Yesterday's closure of part of the North London line isn't such grim news for East End travellers as you may have thought. Local residents will still be able to get around, almost as easily, using alternative rail transport[map]. The Jubilee line already duplicates the NLL between Stratford and Canning Town, and the DLR does the same between Canning Town and Custom House. There's no direct service replacement at either Silvertown or North Woolwich stations, but both are sited very near to the new DLR City Airport extension that opened twelve months ago [photo gallery]. Oh yes, this has all been carefully planned, this has. And the newly-disused NLL tracks won't be wasted either, oh no, because there are plans to run new services along those at some time in the near future. As follows:
Closed section 1: North Woolwich → Canning Town Should reopen as part of: Crossrail One day, maybe, the Government will decide to give the go-ahead to the Crossrail project. Not just a general statement of support with due funding to be provided when the time is prudent, but a big green light with all the money up front. If that day ever comes, then the far end of the North London Line may live again. One of Crossrails's two eastern branches (the one through Canary Wharf) is due to pass this way, and reusing a stretch of old track will be much cheaper than digging new tunnels. Big chunky Crossrail trains will emerge through a new portal just to the west of Custom House station, where a stonking big island platform will be built on the site of the current NNL platforms. The Crossrail route will then follow the just-closed NLL line through the Connaught Tunnel to Silvertown, where the old station and footbridge will be quietly demolished. Finally, a few hundred yards before North Woolwich station, another new tunnel opening will be dug so that Crossrail can head beneath the Thames to (maybe) Woolwich and (definitely) Abbey Wood. So (probably maybe) this end of the North London line will live again, in shiny 21st century form, but with none of its existing stations intact. • latest Crossrail news • simple Crossrail map • complicated official Crossrail mapsand planning documents
Closed section 2: Canning Town → Stratford Will reopen as part of: Docklands Light Railway The DLR continues to extend its twintrack tentacles across East London. Its next target is the new Eurostar international station at Stratford, which will be linked by rail to the existing Stratford station in 2010. New DLR trains will arrive at the low level platforms, currently occupied by the North London Line, before continuing south along the old NLL tracks to Canning Town. Three new intermediate stations will be constructed along the way, including one at "Abbey Road" (which should confuse Beatles-seeking tourists). From Canning Town services will continue on to either Beckton or Woolwich Arsenal (via City Airport), which means that through services to the Silvertown area will once again be restored. Trains will stop more frequently and take a little longer to arrive, but they'll also run more often and be a great deal more pleasant to travel in. • official DLR extension information (with maps) • latest DLR extension news • NLL transfers to DLR(today's press release)
How to travel from Woolwich to Hackney Wick • Yesterday: Take the ferry or foot tunnel across the Thames. Walk a few hundred yards to North Woolwich station. Wait up to 30 minutes for the next train. Ride all the way to Hackney Wick. • Today: Take the ferry or foot tunnel across the Thames. Walk 356 extra metres to the DLR station at King George V. Wait up to 10 minutes for the next train. Ride to Canning Town. Descend to lower platform. Wait a few minutes for a Jubilee line train. Ride to Stratford. Exit through ticket barriers. Walk to platform 1 (or cross to platform 2 via escalator, bridge and stairs). Wait up to 15 minutes for the next NLL train. Ride to Hackney Wick. • In 5 years time: Enter Woolwich Arsenal station. Wait up to 12 minutes for a DLR train to Stratford International. Ride to Stratford. Alight at low level platform. Cross to new NLL platforms on northern side of station via long subway. Wait up to 8 minutes for an "Overground" train. Ride to Hackney Wick.
