Transport for LondonVictoria line facts
History
The Victoria line, the first deep-level Underground line to be built across central London since the "tube boom" of 1905-1907, links Walthamstow in north east London with Brixton in south London.
The line opened in stages between 1968 and 1971 penetrating areas of north and south London not previously served by the Underground and designed to ease congestion in the north-east to West End corridor.
The line's origins can be traced back to the Second World War when it was included in the 1943 County of London Plan.
The constraints of the war years and the subsequent re-organisation and nationalisation of London's transport caused the plan to be postponed, and Parliamentary Powers to build the line were not obtained until 1955. Further delays in obtaining funds meant that actual construction work did not start until 1962.
Improving the Victoria Line
Number of passengers on the Victoria line
| Weekday | Saturday | Sunday | Annual (mil) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 511,714 | 355,147 | 226,911 | 161.319 |
Works at Tottenham Hale station were completed in February 2000 as a result of a fouryear £5.8 million regeneration project.
The station project included the redesigned of the ticket hall building by John Lyall architects, who built the (then British Rail) station in 1992, improved ticket hall environment including heightened roofing with skylight, terrazzo artwork to ticket hall interior and mobility impaired lift from the ticket hall to the lower concourse.
Looking ahead plans are now being developed to upgrade the Victoria line to meet future predicted demand
Works were also completed in the summer of August 2000 on the Brixton crossover. The crossover is the largest point and crossing formation within a tube section on the Underground. Following on a major expansion scheme at Brixton is planned.
All the trains have been refurbished and have new, brighter lighting, better seating and an enhanced interior appearance using materials which meet the latest safety standards. The train exteriors have been painted in a special bright new livery from which it is easy to remove graffiti.
The escalators at Victoria, the Underground's busiest, which link the Ticket Office and the Victoria line, have been replaced.
Looking ahead plans are now being developed to upgrade the Victoria line to meet future predicted demand, especially from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link which will terminate at St Pancras.
Victoria line facts
Journey from Brixton to Walthamstow takes 32 minutes and trains run every two minutes during peak periods in each direction
The Victoria line covers 21km (13.25 miles) and serves 16 stations. The whole line is below ground except for Northumberland Park depot where overhaul and maintenance work is carried out.
The line has 43 trains, of which 37 trains are currently needed for service in the peak periods.
The journey from Brixton to Walthamstow takes 32 minutes and trains run every two minutes during peak periods in each direction.
The fleet was designed for the opening of the line and is known as 1967 tube stock, manufactured by Metro-Cammell of Birmingham, with each train made up of eight cars. The trains were refurbished by Tickford Rail Ltd at Rosyth Royal Dockyard between 1991-1995.
Once the Train Operator has closed the train doors and pressed the start buttons, the trains run automatically to the next station, responding to coded impulses transmitted through the track. The Victoria Line was the first automatic passenger railway in the world!
Victoria line management
London Underground has recently established a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to secure stable, long term investment in the system.
This follows the Government's announcement in March 1998 of its intention to divide London Underground into a publicly owned operating company and three privately-owned companies (Infracos) who will be contracted to maintain and enhance the existing network. The PPP contract was signed with Metronet Rail BCV to upgrade, renew and maintain the Victoria line.
Metronet Rail BCV's contract also covers the maintenance of Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City lines.
In order to ease transition to the new PPP structure, the operational side of the Underground has been reorganised from individual lines to a new structure reflecting the proposed Infraco groupings. From September 1999, the Victoria line has been grouped with the Bakerloo, Waterloo & City and Central lines.
From November 2003, Nigel Holness will be responsible for delivering BCV (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria) train and station services to meet customers' requirements. The line's General Manager is John Doyle.
Further information
If you wish to comment on the Victoria line services, or would like to know more about the line, please contact us.
