North Woolwich line

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).

SILVERTOWN

(1863 - 2006)

The Crossrail project will use the marooned stub of track between Custom House and North Woolwich, surfacing from its London side tunnel just west of Custom House station and continuing in the North Woolwich direction before diving into tunnel again under the Thames.

Crossrail is being designed to allow for a possible station at Silvertown, although its location will be different from the station shown here (presumably closer to the City Airport). It should be anticipated that the scanty remains of the old Silvertown station will be swept away during the Crossrail works.

View of the tunnel as it emerges at the Silvertown end. The previous (second) surface level route was located to the left of the tunnel.

The very first route via the south side of what became the Victoria Dock is to be seen on the far left, still with some its track intact. As it still served local factories, it was known as the Silvertown Tramway.

(photo: 2005)

Eastward view of the solitary remaining track and platform at Silvertown station as seen in 2006. The original route of the line can be seen joining from the right.

For a not dissimilar view from around 1910 showing the station with both its tracks and the now demolished westbound platform, move your cursor over the image.

Looking toward Silvertown station at the Silvertown Tramway's tracks still embedded in the road. The factories on the right are on the north bank of the Thames.

(photo: 2006)