the fixed stairway at Brixton (2004) and Vauxhall (2006). There have been station closures for safety reasons, when both escalators have been unserviceable. Over many years, heavy equipment has been installed in fenced-off sections at the ends of platforms owing to the lack of anywhere else to install them.
Supporters of Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
(and the club itself) have campaigned for a surface station to be built next to Northumberland Park Station
Northumberland Park railway station
Northumberland Park railway station is located in Northumberland Park, London, United Kingdom. The stations and all trains servicing it are operated by National Express East Anglia.-Overview:...
, adjacent to the line's depot. This would improve the football ground's transport links, seen as essential if the club's wish to redevelop their ground and increase its capacity is to become a reality. The idea was looked into, but Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
owns the necessary land and needs it for its own expansion plans.
If the Chelsea–Hackney line were to be built it would relieve congestion on the Victoria line, offering an alternative route across central London between Victoria and King's Cross St. Pancras
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
.
For many years there have been proposals to extend the line one stop southwards from Brixton to Herne Hill
Herne Hill railway station
Herne Hill railway station is in Herne Hill, a location in the London Borough of Lambeth, South London, England. Its location is .The station is above road level near the junction of five main roads, between Railton Road and Milkwood Road. There is no entrance in Milkwood Road, but there is a...
. Herne Hill station would be on a large reversing loop
Balloon loop
A balloon loop or turning loop allows a rail vehicle or train to reverse direction without having to shunt or even stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and unit freight trains, such as coal trains....
with one platform. This would remove a critical capacity restriction by eliminating the need for trains to reverse at Brixton. However, it would be expensive and cannot currently be justified on cost-benefit grounds. Because the current line is heavily overcrowded this is considered to be the only extension proposal with any realistic prospect of coming to fruition; but to have any hope of being built, it would have to be seen to be effective in reducing overcrowding (by enabling trains to run more frequently) and not to increase it.
Stations
| Station | Image | Opened | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walthamstow Central Walthamstow Central station Walthamstow Central is a London Underground and commuter rail station. It is the terminus of the Victoria line, and is on the branch of the London commuter rail network operated by National Express East Anglia... |
 |
1870 | Victoria line began 1 September 1968 |
| Blackhorse Road Blackhorse Road station Blackhorse Road station is a London Overground and London Underground station on the junction of Blackhorse Road with Forest Road in the Walthamstow neighbourhood of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. The station below ground is on the Victoria Line of the London Underground... |
 |
19 July 1894 | Current station opened 1 September 1968 |
| Tottenham Hale Tottenham Hale station Tottenham Hale, is a National Rail and London Underground Victoria Line station in Tottenham, north London. It is on Hale Road near the Tottenham Hale one-way gyratory system... |
 |
15 September 1840 | Opened as Tottenham, renamed and beginning of Victoria line 1 September 1968 |
| Seven Sisters Seven Sisters station Seven Sisters station is a National Rail and London Underground Victoria Line station in the Seven Sisters area of the London Borough of Haringey, north London.The station is in Travelcard Zone 3.... |
22 July 1872 | Victoria line began 1 September 1968 | |
| Finsbury Park Finsbury Park station Finsbury Park Station is a busy transport interchange in North London. The interchange consists of an interconnected National Rail station, London Underground station and two bus stations. The main entrances are by the eastern bus station on Station Place... |
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1 July 1861 | Opened as Seven Sisters Road (Holloway), renamed 15 November 1869, Victoria line began 1 September 1968 |
| Highbury & Islington Highbury & Islington station Highbury & Islington station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is served by the Victoria line, London Overground's East and North London Lines and First Capital Connect's Northern City Line.... |
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1872 | Victoria line began 1 September 1968 |
| King's Cross St. Pancras King's Cross St. Pancras tube station King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other... |
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1863 | Victoria line began 1 December 1968 |
| Euston Euston tube station Euston tube station is a London Underground station served by the Victoria Line and both branches of the Northern Line. It directly connects with the Euston mainline station above it. The station is in Travelcard Zone 1.... |
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12 May 1907 | Victoria line began 1 December 1968 |
| Warren Street Warren Street tube station Warren Street tube station is a London Underground station, located at the intersection of Tottenham Court Road and Euston Road. It is on the branch of the Northern Line, between and , and the Victoria Line between and Euston. It is in Travelcard Zone 1 and is the nearest tube station to... |
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22 June 1907 | Victoria line began 1 December 1968 |
| Oxford Circus Oxford Circus tube station -External links:* ** ** * Plans of the station after the Victoria Line works , , *... |
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30 July 1900 | Victoria line began 7 March 1969 |
| Green Park Green Park tube station Green Park tube station is a London Underground station located on the north side of Green Park, close to the intersection of Piccadilly and the pedestrian Queen's Walk... |
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15 December 1906 | Victoria line began 7 March 1969 |
| Victoria ( Trains to Gatwick) |  |
1 October 1860 | Victoria line began 7 March 1969 |
| Pimlico Pimlico tube station Pimlico is a London Underground station in Pimlico, City of Westminster. It is on the Victoria line between Victoria and Vauxhall in Zone 1. The station opened on 14 September 1972 more than a year after the rest of the line had become fully operational.... |
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14 September 1972 | |
| Vauxhall Vauxhall station Vauxhall station is a National Rail, London Underground and London Buses interchange station in central London. It is at the Vauxhall Cross road junction opposite the southern approach to Vauxhall Bridge over the River Thames in the London district of Vauxhall... |
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11 July 1848 | Victoria line began 23 July 1971 |
| Stockwell Stockwell tube station Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more... |
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4 November 1890 | Victoria line began 23 July 1971 |
| Brixton Brixton tube station Brixton tube station, a station on the London Underground opened on July 23, 1971, is the southern terminus of the Victoria line.It is located in Brixton Road, and is about 100m from Brixton railway station . From the ticket hall, three escalators take passengers to and from the platforms... |
23 July 1971 |
The following stations have step-free access from the street to platform level on the Victoria line: Tottenham Hale
Tottenham Hale station
Tottenham Hale, is a National Rail and London Underground Victoria Line station in Tottenham, north London. It is on Hale Road near the Tottenham Hale one-way gyratory system...
, King's Cross St. Pancras
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
and Brixton
Brixton tube station
Brixton tube station, a station on the London Underground opened on July 23, 1971, is the southern terminus of the Victoria line.It is located in Brixton Road, and is about 100m from Brixton railway station . From the ticket hall, three escalators take passengers to and from the platforms...
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Depot
- Northumberland Park DepotNorthumberland Park DepotNorthumberland Park Depot is the service and storage area for trains on the Victoria Line of the London Underground, the only part of the line not in tunnel....
External links
- London Transport Museum Poster Archive – images of the station tiling motifs: