Wikipedia

Newbury Park tube station

Newbury Park is a London Underground station in Newbury Park, Ilford, East London. It is between Barkingside and Gants Hill stations on the Hainault loop of the Central line, in Travelcard Zone 4. The station was initially opened by the Great Eastern Railway on 1 May 1903 and subsequently transferred its services to the London and North Eastern Railway due to the amalgamation. Underground trains only started serving the station on 14 December 1947, operating via the Gants Hill tunnel. The line was extended to Hainault on 31 May 1948. The Grade II listed bus shelter designed by Oliver Hill opened on 6 July 1949. Lifts were fully installed at Newbury Park in November 2018 to provide step-free access to the station, approximately 10 years after TfL abandoned the project.[9][10][11]

Newbury Park London Underground
Grade II listed bus shelter
Newbury Park is located in Greater London
Newbury Park
Newbury Park
Location of Newbury Park in Greater London
LocationNewbury Park
Local authorityLondon Borough of Redbridge
Managed byLondon Underground
Number of platforms2
AccessibleYes[1]
Fare zone4
London Underground annual entry and exit
2019Decrease 5.08 million[2]
2020Decrease 3.17 million[3]
2021Decrease 2.22 million[4]
2022Increase 3.53 million[5]
2023Decrease 3.37 million[6]
Key dates
1 May 1903Opened (GER)
1923GER services ceased, LNER services started
29 November 1947Closed (LNER)
14 December 1947Opened as terminus (Central line)
31 May 1948Became through station
4 October 1965Goods yard closed[7]
Listed status
Listed featureBus shelter
Listing gradeII
Entry number1081019[8]
Added to list19 March 1981
Other information
External links
Coordinates51°34′32″N 00°05′24″E / 51.57556°N 0.09000°E / 51.57556; 0.09000
London transport portal

Geography

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Newbury Park station is located in Newbury Park (in 1903 known as the Horns) of northeastern Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge. It was built to serve the growing neighbourhood of Newbury Park where the earliest settlement, Birkbeck Estate, dates back to the 1880s.[12] When Eastern Avenue was completed through Newbury Park as a bypass in 1920,[13] development sprung-up around the area.[14][15] Nearby landmarks include Oaks Park High School, Aldborough Primary School, St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, Ilford War Memorial Gardens and Holiday Inn Express Hotel.[16]

Newbury Park station has two car parks; one connects to King George Avenue and the other to Eastern Avenue. Entrance to the station is via the bus shelter.[16]

History

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Newbury Park originally opened on 1 May 1903, as part of a Great Eastern Railway (GER) branch line from Woodford to Ilford via Hainault, known as the Fairlop Loop (now known as Hainault loop).[17][18][note 1] This line, designed to stimulate suburban growth, had chequered success. In the 1920s, only areas such as Newbury Park were decently populated.[15][19][note 2] As a consequence of the Railways Act 1921, the GER was merged with other railway companies in 1923 to become part of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER).[20] A new station building was built by the LNER which replaced the original GER building.[21]

As part of the 1935–1940 "New Works Programme" of the London Passenger Transport Board, the majority of the loop, including the station, was to be transferred to form part of the eastern extensions of the Central line.[22] Although work commenced in 1938,[23] it was suspended upon the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and work only recommenced in 1945.[24] This involved the construction of a new tube tunnel from Leytonstone via Redbridge which surfaced at Newbury Park to connect with the lines of the existing Ilford to Woodford branch.[22] During the war, a part of the constructed tunnel system was used as an underground aircraft munitions factory, and was used as an air raid shelter.[25][26][note 3]

Steam train services serving Newbury Park were permanently suspended after 29 November 1947. Electrified Central line passenger services to Central London via Gants Hill finally commenced on 14 December 1947.[17][28][note 4] Lord Ashfield, former chairman of the London Passenger Transport Board, and local dignitaries attended the opening ceremony of the extension.[31] A train crew depot was established on 30 November 1947 but closed on 2 November 1953.[30] In addition, the line beyond, to the new Hainault depot, was electrified for empty train movements.[32] The station ceased to be the temporary terminus of the Central line on 31 May 1948 with passenger services to Hainault station reopened.[29][33][34] The surface tracks from Newbury Park to Ilford were severed by the expansion of Ilford Carriage Sheds in 1947,[35] whilst those to Seven Kings were severed in 1956.[17][36] The former alignment was in a cutting which was filled in and subsequently provided land for allotment gardens and housing. Three road bridges (Vicarage Lane, Benton Road and Wards Road) spanning an apparently missing alignment are the only clues to the old railway.[16][note 5]

Goods services used to run from the station via Woodford to Temple Mills,[37] reversed via a turn-back siding south of the station until 1965,[38][39] and by Underground engineering trains until 1992 when it was finally abandoned.[40] An unelectrified track existed next to the 9 sidings which was a reception track to Barkingside goods yard. With the freight yard closed on 4 October 1965, these were demolished on 12 October 1969.[32]

North of the station, the tracks were rearranged upon transfer to London Underground such that the existing tracks were separated further apart, where the former through eastbound track became a reversing siding, though retaining the connection towards Barkingside, whilst through trains use a track formerly part of the sidings and freight yard built to the west of the running lines. The northern end of the platforms were truncated to facilitate insertion of the points-work for the re-arrangement. Nine stabling sidings were added to the northwest of the station, connected to the westbound track via a flat crossing and another reversing siding in between the through tracks in autumn 1947. These did not last: The Hainault depot having fully opened in 1948, seven sidings were abandoned on 25 September 1949, and were closed and demolished on 30 January 1955. The remaining two were abandoned on 24 January 1966 and demolished on 12 October 1969.[30][32]

Station features

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GER bracketry still visible beneath the platform awnings.

Newbury Park's most prominent feature is the bus shelter connected to the station entrance, designed by Oliver Hill in 1937, and opened on 6 July 1949. Distinguished by a copper-covered barrel-vaulted roof, the structure is a Grade II listed building and won a Festival of Britain architectural award in 1951. The award was marked by a plaque by the side of the shelter.[8][41] The LNER station building, which looked very similar to Chigwell (further north on the Loop),[21] was demolished in 1956 to facilitate widening of the adjacent A12 Eastern Avenue.[42][note 6] The station features GER insignia just beneath the platform canopies,[44] and has a London Transport canteen adjoining the entrance.[45][46]

Step-free access

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In 2009, because of financial constraints, TfL decided to stop work on a project to provide step-free access at Newbury Park and five other stations, on the grounds that these are relatively quiet stations and some are already one or two stops away from an existing step-free station.[9][note 7] £4.6 million was spent on Newbury Park before the project was halted.[48] In 2017, as part of the Mayor of London's plan to increase the number of step-free stations,[10] work recommenced on the project to install a lift to both platforms, with the project scheduled for completion in spring 2019.[49][note 8] The lifts' installation works were completed ahead of schedule and became operational in November 2018.[11]

Services and connections

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Services

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Looking south from the bridge above King George Avenue, with a Central line train parked at the siding.
 
Looking south from Eastern Avenue towards the former alignment leading to Ilford, with the current alignment diverging either side and burrowing underground which heads westwards to Gants Hill and the city.

Newbury Park is served by the Central line on the Hainault Loop. The next station westbound is Gants Hill and the next station eastbound is Barkingside.[1] Train frequencies vary throughout the day but generally run every 5 minutes westbound between 05:20 and 23:54 and eastbound between 06:28 and 01:05.[50][51]

Trains generally run between Hainault and Ealing Broadway, although during service disruptions, trains can also run to West Ruislip. The typical off-peak service, in trains per hour as of 2018 is:[29][50][51]

  • 9tph westbound to Ealing Broadway
  • 3tph westbound to White City
  • 9tph eastbound to Hainault.

Trains also terminate here from White City 3 times an hour and use the crossover and siding to re-enter service westbound to White City. The siding is to the north of Newbury Park, accessible from both tracks near the station. Another crossover connects to the northbound track at the other end of the siding.[18]

Night Tube operates through this station on Friday and Saturday nights since August 2016.[52][53] The typical Night tube service, in trains per hour as of 2018 is:[54]

  • 3tph eastbound to Hainault
  • 3tph westbound to White City

Connections

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London Buses routes 66, 296 and 396 serve the station directly. Route 296 operates 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights.[55]

Preceding station   London Underground Following station
Gants Hill
towards Ealing Broadway or West Ruislip
 Central line Barkingside
towards Hainault or Woodford
Disused railways
Ilford
Line closed, station open 		  Great Eastern Railway
Woodford and Ilford line 		  Barkingside
Line and station open

Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ^ The line initial operated as a goods service on 20 April 1903.[17]
  2. ^ As a result, Hainault station was closed in 1920 and reopened in 1930.[19]
  3. ^ The factory, located between Gants Hill and Redbridge opened in March 1942 which provided employment for 2,000 people;[25] production lasted until 1945.[26] The factory extended almost 5 miles with about 300,000 sq. ft. of space.[27]
  4. ^ Leytonstone to Woodford (via South Woodford) opened on the same day, forming two branches in the eastern region of the Central line.[28][29] A replacement bus service operated between Woodford and Ilford via Hainault when steam train services ceased. It was cut back to Newbury Park when these extensions opened.[30]
  5. ^ South of Newbury Park, the row of houses and allotment gardens follow the alignment of the old railway and ends near the demolished Ilford and Seven Kings junction, seen on the map.
  6. ^ Another similar building existed at Grange Hill, but this was destroyed by a German V-1 flying bomb in 1944.[43]
  7. ^ Hainault station, which has had step-free access since 2010, is three stops to the north.[1][47]
  8. ^ Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, initially promised residents that the lifts would be completed in 2017. However, the target was deemed "too optimistic" by local residents campaigning for step-free access at the station.[49]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Standard Tube Map (PDF) (Map). Not to scale. Transport for London. April 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2019. Transport for London. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2020. Transport for London. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2021. Transport for London. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2022. Transport for London. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2023. Transport for London. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  7. ^ Hardy, Brian, ed. (March 2011). "How it used to be – freight on The Underground 50 years ago". Underground News (591). London Underground Railway Society: 175–183. ISSN 0306-8617.
  8. ^ a b Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1081019)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Disability and Deaf Equality Scheme (DES) 2009–2012". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Sadiq Khan Promises £200m Boost for Step-free Tube stations". Evening Standard. London. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Lift Off: Mayor of London Visits New Step-free Newbury Park Station". Ilford Recorder. 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  12. ^ "The Borough of Ilford". A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5. Victoria County History. 1966. pp. 249–266.
  13. ^ Inwood, Steve (2011). City of Cities: The Birth of Modern London. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0330540674.
  14. ^ "Newbury Park, Redbridge". Hidden London (extracted from Chambers London Gazetteer). Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Old Maps of Newbury Park (Ordnance Survey Maps)". Francis Frith. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  16. ^ a b c "Newbury Park" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d Connor 2007, p. IV.
  18. ^ a b Jarrier, Franklin. "Greater London Transport Tracks Map" (PDF) (Map). CartoMetro London Edition. 3.7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Railways to Epping and Ongar". Cravens Heritage Trains. 1 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Railways Act 1921". HMSO. 19 August 1921.
  21. ^ a b "Newbury Park Underground station, Central line by Topical Press". London Transport Museum. August 1935. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  22. ^ a b Day & Reed 2010, p. 116.
  23. ^ "Old Photos of Gants Hill". Speedprint Essex Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  24. ^ Croome & Jackson 1993, p. 288.
  25. ^ a b Day & Reed 2010, p. 142.
  26. ^ a b "Remembrance Sunday: The Secret Munitions Factory in the Underground tunnels at Gants Hill". Ilford Recorder. 10 November 2012. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  27. ^ "Factory in an Uncompleted London Tube Tunnel". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 92, no. 563. Westminster: Railway Publishing Co. May–June 1946. p. 160.
  28. ^ a b Croome & Jackson 1993, p. 287, 291.
  29. ^ a b c Feather, Clive (19 June 2017). "Central line". Clive's Underground Line Guides. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  30. ^ a b c Stuart, Eric. "The Central line extensions and their implementations" (PDF). Points of Interest. London Underground Railway Society. pp. 7, 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  31. ^ "Lord Ashfield and local dignitaries at the opening ceremony of the Woodford – Newbury Park section of the Central line eastern extension". London Transport Museum. 14 December 1947. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  32. ^ a b c "From The Past" (PDF). Points of Interest. London Underground Railway Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  33. ^ Lee 1970, p. map.
  34. ^ Croome & Jackson 1993, p. 294.
  35. ^ Croome & Jackson 1993, p. 291.
  36. ^ Brennand 2006, p. IV.
  37. ^ Croome & Jackson 1993, p. 296.
  38. ^ Brennand 2006, p. 10.
  39. ^ Connor 2007, p. 115.
  40. ^ Connor 2007, p. 117.
  41. ^ Jones, Ian (13 March 2012). "5. The Bus Station at Newbury Park". 150 Great Things About the Underground. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  42. ^ Connor 2007, p. 114.
  43. ^ Connor 2007, p. 94.
  44. ^ Praverman, Adam (3 July 2001). "Newbury Park Underground station, station canopy detail". London Transport Museum. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  45. ^ "Westbound platform, Newbury Park station". London Transport Museum. 24 October 1955. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  46. ^ Dell; Wainwright (1949). "View of the kitchens at Newbury Park canteen". London Transport Museum. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  47. ^ "Hainault Tube station is Now Step-free with Three New Lifts" (Press release). Transport for London. 3 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  48. ^ "TfL wastes £64 million abandoning disabled access plans on the Tube". Evening Standard. London. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  49. ^ a b "Work on disabled access at Newbury Park Tube Station will finish in 2019 – two years after Mayor Sadiq Khan promised, campaigners claim". The Guardian. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  50. ^ a b "Central line timetable : From Gants Hill Underground station to Redbridge Underground station". Transport for London. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  51. ^ a b "Central line timetable : From Gants Hill Underground station to Newbury Park Underground station". Transport for London. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  52. ^ "Night Tube begins in London, bringing 'huge boost' to capital". BBC News. 20 August 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  53. ^ "Sadiq Khan to launch London's night tube service". The Guardian. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  54. ^ "The Night Tube". Improving the Tube – What We're Doing. Transport for London. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  55. ^ "Buses from Newbury Park" (PDF). Transport for London. June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.

Books

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  • Brennand, Dave (2006). Ilford to Shenfield. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-901706-97-4.
  • Connor, J E (2007). Branch Line to Ongar. Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1-906008-05-5.
  • Croome, D.; Jackson, A. (1993). Rails Through The Clay – A History of London's Tube Railways (2nd ed.). Capital Transport. ISBN 1-85414-151-1.
  • Day, John R.; Reed, John (2010) [1963]. The Story of London's Underground (11th ed.). Capital Transport. ISBN 978-1-85414-341-9.
  • Lee, Charles E (1970). Seventy Years of the Central. London Transport Executive. ISBN 978-0-85329-013-1.
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