Stratford - End of the Line Ep.24 

My favourite bit is at 5:04 when the person walking through frame is wearing a shirt, the same colour as the loco!

I was the Design Manager for the new concourse at Stratford - that's the bit covered by the elliptical roof that was opened in 1999. At that time the Overground / North London Line, ran through the station on what are now the north to south DLR lines. It was put in a box for the work and only had to be closed for a few weekends. Originally the high level tracks were on brick structures, so there's a lot of very solid brickwork underneath. This made driving the new subway much harder work than anticipated and makes any new tunnelling very difficult, both because of the hard material and also because of the way it supports the tracks. The original design brief envisaged Crossrail running just behind the concourse, south of the Central Line. That's why there's a bit of a gap. LU weren't really keen on the type of escalator used for the short escalators. They are a lighter weight design than standard LU escalators. The Central Line makes north/south pedestrian tunnels difficult. Because it goes underground at each end, there's a limited zone for tunnels once other tunnels and obstructions are allowed for. I also worked on the recent London Bridge Station Redevelopment. In my opinion, redeveloping Stratford to make the platform layout and access more straightforward would be far more difficult.

Platform 10A is used a lot in the morning peak for down trains as the up trains are so frequent that they alternate between 9 and 10. Also in the evening peak the trains sometimes alternate between 10A and 10

Stratford has been one of the places I’ve been going to ever since I was born! It’s crazy how much it’s changed over the years!

Stratford for me will always be special because of London 2012. The countless rehearsals at the Stadium, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and when staying in the Tavelodge near Stratford High Street almost bumping in to the Olympic Torch relay. Fond memories and I still get a buzz every time I go there.

Stratford is such a hotch-potch that I rarely ever manage to use it without seeing someone very lost or being asked for directions. It seems no ends of maps, signs and announcements can fix the issues but short of a complete revamp I don't see it changing. Platform 10A is usually inhabited by one or two very lost or confused people waiting for trains that are actually going to leave from platform 10. And the lack of any kind of canopy over platforms 9 and 10 makes it fairly unique, I believe, for such a busy station.

my pointless fun facts:about Stratford Station are: - there's a staff room by the Jubilee line platforms called "Fleet House", which of course is the old proposed name of the Jubilee line but it was obviously extended well after it was safely called the Jubilee - there's a sign on the eastbound Central line platform with an unusually heavy typeface

10A platform is best used for filming trains - 10A is used as a relief platform during busy and peak hour periods to ease congestion on platform 10 Being a regular user of stratford, I have sussed it out, and it doesn't confuse me

I was trainspotting here Monday after a medical appointment and a fellow trainspotter started talking about you and your videos ❤

Before the Elizabeth Line was opened, I would often change at SRA to the Jubilee Line for LBG and the south. I liked this because SRA is the terminus so every train is empty once it's ready for boarding, and every train goes the correct way. And platforms 14 and 15 are an island so no matter which one the next train arrived at, you were in the correct place.

I vaguely remember going through Stratford back in the early 2000's. There was basically nothing there!

It's mad, I literally just got back from a day trip from Norwich to the science museum and a bit of sightseeing. Sat down, opened RU-vid & you posted this video! Parked at Stratford International, used underground at Stratford a couple of times today. Options to get in & out of Stratford were excellent, didn't feel lost at any point. Everything clearly signed. Very impressed!

One of the advantages of Stratford is that when one of the lines has a closure, there are lots of other alternative routes to get you where you need to go. The station itself is just a spaghetti of corridors and entrances and exits. I always thought it a bit interesting that those short escalators at Stratford only go up - there is no down if I recall correctly.

I use Stratford a lot Geoff and Platform 13 is still used quite often It’s a bit of a pain sometimes when you are sitting on a Jubilee Line train on either 14 or 15 and the train on the next platform leaves even though the indicator board says it’s your train next then only to be told it’s going nowhere and the next train to leave…., Yes platform 13! Everyone rushes around to 13 and just as you are reaching the end of the train the doors close and off it goes. 😵‍💫 Fun and games on the End of the Line 😂

Great episode; I now want to head down to Stratford. Didn’t realise it was the largest shopping centre in Europe!

This station made me a railway enthusiast and brought me so much love and joy because it showed me how amazing the UK railway system is i remember coming here for the first time when i was 5 years old and i fell in love with the station and all the trains immediately i couldn't feel more at home so yeah i have quite allot of love for Stratford station

I have used platform 10A to go to Southend Victoria. And I believe I used it once to take the c2c to Southend Central. This service usually goes from Fenchurch St via West Ham and Barking, but if there are engineering works it goes from Liverpool Street through Stratford, usually platform 8. For some reason platform 8 was closed that day too, so the train stopped at 10A instead.

The new entrance at Stratford did indeed used to be a Staff area. I know this because for a few years, around 2012-2015 I think, my Dad handed out the Evening Standard in the Concourse between the Jubilee Line platforms and the tunnel taking you to other platforms and Westfield. Where the new entrance is used to be where the papers were dropped off around midday. I also believe a staff room is/used to be near that emtrance as well.

Have been using Stratford since 1965. There used to be services to North Woolwich and to Lea Bridge. Often at weekends and after 11 pm, they would shut Fenchurch St and use Liverpool St. instead with trains going through Stratford to Barking. When the station was remodelled in the 1940s there were bay platforms between the LNER suburban platforms and the Central line platforms, used for a short time for services from Fenchurch St. terminating at Stratford.

When I was a kid from Stratford Shopping Hall there was a subway instead of crossing on the road outside. Left took you to the bus station. Right took you to the railway station. Just a long walk to the station. Platforms from the entrance how it is now is the best.

10A is actually used quite often by GA: all trains out of London in the morning peak (so the increased frequency of trains into London have 2 platforms, as those 3 platforms - 9,10,10A are bi-directional) and in the evening peak too. Even off peak / Saturdays one Southend train an hour regularly uses 10A.

Despite all the messiness that station has I love Stratford, on of my dream goals as a kid it was working there! oh well life... And thank you just gave me a BIG smile just good memories

As a reasonably close local, also performing at the olympic closing ceremony and having worked (at the time) for the people who helped put Robert the red loco there in pride of place outside the station. Also, Geoff every time I arrive on the Jubes, its always one of two options to exit the train. Most likely just your left but if its 14 then a shuffle on the tube to the right door as you go over the points. 13 closed? News to me! I love that station and love its evolution to where it is now. ❤ Top vid Mr Marshall.

I was there yesterday; the signage from the Anglia train to the Jubilee line was excellent. Wayfinding is part of my day job; clear, consistent colour and logo signage are key for human intuitive cognition to work.

As a northerner, Stratford is currently my favourite place to stay in London. I can now jump on a smooth, quiet Crossrail train from the centre to get to Stratford, rather use the Central Line which sounds as though it is about to derail at any moment. Plus, it is close to the ABBA Arena!

Love this. Brings back fond memories of my former Manor House, Finsbury Park, H&I, Stratford, West Ham commute.

Having just returned from Utrecht in the Netherlands, that bike rack looks comically small. Stratford had 101 million annual passengers in 2019 and Utrecht had 75 million, but they've built an underground multistorey bike park under the station that can hold 12000 bikes! We have a long way to go in this country.

I have used the Jubilee line from Stanmore more than any other tube line - but never been through to Stratford. Thanks for this one, Geoff.

Steam Engine Robert looks in need of a restoration...🚂

As a regular user of Stratford station I’ve seen 10a used on Sundays for Elizabeth line whenever they’re doing track maintenance works on the original platform line

Platform 10A is mainly used during the peak hours to help get more trains through Stratford and out into Essex etc. I live in Colchester and normally some trains home depart from platform 10A. Freight trains to Felixstowe also pass through this platform.

The are 3 public subways at Stratford. The country end one, the quietest was the original one and was closed for some years but was reopened. It used to link to the abandoned original entrance, still visible behind the hoardings alongside the taxi rank. There was also another subway about 50 feet further to country which was the staff walkway to the yards and depot. The area between 10A and 11 may become an entrance in the future. There are many plans for the development of the land behind the wall.

but Geoff when you did the least used station in Essex, you used 10a with Andy Carter/Calling All Station when you went to White Notley

I’m so old, I remember when we only had 8 platform, 2 for the central, 2-4 for main line services, although for the vast majority of the day it was just 2 and me old haunt the North London line! Short trip from Custom House! None of this DLR, Elizabeth Line and overground nonsense! 🤣

That is a good view from Stratford High Street of Jubilee /Stratford Intl. DLR! But the best view of the high level might be from the M&S café. Especially at rush hour, it's fascinating to see all the differnet trains coming and going, and all the people bustling across the bridge, as you sit there leisurely having a coffee!

I'd like to suggest Hammersmith for it being the terminus of the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines. Then Edgware Road as it is the other Circle line terminus.

During my visits to Stratford shed (30A) in the 1950s and 60s the entrance was via a long tunnel with a branch off to the Polygon works. Presume it was roughly where the main underpass is now underneath the platforms.

well, I had no idea there was so much to Stratford station(s). Thanks for enlighterning us.

Platform 7; bit of a cheat and perhaps cheek but the paragraph from Wikipedia says it better than I can paraphrase, so here it is, - "Platforms 4 and 7 are disused. When the main line to Shenfield was electrified in the 1940s there was an intention to run a shuttle service from Fenchurch Street to Stratford, calling at Stepney East (now Limehouse) and Bow Road, which would have terminated at these bay platforms. However, this service was never introduced (despite all the works required being carried out). From the 1980s platform 4 was used as the terminus of the DLR while platform 7 remained abandoned. In 2007, platform 4 was abandoned again as the DLR moved to two new platforms to the south of platform 4, though these are signposted as "platform 4" within the station." In a satellite image you can see the spaces where they were.

I did a project on the Jubilee line when I was 10 IIRC and I enjoyed riding the Jubilee line when I was 11 all the way out to Stratford in 1999. My family only wanted to go as far as North Greenwich or somewhere but I made them go all the way to Stratford.

Having been to Stratford station a good few times (mainly for the Copper Box arena), I can definitely say it looks confusing at first. Many different elevation levels, and very busy - thankfully the signage in the station is very good. My personal favourite place in the Stratford area has to be the Olympic park though - enjoying the greenery by the water (lower than the main paths) with nice weather and a fun book has been my favourite memory of the area!

1:46 Platform 7 used to be the empty space on the west end of Platform 6. The original Platform 4 was the empty space on the west end of Platform 3 and this was where the DLR used to be. When they moved the DLR several metres south Platform 4 was closed and replaced by 4a & 4b. Platforms 16 & 17 (DLR) used to be Platforms 1 & 2 (Silverlink/London Overground) 4:13 you were led to believe correctly. That was the staff car park when I started working there in 1999 (Stratford station was a lot smaller then)

1:01 fun fact this happens on the metrolink too at victoria where trams going to the airport open there doors on both sides and you can walk through the tram

Hi Geoff, do you have any plans to look at any stations in the north? I think you could get some lovely videos out of Huddersfield and the Penistone Line!

Great video Geoff! Love your videos 😀👍🏻

Platform 10A is used for peak Greater Anglia trains and is also used for London Overground services occasionally which are scheduled timetabled services

I’d say Stratford is Jubilee Line’s Eastern end, not Southern as you say. If you like at the map, Jubilee goes from North West London to North East London.

The weathering steel bridge show at the beginning that crosses over the station was manufactured in Finland. It was then assembled on the north side and pushed south wards as the sections were delivered. The final pushes were carried whilst the railway was live.

Thank you for sharing this video Geoff it was very interesting. I have been to London Stratford a few times as it is very easy for me to get to. Where I live in Hertfordshire there is a mainline train which goes to Stratford (& Liverpool St too). It is such a captivating station as there are so many links to other trains both overground & underground. I remember when I went to Greenwich Museum I went to Stratford then took the DLR from there & I love the DLR so much.

I lived in Stratford in the early 90s and even then I use to get confused. I can’t imagine now!😮lol

Almost there Geoff keep it up with the End Of The Line vids we only got Waterloo, Bank, Barking (H&C), Hammersmith (H&C and Circle), Edgware Road (Circle and District) and Kensington Olympia 👍🏻👍🏻

Wow I‘m shocked, I don’t recognise anything. The last time I visited Stratford station, was to travel on the old “slam-door“ North London Line to get to Kentish Town in 1991. Great video though!

I used platform 10a last week! I went to Walton on the naze, so Clacton on sea train and change at Thorpe le soken. Platform 12 has been getting a lot more use too the last few years now because of the meridian water line as well as the Hertford east/ bishops Stortford line.

I used 10a when West Ham were in the play off final in Cardiff, national rail put on special trains from there to Cardiff (wish now I had taken a picture of the departure board lol)

Amazing now... I recall going there in about 1991 / 1992 - it was almost desolate - nothing there at all and hardly any platforms....

Platform 10a almost caught me out a couple of months back when I was heading to Chelmsford. I've never used the GA services from Stratford before and at the time had very limited mobility after breaking my leg and had just that week been weaned off of using crutches. I arrived at the station on the Jubilee line with plenty of time for the change, and went to Platform 10, thinking (I think reasonably) that 10a would be one half of Platform 10, as in many large stations, like Birmingham New Street, Reading, Leeds, etc. I was stood at the platform and waiting for my train (which I assumed would be the following train from the one on the board). As the one on 10 left, a train pulled into the next platform along and I saw some people running from the platform I was on. I then realised that Platform 10a wasn't an end of Platform 10, but a different one completely. I walked as fast as I could, having to drag a wheeled suitcase and manage 2 very long flights of stairs to reach the other platform, as the doors closed. Fortunately, the guard took pity on me and reopened the doors and let me board. Extremely confusing for anyone that has never used Stratford before. Ironically, my railway knowledge actually hindered me on this one. Renumbering really ought to be considered, or much clearer signage to indicate the difference of 10a.

Platforms 10a and 11 are also used by London Overground. Some trains are scheduled to use them while they're used during disruption. In fact, one terminated here last night around 22:50 due to delays.

Thanks, Geoff, it looks like the place is as fascinating as it is confusing! BTW You mentioned it's the end of the line for the Overground as well as the Jubilee Line, but of course it's also the end of the line for one of the DLR branches (but not the other one). I've never gone there, but way back when I was little our family used to go to Clacton sometimes, and as we went through Stratford in the train I would always keep an eye out to see whether I could spot a Central Line train popping up out of its tunnel or going back down into it.

I want to say platform 10a was used a fair bit during London 2012 for people going to the events travelling from east anglia . I remember having to get on an early train in the morning to make it to the park on one of the greater Anglia trains that stopped at every station from Colchester to London Liverpool street

I prefer SRA to LST because the change between mainline and Elizabeth line is slicker at SRA, with just 2 lifts and a short walk. But at LST it's a long complicated route through the tube station with loads of escalators and walking.

My favourite station because of the open view of all the train platforms. But one I try to avoid on busy weekends or evening rush hour.

My mum was originally from Stratford and we used to visit my grandmother and her second husband before any of this development happened. New Cross Gate to Whitechapel, Whitechapel to Mile End, Mile End to Stratford. Stratford has changed so much. The sidings and goods yards are long gone and my uncle used to work in there. My grandmother’s house has been replaced by a supermarket, but I think that the old Theatre Royal is still there somewhere. It’s a maze of train lines and bus stops that have transformed the area.

Excellent video

Platform 10a is a backup platform mainly used for peak services or early morning services when platform 9 & 10 is transformed used for trains into London Liverpool Street until 17:00 it’s used for some peak services to Southend vic Braintree southminster & Clacton. However the other day there was a points failure on platform 10 making trains all use 10a tbf

I've used platform 10a loads of times. Its the platform Greater Anglia uses for trains to Southend Victoria at weekend evenings.

My daughter loves to sit in M&S cafe and watch the trains

In the Netherlands we don't say platform (number) but track (number). Because the numbers are linked to the tracks. In Utrecht Centraal track 13 does not exist any more (there are more tracks missing). Some people suggest it's because of superstition, but the track was removed to make a wider platform, before it got removed there was a passage track. If we use letters in a track number it's because there is a very long platform and they split it in 2 parts. :)

Splitting hairs but Platform 11 and 10a are used by Overground several times a day, mostly to manage pathing for freight that has to thread through the busy NLL timetable.

The 1st station north of 13a is the little used spur to Lea Bridge Road station and in between the stations is a spur off the HS1 line from the international station where there is a Eurostar depot

I was there for the first time just over five weeks ago,had been at parkrun in Hackney (near the Olympic Stadium) and was on my way down to Surrey for an ultra event so was heading from Hackney Wick to Waterloo,changing at Stratford. Mind boggling station complex!

10A is used as an additional eastbound platform for Greater Anglia during the peaks, as well as additional plaatform for crew changes on some freight trains. It used to only be used occasionally, but was brought into permanent regular use shortly before London2012

Great video as always :)

navigating through the station is actually pretty easy as all the platforms are next to each others so even if you don't know the number, you easily get where you are meant to go.

I use Stratford every time I go to uni, I've mostly figured it out. You can save time with a shortcut changing to the Jubilee by avoiding the escalators, if you get on the right stairs, otherwise you're dealing with the crowd.

Noticed the Gibbens Road exit for the first time on Monday evening 29th July. Also saw a freightliner container train going east, probably to Felixstowe. In earlier years , about 7pm on a Friday evening, you could watch the weekly Glasgow to Harwich train sit in the then Platform 10 while they decoupled the diesel engine that had brought it round the North London line.

I wish I knew about the Gibbons road entrance a couple weeks ago. It middle of the night and I needed a particular Jubilee train to make it to my national rail train on time. I was coming from the Olympic Park area, legged it over the pedestrian bridge by Jupp Road, ran all the way up to the main entrance, then up and over the platforms to get to the Jubilee platforms. uRGH

Stratford is one of my cause of the bus stations and all the trains. They're really satisfying

As well as GA trains, c2c trains also run through Stratford from Fenchurch line to Liverpool St station

As much as I don’t like Stratford station, there’s something so satisfying about a train with a double platform - I always love watching a Central Line pull into White City’s middle platform! 🤩

10a mostly used by freight trains especially after they extended the loop toward Maryland. Sat many a time whiling away time before zipping off toward Felixstowe!

Pity, I missed that meridian when I was at Stratford last April.

As a west ham fan I use thst station regularly from August to may. I hope that new exit will help getting out of the station quicker as it can be very hectic on match days. Keep up the great work

When i was a kid, we drove up to Norfolk from Orpington, and when we hit the old A13, it seemed as if we had at last hit the countryside by the time we reached Stratford!

Thanks!

I used platform 10a all the time when I lived in Billericay... it was the branch line towards southend

Another absolutely brilliant video Geoff. Always love your content!! 😊😊😊

I go through Stratford daily and always use platform 11 (and sometimes 12) to catch the Greater Anglia that stops at Lea Bridge and Tottenham Hale. Lovely and often crowded service that doesn’t get a lot of attention.

Braintree mention!! Big up!!!!

Great video Geoff they spent all that money on the station but nearest loo is in the shopping centre

Well damn I knew he would do stratford

I do like Stratford station and it still is a very busy station. Plus where platform 10a and 11 is I think that behind those walls are there is empty space and greenery. I think it’s going be something interesting that is going to be built behind platforms 10a and 11 or perhaps another apartment with another entrance/exit access. And it’s nice to see Gibbins Road entrance now officially opened. Also London Overground Class 378 sometimes uses platform 11 if platforms 1 and 2 are already full. Still Stratford station is a very busy station.

I remember that Gibbons Road entrance being a car park back when we moved from Broadway to Endeavour Square. If I remember rightly it was actually an issue that TfL office staff were using the car park as a cut through to get to the office.

Great video of a very complicated station - Robert needs some love though!

Also, platform 4 was the original DLR platform and you can see the remnants of it still. It has now been relocated to its new location as currently in use.

Stratford's complexity catches even experts out! The C2C Southend-Liverpool Street via Stratford service operates every weekend, but was missed by the londonreconnections Christmas quiz last year. A truly rare service is C2C to Fenchurch Steet - operates about one day every year or so, via the Bow curve. When the ECR opened about half the trains from the Loughton branch went into Fenchurch Street that way, right up to the Central Line taking over in 1947.

Hi Geoff, Good timing with the issue of this video. You may remember in one of your earlier "End of the Lines" (Uxbridge I think) you discovered Jeff Lock's book "Beyond the End of the Line". On the strength of that I bought a copy and only last Friday (26th July) I did Walk 2 - a circular walk via Stanmore Country Park. I followed this by riding the whole of the Jubilee Line to Stratford arriving on Platform 14 - then completed Walk 1 to Limehouse Basin and on to Canary Wharf. Yes what a contrast between Stanmore and Stratford. Thanks for your snippet about the Meridian Line (is this a forgotten u/g line...???). I had no idea it passed through Stratford. Incidentally Jeff Lock is also the author of "Exploring the Elizabeth Line (23 Walks from Crossrail Stations) and I understand he is in preparation of another book - Walks from Overground Stations.

This station reminds me a ton of Shibuya station, where you can also get terribly lost in its many many corridors

2:30 - "...lesser used Platform 12...". Oh, I dunno, it has its uses. I was there on Friday last week transferring from Enfield Lock so that I could get to Camden for a Genshin event for a buddy of mine from the Czech Republic. It was fun beating all the gyms in Pokémon Go too. I hatched a shiny Galarian Darumaka along the way, lol. Maybe the Lea Valley lines will get more trains and people along there once they develop the line and finish building all of those lovely new platforms they promised? It would be nice to have more trains through, especially as the Stansted Express has to share at the moment. If it has a true express route, then more regular trains could go in and out of London.

I like the the long format :)

Left 10a quite a few times heading back to Norwich from Stratford in the spring when engineering works were taking place at we had to change at Billercary