Circle line (London Underground)

Circle line

S7 Stock train at Wood Lane, bound for Hammersmith.
Overview
Type Sub-surface
System London Underground
Stations 36
Ridership 114.6 million (2011/12)[lower-alpha 1][1] passenger journeys
Colour on map Yellow
Website tfl.gov.uk
Operation
Opened Infrastructure opened in stages between 1863 and 1884, shown as a separate line on the tube map from 1949.
Depot(s) Hammersmith
Rolling stock S Stock (7 cars per trainset)
Technical
Line length 27 km (17 mi)
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Transport for London rail lines
London Underground
Bakerloo
Central
Circle
District
Hammersmith & City
Jubilee
Metropolitan
Northern
Piccadilly
Victoria
Waterloo & City
Other lines
Docklands Light Railway
Tramlink
Overground
TfL Rail

The Circle line is a London Underground service in a spiralling shape, running from Hammersmith to Edgware Road and then looping once around central London back to Edgware Road. The railway is below ground in the central section and on the loop east of Paddingdon, and, unlike London's deep-level tube railways, the railway tunnels are just below the surface and of similar size to those on British main lines. Coloured yellow on the tube map, the 17-mile (27 km) line serves 36 stations, including most of London's main line railway termini. Most of the route and all of the stations are shared with the District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. On the Circle line and the Hammersmith & City line combined, over 114 million passenger journeys are made each year. 21 of the 36 stations are below ground.

The first section opened in 1863 when the Metropolitan Railway opened the world's first underground line between Paddington and Farringdon with wooden carriages and steam locomotives. The same year a select committee report recommended an 'inner circle' of railway lines connecting the London railway termini, and the Metropolitan District Railway (commonly known as the District Railway) was formed to build the southern portion of the line. Due to conflict between the two companies it was October 1884 before the inner circle was completed. The line was electrified in 1905, and in July 1933 the two companies were amalgamated into the London Passenger Transport Board. In 1949 the Circle line appeared as a separate line for the first time on the Tube map. In December 2009 the closed loop around the centre of London on the north side of the River Thames was broken at Edgware Road and extended west to become a spiral serving Hammersmith.

The signalling system is being upgraded and the C Stock trains have recently been replaced by new 7-car S Stock trains, in a programme completed in 2015.

History

Origins

A black-and-white photograph of a railway station platform under a barrel roof. Several figures are visible, one standing wearing a top hat, a sign reads "WAIT HERE FOR THIRD CLASS".
High Street Kensington in 1892

In 1863 the Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground railway, opened in London between Paddington and Farringdon, connecting Great Western Railway's relatively remote terminus at Paddington with Euston and King's Cross stations and the City, London's financial heart. In the same year a select committee report recommended an 'inner circle' of railway lines connecting the London termini that had been built or under construction. In the next year the Metropolitan District Railway (commonly known as the District Railway) was formed to build and operate a railway from South Kensington to Tower Hill. The Metropolitan western extension opened in 1868 from a new station at Paddington to South Kensington. By May 1870 the District railway had opened its line from West Brompton to Blackfriars via Gloucester Road and South Kensington, services being operated at first by the Metropolitan.[2] In 1871 the District had built a terminus at Mansion House, on 18 November 1876 the Met had opened its terminus at Aldgate[3] and due to conflict between the two companies it took an Act of Parliament before further work was done on the inner circle.[4] In 1882 the Met extended its line from Aldgate to a temporary station at Tower Hill, the District completed its line to Whitechapel and on 6 October 1884 the temporary station was replaced with a joint station and the inner circle was complete.[5][6] The Metropolitan provided the clockwise or 'outer rail' trains, the District the 'inner rail' or anti-clockwise.[7]

Other circle routes

As well as the inner circle, other routes circumnavigated London, although these were not a complete loop. From 1872 the L&NWR began an "outer circle" service from Broad Street to Mansion House via Willesden Junction and Earl's Court, diverting an earlier service that had run to Victoria, and the GWR began a "middle circle" service from Moorgate to Mansion House via Latimer Road and Earl's Court. Both of these routes were cut back to Earl's Court in 1900 for the "middle circle" and 1909 for the "outer circle". The GWR service survived as a shuttle service from the Hammersmith & City line to Addison Road [now Kensington (Olympia)] until 1940.[7]

The Midland Railway briefly ran a "super outer circle" from St Pancras to Earl's Court from 1878–1880.[7] Today London Overground runs services between Clapham Junction, Willesden Junction and Dalston Junction and between Dalston Junction and Clapham Junction.

Electrification

A three-quarter black-and-white photograph of a train standing at a station, showing the end carriage with windows at the end
The joint Metropolitan and District Railway experimental electric train that ran between Earl's Court and High Street Kensington in 1900

Wooden carriages were originally hauled by steam locomotives, and at the start of the 20th century the District and Metropolitan were seeing increased competition in central London from the new electric underground tube lines and trams. The use of steam underground led to smoke-filled stations and carriages, which was unpopular with passengers, and conversion to electric traction was seen as the way forward.[8] Experiments were carried out on the Earl's Court to High Street Kensington section, and a jointly-owned six-carriage train began passenger service in 1900. Following this an AC system was suggested, and this was accepted by both parties. However, the District was looking for a way to raise the finance needed and in 1901 found an investor, the American Charles Yerkes. He formed the Underground Electric Railways of London (UERL), and his experience in the United States led him to favour DC, with third-rail pick-up similar to that in use on the City & South London Railway and Central London Railway. After arbitration by the Board of Trade the DC system was taken up, and the railways began electrifying the routes, using multiple-unit stock.[9]

The District and Metropolitan Railways bought different designs of electric multiple unit. Both had open saloons; the Metropolitan trains with gated ends, while the District B Stock had sliding doors in the middle of each car.[10] When introduction was attempted on 1 July 1905, a Metropolitan train overturned the third rail on the District Railway; after this the Metropolitan trains were modified before running again on the District lines, and full electric service started on 24 September. Initially the service was with 6-car trains, but this was reduced to 4-car.[11] The Metropolitan trains were soon modified to enclose the gated end[12] and eventually to add sliding doors in the middle.[13] The trains were increased to 5 cars in 1918 and the Metropolitan introduced new stock in 1921, with three pairs of sliding double doors on trailer cars.[14] In 1926 the Metropolitan took over all inner circle workings except for 3 trains on Sundays.[15]

London Transport

A three-quarter photograph of a red train with sliding doors and flared sides.
O Stock was used on the Circle line 1947–70. Here photographed at Barking in 1980.

On 1 July 1933 the Metropolitan and the District Railways were amalgamated with other Underground railways, tramway companies and bus operators to form the London Passenger Transport Board. Metropolitan Railway electric multiple units were refurbished in 1934 at Acton Works to become eighteen 5-car trains of Circle Stock and at first painted red and cream, although later painted red all over to reduce costs. These trains included first-class accommodation,[16] but this was downgraded in 1940.[17] From 1947 these were replaced by 5-car trains of O and P Stock, with doors remotely operated by the guard, released by the transfer of F Stock to the Uxbridge line.[18] The 1933 London Underground Beck map shows a Metropolitan line north of High Street Kensington and Mark Lane stations and a District line south of these points.[19] On the 1947 map the Metropolitan and District lines were shown together in the same colour[20] and two years later in 1949 the Circle line was shown separately on the map.[21]

In 1959–60 the Circle line trains were increased to 6 cars, the same length as those operating on the Hammersmith & City line, and the stock of the two lines was integrated and maintenance concentrated at Hammersmith depot, allowing Neasden depot to concentrate on the new A Stock.[22] Aluminium C Stock trains, with public address systems and originally unpainted, replaced these trains from 1970.[23] One person operation of the trains was proposed in 1972, but due to conflict with the Trade Unions was not introduced until 1984.[24] In 2003, the infrastructure of the Circle line was partly privatised in a public–private partnership, managed by the Metronet consortium. Metronet went into administration in 2007 and the local government body Transport for London took over responsibilities.[25]

On 7 July 2005, at about 08:50, bombs exploded on two Circle line trains. One was travelling between Liverpool Street and Aldgate and the other was at Edgware Road. The bombs killed 15 people, including the two suicide bombers.[26][27] Following the attacks, the whole of the Circle line was closed until 8 August.[28] A day before a ban on drinking alcohol on public transport in London came into force, a party was held on 31 May 2008, mainly on the Circle line. Thousands of people attended and 17 were arrested by police due to disorderly behaviour, eventually causing several stations to be closed.[29]

Extension

Prior to 13 December 2009, the Circle line trains travelled in both directions around a simple loop with 27 stations and 20.75 kilometres (12.89 mi) of track. In 2006 there were fourteen trains in service on the line with an interval between trains of 8 1⁄2 minutes during peak hours and 8 minutes off-peak; the minimum running time around the circle off-peak was 51 1⁄2 minutes,[30] but timetabled stops at stations extended this.[lower-alpha 2]

The Circle line before extension to Hammersmith

In December 2009 the Circle line was extended to include the Hammersmith & City route from Edgware Road to Hammersmith. Rather than continuously running around the circle, trains now travel from Hammersmith to Edgware Road, generally going around the circle once before terminating at Edgware Road, and returning via the same route; occasional trains may also continue clockwise through Edgware Road from through additional stations. Service operation was changed to improve reliability and increase the service frequency on the Hammersmith branch.[32]

The first S7 Stock train entered passenger service on the Hammersmith & City line on 6 July 2012, running a shuttle service between Hammersmith and Moorgate,[33] and first ran on the Circle line on 2 September 2013.[34][35][36] By June 2014 all services were provided by S7 Stock trains.

Route

Map

The route of the Circle line since 13 December 2009 and the London boroughs it serves

Railway line

Circle line

Legend
District line
Hammersmith District Line Piccadilly Line

Goldhawk Road
Hammersmith depot
Shepherd's Bush Market
Central line
Wood Lane
Hammersmith to
Liverpool Street:
Latimer Road
joint route with
Hammersmith & City line
Ladbroke Grove
Westbourne Park
District line
Royal Oak
District Line High Street Kensington
Crossrail
Piccadilly Line Gloucester Road
Notting Hill Gate Central Line
Bayswater
District Line Piccadilly Line South Kensington

Paddington Bakerloo Line National Rail
Praed Street Junction
Sloane Square

Edgware Road District Line Hammersmith & City Line
Victoria Line National Rail Victoria
Metropolitan line
Baker Street Bakerloo Line Jubilee Line Metropolitan Line
St. James's Park
Great Portland Street
Jubilee Line London River Services Westminster
Euston Square
National Rail Euston

Bakerloo Line Northern Line London River Services
Embankment
National Rail Charing Cross

Thameslink

King's Cross St. Pancras
Northern Line Piccadilly Line Victoria Line National Rail
Temple

Farringdon National Rail
National Rail London River Services Blackfriars

City Thameslink

Mansion House

Barbican
National Rail Cannon Street
Central Line Northern Line Waterloo & City Line Docklands Light Railway Monument

Moorgate Northern Line National Rail
District Line Docklands Light Railway London River Services
Tower Hill
National Rail Fenchurch Street

Liverpool Street
Central Line Hammersmith & City Line Metropolitan Line London Overground Crossrail National Rail
Metropolitan Line Aldgate

Crossrail
District line
Hammersmith & City line

The Circle line is 17 miles (27 km) long with 35 stations.[37] Much of its track and all of its stations are shared with the other London Underground sub-surface lines: from Hammersmith to just before Aldgate by the Hammersmith & City line, from Baker Street to Aldgate by the Metropolitan line and from Tower Hill station to Edgware Road station by the District line.[38] The line is electrified with a four-rail DC system: a central conductor rail is energised at –210 V and a rail outside the running rail at +420 V, giving a potential difference of 630 V.[39] The running rails are not electrified. Much of the 2-mile-35-chain (3.9 km) double track railway from the Hammersmith terminus to Westbourne Park station is on 20-foot (6.1 m) high brick viaduct.[40]

East of Westbourne Park the line passes beneath the Great Western main line before resurfacing at Royal Oak station and running alongside the tracks of the main line to an island platform just north of the suburban platforms at Paddington station.[38] The line enters a cut and cover tunnel at the end of the platforms and meets the District line and the other end of the Circle line from Bayswater at Praed Street Junction before passing through Edgware Road station in a cutting. After King's Cross St Pancras station the line exits tunnel before passing under the Ray Street Gridiron that carries the City Widened Lines which are currently used by Thameslink services.[38][41] Tunnel is re-entered after Farringdon station; there are bay platforms at Moorgate station.[38]

After passing through Aldgate station the line joins the District line at Tower Hill; this part of the line includes stations on the Victoria Embankment on the north bank of the Thames, until Westminster station is reached.[38] West of Gloucester Road station the line turns off the District main line to join the District line's Edgware Road branch just before High Street Kensington station.[38] In Bayswater the line is in cutting and this is concealed by a façade of two five-storey houses at Nos. 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens.[42] Trains then use different platforms at Paddington station before rejoining the Hammersmith & City line at Praed Street junction and terminating at the four platform Edgware Road station.[38]

Services

As of December 2012 there are six trains per hour, calling at all stations,[43] and requiring 18 trains in service.[37] The journey from Edgware Road around the circle and continuing to Hammersmith takes 72 minutes off-peak.[43] Together with the Hammersmith & City line over 114 million passenger journeys are made each year.[1] Paddington and all stations on the loop are within Zone 1, and those on the Hammersmith line in Zone 2.[44]

There is no regular service to Barking; however there are two trains per day that run from Barking to Edgware Road via Victoria before 6a.m. (as of February 2015)[45]

Rolling Stock

S Stock

View of the front of an electric multiple unit, standing in a station, with passengers walking past
S7 Stock at Hammersmith station

Services are provided by seven-car S Stock, and like the 8-car variants now in use on the Metropolitan line, these trains are part of Bombardier's Movia family, with air-conditioning as the sub-surface tunnels, unlike those on the deep-level tube lines, are able to disperse the exhausted hot air.[46] These trains have regenerative brakes, returning around 20 per cent of their energy to the network.[47] They have a top speed of 62 mph (100 km/h).[46] A 7-car S Stock train has a capacity of 865 passengers compared to 739 for the 6-car C Stock train it replaces.[48][49] With a length of 117 metres (384 ft), the S Stock trains are 24 metres (79 ft) longer than the 93-metre (305 ft) long C stock train, so station platforms have been lengthened.[50] It is planned to increase the traction voltage from the present nominal 630 V to 750 V to give better performance and allow the trains to return more energy to the network through their regenerative brakes.[49]

Depot

The line's depot is at Hammersmith,[lower-alpha 3] close to Hammersmith station, originally built by the Great Western Railway to be operated by the Metropolitan Railway when the joint Hammersmith & City Railway was electrified in the early 20th century.[51] Sidings at Barking, Farringdon and near High Street Kensington (known as Triangle Sidings) stable trains overnight.[37]

Upgrade Programme

Together with the introduction of 7-car S Stock trains, the sub-surface track, electrical supply and signalling systems are being upgraded in a programme planned to increase peak-hour capacity on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines by 65 per cent by the end of 2018.[52][53][54] A single control room for the sub-surface network is to be established in Hammersmith, and an automatic train control (ATC) system will replace signalling equipment installed from the 1940s.[53][55] The cross-London Crossrail line, planned to open in 2018, is expected to reduce crowding on Circle line services between Paddington and Aldgate.[56][57]

List of stations

Station Image Opened[6] Additional information Position
Hammersmith A brown-bricked building with a rectangular, blue sign reading "HAMMERSMITH STATION" in white letters all under a grey sky 13 June 1864 Moved to current position 1 December 1868.[6] 51°29′39″N 000°13′30″W / 51.49417°N 0.22500°W / 51.49417; -0.22500 (01 - Hammersmith tube station)
Goldhawk Road An entrance under a railway brick viaduct with a blue sign reading "GOLDHAWK ROAD STATION" in white letters and two women walking in front all under a grey sky 1 April 1914 51°30′07″N 000°13′37″W / 51.50194°N 0.22694°W / 51.50194; -0.22694 (02 - Goldhawk Road tube station)
Shepherd's Bush Market A railway on a brick viaduct crosses a road on a steel bridge, with an entrance below a blue sign reading "SHEPHERD'S BUSH MARKET STATION" in white letters 13 June 1864 Moved to current position 1 April 1914.[6] Renamed from "Shepherd's Bush" in 2008.[58] 51°30′21″N 000°13′35″W / 51.50583°N 0.22639°W / 51.50583; -0.22639 (03 - Shepherd's Bush Market tube station)
Wood Lane A silver metal and glass building with a blue sign with "WOOD LANE STATION" in white letters 1 May 1908 Open as Wood Lane (Exhibition) 1908–14 and as required from 1920 as Wood Lane (White City). Renamed White City in 1947 and closed in 1959,[6] until re-opened as Wood Lane on 12 October 2008.[59] 51°30′35″N 000°13′27″W / 51.50972°N 0.22417°W / 51.50972; -0.22417 (04 - Wood Lane tube station)
Latimer Road A railway on a brick viaduct crosses a road, an entrance in the brickwork below a sign reading "LATIMER ROAD STATION" 16 December 1868 Closed from 17 January to 1 August 2011 for engineering and refurbishment works.[60]51°30′50″N 000°13′02″W / 51.51389°N 0.21722°W / 51.51389; -0.21722 (05 - Latimer Road tube station)
Ladbroke Grove A brick building with an entrance below a sign reading "LADBROKE GROVE STATION". Three people are in a group ouside the entrance 13 June 1864 Opened as Notting Hill, renamed Notting Hill & Ladbroke Grove in 1880, Ladbroke Grove (North Kensington) in 1919, and Ladbroke Grove in 1938.[6]51°31′02″N 000°12′38″W / 51.51722°N 0.21056°W / 51.51722; -0.21056 (06 - Ladbroke Grove tube station)
Westbourne Park A dirty, white-bricked building with a rectangular, dark blue sign reading "WESTBOURNE PARK STATION" in white letters all under a blue sky 1 February 1866 Moved to current position 1 November 1871,[6] and a Great Western main-line station from 1871 to 1992.[61] 51°31′16″N 000°12′04″W / 51.52111°N 0.20111°W / 51.52111; -0.20111 (07 - Westbourne Park tube station)
Royal Oak A brown-bricked building with a rectangular, dark blue sign reading "ROYAL OAK STATION" in white letters all under a light blue sky 30 October 1871 Also a Great Western main line station after opening.[62]51°31′09″N 000°11′17″W / 51.51917°N 0.18806°W / 51.51917; -0.18806 (08 - Royal Oak tube station)
Paddington A platform with several people waiting for a train. A white square sign has a London Underground roundel with "PADDINGTON" in the centre. To the right there is a track with fourth track electrification and on an adjacent track a blue multiple unit train with red doors waits. 10 January 1863 Opened as Paddington (Bishop's Road), renamed in 1948.[6]
Connects with Bakerloo and District lines and Paddington main line station.		51°31′07″N 000°10′46″W / 51.51861°N 0.17944°W / 51.51861; -0.17944 (09 - Paddington station (H&C platforms))
Edgware Road A tan-coloured building with brown-framed windows and a sign reading "METROPOLITAN EDGWARE ROAD STATION RAILWAY" in brown letters 10 January 1863 Connects with District and the anti-clockwise Circle line.51°31′12″N 000°10′04″W / 51.52000°N 0.16778°W / 51.52000; -0.16778 (10 - Edgware Road tube station)
Baker Street A street filled with people in front of a light grey building that has variously coloured signs protruding from it stating a variety of different things 10 January 1863 Connects with Bakerloo, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines. 51°31′19″N 000°09′25″W / 51.52194°N 0.15694°W / 51.52194; -0.15694 (11 - Baker Street tube station)
Great Portland Street A beige-bricked building with a blue sign reading "GREAT PORTLAND STREET STATION" in white letters all under a blue sky with white clouds 10 January 1863 Opened as Portland Road, renamed Great Portland Street in 1917. Named Great Portland Street & Regent's Park 1923–33.[6]51°31′26″N 000°08′38″W / 51.52389°N 0.14389°W / 51.52389; -0.14389 (12 - Great Portland Street tube station)
Euston Square A building covered in windows with a blue sign reading "EUSTON SQUARE STATION" in white letters all under a blue sky with white clouds 10 January 1863 Opened as Gower Street and renamed in 1909.[6] Street connection with Euston main line station.51°31′33″N 000°08′09″W / 51.52583°N 0.13583°W / 51.52583; -0.13583 (13 - Euston Square tube station)
King's Cross St Pancras Beneath a blue sign reading "KING'S CROSS ST. PANCRAS UNDERGROUND STATION several people exit from an entrance leading to steps down. To the right there are silver doors under a sign reading "Lift". The sky is overcast, above the entrance is a dark blue temporary building 10 January 1863 Opened as King's Cross, renamed King's Cross & St. Pancras in 1925 and King's Cross St. Pancras in 1933. Moved to current position in 1941.[6]
Connects with Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines and St Pancras and King's Cross main line stations.		51°31′49″N 000°07′27″W / 51.53028°N 0.12417°W / 51.53028; -0.12417 (14 - King's Cross St. Pancras tube station)
Farringdon A street view of a pale stone two storey building. Across the top of the building signs read "FARRINGDON & HIGH HOLBORN STATION" and "METROPOLITAN RAILWAY" in gold colour lettering. At ground level a canopy extends into the street around a blue sign reads "FARRINGDON STATION" with the London Underground roundel and National Rail symbols, and just above an entrance is a gold lettering reading "ENTRANCE". Either side of the entrance are shops, bicycles are in bicycle stands and people are walking on the pavement in front of the building 10 January 1863 Opened as Farringdon Street, and moved to current position in 1865. Renamed Farringdon & High Holborn in 1922 and Farringdon in 1936.[6]
Connects with Thameslink services. 		51°31′12″N 000°06′19″W / 51.52000°N 0.10528°W / 51.52000; -0.10528 (15 - Farringdon station)
Barbican Across a road with a London taxi and a car is an entrance. This has people standing in it and above is a blue rectangular sign reading "BARBICAN STATION" in white and above this is a bridge linking the building 23 December 1865 Opened as Aldersgate Street, then Aldersgate in 1910, Aldersgate & Barbican in 1923 and Barbican in 1968.[6] 51°31′13″N 000°05′52″W / 51.52028°N 0.09778°W / 51.52028; -0.09778 (16 - Barbican tube station)
Moorgate Across a street and behind black bollards is a brick building of at least two storeys. The ground floor is stone coloured and two people are standing in a dark entrance beneath a blue rectangular sign reading "MOORGATE STATION" in white. Above this, attached to be wall at 90 degrees is a white rectangular sign with the National Rail logo and London Underground roundel. Above this, below three windows, blue lettering reads "MOORGATE STATION" 23 December 1865 Opened as Moorgate Street, renamed in 1924.[6]
Connects with Northern line and the main line Northern City Line		51°31′07″N 000°05′19″W / 51.51861°N 0.08861°W / 51.51861; -0.08861 (17 - Moorgate station)
Liverpool Street The end of a brick building with arched windows and sloping roofs lies between two towers with steeples. In front of this is a white metal and glass structure. People are standing and walking in the street in front. 11 July 1875 From February to July 1875 trains used platforms in the mainline station.[63]
Connects with Central and Hammersmith & City lines and Liverpool Street mainline station.		51°31′04″N 000°04′59″W / 51.51778°N 0.08306°W / 51.51778; -0.08306 (18 - Liverpool Street station)
Aldgate A light grey building with "M.R. ALDGATE STATION M.R." written in stone on the front face and a black car driving in the foreground 18 November 1876 51°30′50″N 000°04′34″W / 51.51389°N 0.07611°W / 51.51389; -0.07611 (19 - Aldgate tube station)
Tower Hill A grey, many-windowed castle with flags flying from its turrets in the background, several people walking in the foreground, and a bright sky above 25 September 1882 The Metropolitan Railway opened "Tower of London", however closed this in 1884 as the District Railway had opened "Mark Lane" nearby. This station was renamed "Tower Hill" in 1946 and moved to the site of the "Tower of London" station in 1967.[6][64] Connects with District line.51°30′36″N 000°04′34″W / 51.51000°N 0.07611°W / 51.51000; -0.07611 (20 - Tower Hill tube station)
Monument An entrance in a larger building under a sign reading "MONUMENT STATION" reveals banisters leading down. A woman is walking out of the entrance 6 October 1884 Opened as Eastcheap, renamed The Monument in 1884.[6] Escalator connection to Bank station giving connections with Central, Northern, Waterloo & City and DLR.51°30′47″N 000°05′17″W / 51.51306°N 0.08806°W / 51.51306; -0.08806 (21 - Bank–Monument station)
Cannon Street A building with four people walking in front of it, one man in a white shirt sitting in front of it, and one white vehicle driving in front of it 6 October 1884 Connects with Cannon Street main line station.51°30′37″N 000°05′27″W / 51.51028°N 0.09083°W / 51.51028; -0.09083 (22 - Cannon Street station)
Mansion House A beige-bricked building with a rectangular, dark blue sign reading "MANSION HOUSE STATION" in white letters and a yellow sign reading "OFFICES TO LET" 3 July 1871 51°30′44″N 000°05′39″W / 51.51222°N 0.09417°W / 51.51222; -0.09417 (23 - Mansion House tube station)
Blackfriars A glass structure with gray slats on higher floor; an entrance leads under a canopy with a sign reading "BLACKFRIARS STATION" into a large internal space seen through the glass, People are walking into the entrance and coming up steps from an underpass. 30 May 1870 Connects with Blackfriars main line station and Thameslink services.51°30′42″N 000°06′11″W / 51.51167°N 0.10306°W / 51.51167; -0.10306 (24 - Blackfriars station)
Temple A grey building with a rectangular, white sign on a rounded corner reading "TEMPLE STATION" in black letters all under a blue sky 30 May 1870 Opened as The Temple.[6] 51°30′40″N 000°06′52″W / 51.51111°N 0.11444°W / 51.51111; -0.11444 (25 - Temple tube station)
Embankment A grey building with a blue sign reading "EMBANKMENT STATION" in white letters and people standing in the foreground all under a white sky 30 May 1870 Opened as Charing Cross, renamed Charing Cross Embankment in 1974 and to the current name from 1976.[6] Connects with Bakerloo and Northern lines and Charing Cross main line station51°30′25″N 000°07′19″W / 51.50694°N 0.12194°W / 51.50694; -0.12194 (26 - Embankment tube station)
Westminster A large crowd of people walking on a grey sidewalk next to a black road where two vehicles are driving from the left to the right 24 December 1868 Opened as Westminster Bridge, renamed in 1907.[6] Connects with Jubilee line51°30′04″N 000°07′30″W / 51.50111°N 0.12500°W / 51.50111; -0.12500 (27 - Westminster tube station)
St James's Park 24 December 1868 51°29′58″N 000°08′04″W / 51.49944°N 0.13444°W / 51.49944; -0.13444 (28 - St. James's Park tube station)
Victoria A grey building with three rectangular, white signs reading "London Victoria Station" in black letters all under a clear, white sky 24 December 1868 Connects with Victoria line and Victoria main line station.51°29′48″N 000°08′41″W / 51.49667°N 0.14472°W / 51.49667; -0.14472 (29 - London Victoria station)
Sloane Square A modern looking building with marble coloured tiled wall at ground level with grey cladding above. A small concrete canopy is over the larger of two entrances with blue signs reading "SLOANE SQUARE STATION", people are entering and exiting through the larger entrance. 24 December 1868 51°29′33″N 000°09′24″W / 51.49250°N 0.15667°W / 51.49250; -0.15667 (30 - Sloane Square tube station)
South Kensington A entrance behind a raised bed of green plant and under a blue sign reading "SOUTH KENSINGTON STATION" leads into an arcade of shops. Above the entrance there is a glass panel with white lettering reading "METROPOLITAN AND DISTRICT RAILWAYS" and "SOUTH KENSINGTON STATION". 24 December 1868 Connects with Piccadilly line51°29′39″N 000°10′26″W / 51.49417°N 0.17389°W / 51.49417; -0.17389 (31 - South Kensington tube station)
Gloucester Road A beige-bricked building with a green sign reading "METROPOLITAN & DISTRICT RAILWAYS GLOUCESTER ROAD STATION" in white letters 1 October 1868 Opened as Brompton (Gloucester Road), renamed in 1907.[6] Connects with Piccadilly and District lines.51°29′41″N 000°10′59″W / 51.49472°N 0.18306°W / 51.49472; -0.18306 (32 - Gloucester Road tube station)
High Street Kensington A white many-windowed building 1 October 1868 Opened as Kensington (High Street) and name gradually changed by 1880.[6] Connects with District line Edgware Road branch.51°30′03″N 000°11′33″W / 51.50083°N 0.19250°W / 51.50083; -0.19250 (33 - High Street Kensington tube station)
Notting Hill Gate A railway station with side platforms either side of two tracks that disappear into darkness under a painted steel bridge like structure topped with a brick wall, covered by a partially glazed barrel roof. 1 October 1868 Connects with Central line.51°30′32″N 000°11′49″W / 51.50889°N 0.19694°W / 51.50889; -0.19694 (34 - Notting Hill Gate tube station)
Bayswater A single storey pale brick building topped with stone railing. Above an entrance is a canopy, around which are rectanglar blue signs reading "BAYSWATER" and "BAYSWATER STATION". People are walking in the street. 1 October 1868 Opened as Bayswater, renamed Bayswater (Queen's Road) & Westbourne Grove in 1923, Bayswater (Queen's Road) in 1933 and Bayswater (Queensway) in 1946, after which the suffix was gradually dropped.[6] 51°30′43″N 000°11′17″W / 51.51194°N 0.18806°W / 51.51194; -0.18806 (35 - Bayswater tube station)
Paddington A pale two storey stone building, with gold coloured letters at the top reading "METROPOLITAN RAILWAY" and "PADDINGTON STATION", windows on the first floor. On the ground floor there are shops either side of an entrance with a canopy with rectanglar blue signs reading "PADDINGTON STATION". There are cars and a small truck in the road and people are walking on the pavement. 1 October 1868 Opened as Paddington (Praed Street), renamed in 1948.[6] Connects with Bakerloo and Hammersmith & City lines and Paddington main line station.

51°30′56″N 000°10′32″W / 51.51556°N 0.17556°W / 51.51556; -0.17556 (36 - Paddington station (District line platforms))

The line then continues to Edgware Road where trains terminate, then reverse to traverse the loop in an anticlockwise direction to Hammersmith.

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ↑ combined figures for Circle and Hammersmith & City lines
  2. ↑ For example the 22:26 outer rail (clockwise) service from Aldgate was booked to arrive back at Aldgate at 23:22 after waiting at Gloucester Road (for 1 1⁄2 minutes), Edgware Road (2 1⁄2 minutes) and Baker Street (1⁄2 minute).[31]
  3. ↑ Position: 51°29′52″N 000°13′31″W / 51.49778°N 0.22528°W

References

  1. 1 2 "Performance: LU Performance Data Almanac". Transport for London. 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. ↑ Green 1987, pp. 7–9.
  3. ↑ Green 1987, pp. 10–11.
  4. ↑ Green 1987, p. 12.
  5. ↑ Simpson 2003, pp. 23–4.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Rose 2007.
  7. 1 2 3 Bruce 1983, p. 11.
  8. ↑ Horne 2003, p. 28.
  9. ↑ Green 1987, p. 25.
  10. ↑ Bruce 1983, pp. 33,37.
  11. ↑ Bruce 1983, p. 40.
  12. ↑ Bruce 1983, p. 37.
  13. ↑ Bruce 1983, p. 39.
  14. ↑ Bruce 1983, p. 71.
  15. ↑ Bruce 1983, pp. 40–41.
  16. ↑ Bruce 1983, pp. 76–77.
  17. ↑ Green 1987, p. 51.
  18. ↑ Bruce 1983, p. 94.
  19. ↑ Green 1987, p. 33.
  20. ↑ Green 1987, p. 54.
  21. ↑ "1949 tube map". Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  22. ↑ Bruce 1983, p. 95.
  23. ↑ Bruce 1983, p. 114.
  24. ↑ Croome, Desmond F.; Jackson, Alan Arthur (1993). Rails Through the Clay: A History of London's Tube Railways. Capital Transport. p. 468. ISBN 978-1-85414-151-4.
  25. ↑ "PPP Performance Report" (PDF). Transport for London. 2010. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  26. ↑ "7 July Bombings: Edgware Road". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  27. ↑ "7 July Bombings: Aldgate". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  28. ↑ Day & Reed 2010, p. 217.
  29. ↑ "Tube drinks party sparks mayhem". BBC News. 1 June 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  30. ↑ Working Timetable No. 21, from 11 June 2006. Circle line, Hammersmith & City line (London Underground). 20 April 2006. pp. 2–3.
  31. ↑ Working Timetable No. 21, from 11 June 2006. Circle line, Hammersmith & City line (London Underground). 20 April 2006. p. 45.
  32. ↑ "Circle Line extended to the west". BBC News. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  33. ↑ Bull, John; Moore, George (9 July 2012). "In Pictures: The S7 Stock In Passenger Service". London Reconnections. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  34. ↑ "S Stock trains take to Circle line". Global Rail News. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  35. ↑ Prentice, Paul (18 September 2013). "S Stock trains enter service on the Circle and District lines". Rail (731): 26.
  36. ↑ Hendy, Peter (December 2013). "Commissioner's Report" (PDF). Transport for London. p. 5. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  37. 1 2 3 "Circle line facts". Transport for London. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Detailed London Transport Map". carto.metro.free.fr. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  39. ↑ Andrew Martin (26 April 2012). Underground, Overground: A Passenger's History of the Tube. Profile Books. pp. 137–138. ISBN 978-1-84765-807-4. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  40. ↑ Jackson 1986, p. 38.
  41. ↑ Jackson 1986, p. 48.
  42. ↑ Jackson 1986, pp. 52–53.
  43. 1 2 "Hammersmith to Edgware Road Circle line timetable". Transport for London. Retrieved 9 December 2012. In the Tube timetable - Tube station box select "Hammersmith (H&C Line)" and press Get Timetable. Select Edgware Road timetable and then view timetable.
  44. ↑ "Standard Tube Map" (PDF). Transport for London. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  45. ↑ http://www.citymetric.com/transport/london-underground-why-are-circle-line-trains-showing-whitechapel-1544
  46. 1 2 "Metro — London, United Kingdom". Bombardier. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  47. ↑ "Transforming the Tube" (PDF). Transport for London. July 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  48. ↑ "Rolling Stock: C Stock". Transport for London. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  49. 1 2 "Rolling Stock: S stock". Transport for London. Retrieved 10 January 2012. Note: The table erroneously says "Length per car", instead of "Length per train".
  50. ↑ "'S' stock making its mark". Modern Railways (London). December 2010. p. 46.
  51. ↑ Jackson 1986, p. 185.
  52. ↑ "Our Upgrade Plan" (PDF). Transport for London. February 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  53. 1 2 Abbott, James (January 2013). "Sub-surface renewal". Modern Railways. pp. 38–41.
  54. ↑ "Hammersmith & City line Upgrade Plan". Transport for London. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  55. ↑ Stewart, Rob (January 2013). "Cityflo 650 to control the SSR". Modern Railways. pp. 42–43.
  56. ↑ "A World-Class new railway for London and the South-East". Crossrail. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  57. ↑ "Crossrail business case - Summary Report". Crossrail. July 2010. p. 6. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  58. ↑ "Modernisation complete as Shepherd's Bush Tube station re-opens" (Press release). Transport for London. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  59. ↑ "New Wood Lane Underground station opens" (Press release). Transport for London. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  60. ↑ "Latimer Road station to close for three months for engineering works" (Press release). Transport for London. 14 January 2011.
  61. ↑ Butt 1995, p. 244.
  62. ↑ Butt 1995, p. 200.
  63. ↑ Jackson 1986, p. 70.
  64. ↑ Jackson 1986, p. 110.

Bibliography

  • Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1. 
  • Bruce, J Graeme (1983). Steam to Silver. A history of London Transport Surface Rolling Stock. Capital Transport. ISBN 0-904711-45-5. 
  • Day, John R; Reed, John (2010). The Story of London's Underground. Capital Transport. ISBN 978-1-85414-341-9. 
  • Green, Oliver (1987). The London Underground: An illustrated history. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1720-4. 
  • Horne, Mike (2003). The Metropolitan Line. Capital Transport. ISBN 1-85414-275-5. 
  • Jackson, Alan (1986). London's Metropolitan Railway. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8839-8. 
  • Rose, Douglas (December 2007) [1980]. The London Underground: A Diagrammatic History (8th ed.). Capital Transport. ISBN 978-1-85414-315-0. 
  • Simpson, Bill (2003). A History of the Metropolitan Railway. Volume 1: The Circle and Extended Lines to Rickmansworth. Lamplight Publications. ISBN 1-899246-07-X. 

Further reading

External links

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