NORTH WOOLWICH LINE

 

 

Opened in 1846 between Stratford and Canning Town, the line was extended to North Woolwich the following year. Services were extended north to Palace Gates in 1887 although that line (northwards from Seven Sisters) was closed to passengers in 1963.

1979 saw the North Woolwich branch incorporated into the North London Line, pre-empting the closure of the Broad Street line (Broad Street station had hitherto provided the eastern terminus for the North London Line).

All North London line services were withdrawn from the section south of Stratford in 2006. The DLR extension to Stratford International will take over the line as far south as Canning Town. The Custom House to North Woolwich section will be used by Crossrail.

 

 

STRATFORD (LOW LEVEL)

(1854 - 2009)


The Low Level platforms at Stratford were added fifteen years after the high level station opened. The DLR extension to Stratford International will use the track between here and Canning Town. North London Line trains have moved to the Lea Valley high level platforms.

 

 


The remodelled Stratford station set the standard for future station designs. The former station building (which itself replaced an earlier building) was situated on the left of the photo, where the blue emergency doors are.

This view is looking south - the platform area seen here won't be used when the DLR takes over the line. Instead the platforms will be shifted southwards to a straighter section of track. See www.alwaystouchout.com for full details.

(photo: 2006)

 

 


Elegant use of glass in the new station. The presence of the actual track seems almost incongruous with the rest of the station.

(photo: 2005)

 

 

 


Looking north.

(photo: 2005)

 

 

 

View northward in 2006. The Jubilee Line terminus (opened 1999) is on the left of the photo. The track area seen in the centre right is where the new DLR platforms will be extended to. Move your cursor over the image to see the area as it was in Sep 2009.

 

 

 

STRATFORD MARKET

(1847 - 1959)

Built to serve the area of Stratford for Central London bound trains from North Woolwich (using the Southern Curve which branched off before reaching Stratford station), its usefulness was diminished when through services to Central London ceased in 1940.

 

The location of Stratford Market station, five minutes walking distance from the main Stratford station.

 

 

 


View south from Stratford station of Stratford Market station building. The left hand pair of tracks currently belong to the North London Line; the Docklands Light Railway is due to take over this route as far south as Canning Town as part of its line to Stratford International station. A new station, Stratford High Street, on the former site of Stratford Market, will be built on the other (southern) side of the bridge.

The right hand pair of tracks here belong to the Jubilee Line.

(photo: 2006)

 

 

 


Opposing (northward) view of the slight platform and brickwork remains.

(photo: 2006)

 

 

 


(photo: 2006)

 

 

 


Western view of the station building.

(photo: 2006)

 

 

 


Widening of the road has left very little pedestrian space in front of the station building.

(photo: 2006)

 

 

 

 

Reference: London Railways by Edwin Course. B T Batsford Ltd, London, 1962.

 

 

North Woolwich Line: West Ham - Canning Town