Epping tube station

Epping on the London Underground is the eastern terminus of the Central Line. The preceding station to Epping is Theydon Bois, which is approximately three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex and is one of eight London Underground stations in the Epping Forest District [cite web|url=http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/community/transport/the_tube.asp |accessdate=2009-09-30 |title=The Tube |work=Epping Forest District Council] and is in Travelcard Zone 6. The station's postcode is CM16 4HW.

History

In 1856, The Eastern Counties Railway (later Great Eastern Railway) opened a double track railway between Stratford and Loughton with a single-track extension between Loughton and Ongar being added in 1865. The popularity of the line led to the doubling of the track between Loughton and Epping. The line was well served with 50 trains operating between London and Loughton each day, with a further 22 continuing to Epping and 14 more to Ongar. Loughton to Epping became part of the London Underground Central Line on 25 September 1949, leaving the single track line from Epping to Ongar as the last steam worked section, British Railways ran the service until 1957 when the line was electrified and became part of the Central Line. However, services were not connected to the rest of the Central Line network, meaning passengers wishing to go beyond Epping were required to change platforms. Until 30 September 1994 Epping station served as the transfer station for the aforementioned single track line to Ongar via North Weald and Blake Hall stations.

The station today

Epping station saw a growth in passenger numbers in the mid 1990s due to the closures of nearby North Weald, Blake Hall and Ongar stations. This growth has continued due to significant development in Epping itself and surrounding villages. Another major contributing factor is that many people living in not too distant towns such as Harlow and Bishop's Stortford use the station instead of their own National Rail stations, due to it being considerably cheaper to travel to London via London Underground rather than National Rail services. Growth is now at such a point where the station’s car park is full by 6:30 am and parking around the station (as with other stations on this part of the line, e.g. Theydon Bois and Debden) has become a serious problem for local residents, which in turn has caused many residents and local groups to call for the re-opening of North Weald and Ongar stations to help ease demand on Epping station. [cite web| url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/search/display.var.2080328.0.epping_tyres_slashed_in_parking_row.php |title=Epping Tyres Slashed In Parking Row |work=East London and West Essex Guardian Series |accessdate=2009-09-30 |date=2008-02-28] [cite web| url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/search/display.var.2287122.0.our_village_was_not_built_to_become_a_car_park_for_those_outside_the_area.php |title=Our Village Was Not Built To Become A Car Park For Those Outside The Area |work=East London and West Essex Guardian Series |accessdate=2008-09-30 |date=2008-05-21]

As of 11 May 2008 an e-petition calling for the reopening of North Weald and Ongar stations was created on the Downing Street website. [cite web| url=http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/latestnews/New-fight-reopen-Ongar-rail-line/article-211374-detail/article.html?logout=true |accessdate=2008-09-29 |title=New fight to reopen Ongar rail line |date=2008-07-09]

Trivia

* The longest journey without change on the London Underground can be made on the Central line between West Ruislip and Epping (convert|54.9|km|mi). [cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/corporate/modesoftransport/tube/linefacts/?line=central |title=Line facts: Central line |work=Transport for London |accessdate=2008-09-30]

* Epping station counts approximately formatnum:6200 users daily.cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3873.aspx |title=Epping station to be refurbished and improved |work=Transport for London |accessdate=2008-09-30 |date=2005-10-10]

* Epping has the second-largest public London Underground station car park with 508 spaces.

References

External links

* [http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Ongar_Branch.html London's Abandoned Tube Stations - Epping to Ongar branch]