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Metropolitan LineThe Metropolitan Line is an integral part of the London Underground. The main line runs from Aldgate in the City of London to Amersham, with branch lines to Uxbridge, Watford and Chesham. For the initial section of the Line the rails are in tunnel for much of the way; beyond Baker Street the Line runs in the open. The four-track layout for part of the distance - between Baker Street and Moor Park - allows for the running of fast services to the outer suburbs. Baker Street is the terminus for many trains, but others complete their journeys into the City to either Moorgate (where there are terminal platforms) and Aldgate.
History
The origins of the Metropolitan Line lie with the incorporation, in 1853, of the North Metropolitan Railway, the original name of the Metropolitan Railway, which railway had been empowered, with the Metropolitan District Railway to complete an Inner Circle of railways in London. The first section was opened from near Paddington to Farringdon Street (now Farringdon station) in January 1863; work on the railway had begun in February 1860 using the "cut-and-cover" method of construction. This caused massive traffic disruption in north London: during the work the Fleet Sewer bursting into the diggings, flooding the partly-built tunnel. Another major change took place in 1988, when the Hammersmith & City Line and East London Line - which already had well-defined individual identities - were split off from the Metropolitan Line to be run separately. The Metropolitan Line is now confined to its northern extension from Baker Street plus its original track to Aldgate, running through the tunnels opened by the Metropolitan Railway back in 1868. In 1998, the Metropolitan Line was partly privatised in a controversial Public-Private Partnership. It is now part of the "Sub-Surface Railways" group, managed along with the Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines by the Metronet consortium. The Metropolitan Line's influence on underground railways worldwide has been immense. The Paris Metro took its name, in full Chemin de fer métropolitain - from the Metropolitan Line. This is the origin of the term metro.
Stationsin order from east to west Shared Circle Line track and main branch
The line splits here into two branches - the Uxbridge branch and the Northwood branch Uxbridge Branch(continuing from Harrow on the Hill) Northwood Branch(continuing from Harrow on the Hill) The line splits here into two branches -- the branch towards Amersham and the Watford branch Watford Branch(continuing from Moor Park) Towards Amersham(continuing from Moor Park) From Chalfont and Latimer station trains can go to Amersham (as the majority do) or to Chesham. Only in peak hours do trains run through to Chesham; at all other times passengers must change onto the shuttle service running between Chalfont & Latimer and Chesham. Current service patternThe Metropolitan line is the only London Underground line to operate fast services that miss out certain stations. (The Piccadilly Line also runs a fast service between Hammersmith and Turnham Green/Acton Town, but this operates round the clock and trains do not stop at the intermediate stations at any time). The current off-peak service pattern is as follows:
(tph=trains per hour) In the peak other services can run, including through trains to Aldgate from Watford/Amersham, semi-fasts to Watford/Uxbridge missing out Northwick Park and Preston Road and through trains to Chesham. There are also a few trains from Rickmansworth to Watford very early in the morning and vice versa late at night.
From 1905 onwards, the line was progressively electrified, although steam-hauled passenger trains ran until 1961 and maintenance trains as late as 1972 (the line still hold annual "steam days" in commemoration). A further branch was built to Stanmore in 1932.
The section west of Aylesbury was closed in 1936 (though services did get to Quainton Road again between 1943 and 1948). In the same year a service extension from Whitechapel to Barking was implemented along the District Line tracks. In 1939 the Stanmore extension was taken over by the Bakerloo Line (it now forms the original core of the Jubilee Line). In 1948 it was nationalised, along with the rest of the Underground. This led to a major modernisation of the line with total electrification by 1960 to Amersham and Chesham, but also another retreat: The service beyond Amersham was withdrawn in September 1961, along with the steam passenger service. Another major change took place in 1988, when the Hammersmith & City Line and East London Line - which already had well-defined individual identities - were split off from the Metropolitan Line to be run separately. The Metropolitan Line is now confined to its northern extension from Baker Street plus its original track to Aldgate, running through the tunnels opened by the Metropolitan Railway back in 1868. In 1998, the Metropolitan Line was partly privatised in a controversial Public-Private Partnership. It is now part of the "Sub-Surface Railways" group, managed along with the Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines by the Metronet consortium. The Metropolitan Line's influence on underground railways worldwide has been immense. The Paris Metro took its name, in full Chemin de fer métropolitain - from the Metropolitan Line. This is the origin of the term metro. Future PlansTfL and Hertfordshire County Council are developing plans to divert the line from the current Watford station and re-route it over the disused Croxley Green branch line to Watford Junction. New stations would be provided at Ascot Road and Watford West. [1] External links |
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