Redbridge tube station

Redbridge is a London Underground station on Eastern Avenue in the Redbridge district of Ilford in East London, on the Hainault Loop of the Central line, in Zone 4.

For the railway station in Hampshire, see Redbridge railway station.

Redbridge
Station entrance
Redbridge
Location of Redbridge in Greater London
LocationRedbridge
Local authorityLondon Borough of Redbridge
Managed byLondon Underground
Number of platforms2
Fare zone4
London Underground annual entry and exit
2015 2.93 million[1]
2016 3.05 million[1]
2017 2.94 million[1]
2018 2.79 million[2]
2019 2.80 million[3]
Key dates
1942-1945Tunnels used as an aircraft parts factory by Plessey during the war
14 December 1947Opened
Listed status
Listing gradeII
Entry number1401101[4]
Added to list20 July 2011
Other information
External links
WGS8451.57574°N 0.04489°E / 51.57574; 0.04489
 London transport portal

The station was opened on 14 December 1947. Construction had begun in the 1930s but was delayed by the onset of the Second World War. During the war, the completed train tunnels at Redbridge were used by the Plessey company as an aircraft parts factory. The station building was designed by renowned Tube architect, Charles Holden, who also designed the other two below ground stations on the branch. Originally, the station was to have been named "West Ilford", then this changed to "Red House", before the final decision was made on "Redbridge" (also given in the plans as "Red Bridge".)

History and Location

Plessey opened its wartime munitions factory in the (at the time) incomplete tube tunnels between Gants Hill and Wanstead in 1942, and production lasted until 1945.[5] Since the station was built, a large roundabout has been constructed next to it, being a junction between the A406 (originally the terminal section of the M11), and the A12.

Redbridge is often described as the shallowest deep level (as opposed to cut-and-cover) station on the network, as it is only 5.2 metres (17 ft) beneath the surface. However, this is misleading as the station tunnel was constructed by the cut-and-cover method, with the running lines descending into genuine tube tunnels at either end of the platforms - similar to the Central line platforms at Mile End.

In July 2011 it was granted Grade II listed building status by English Heritage.[4]

It was also mentioned in the Department S episode The Last Train To Redbridge, although the actual station does not appear in it.

  • Westbound platform looking east
  • Eastbound platform looking west
  • View of the station building looking south
  • Ticket hall ceiling

Connections

London Buses routes 66, 145 and 366 serve the station.

References
  1. "Multi-year station entry-and-exit figures (2007–2017)" (XLSX). London Underground station passenger usage data. Transport for London. January 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  2. "Station Usage Data" (CSV). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2018. Transport for London. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  3. "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2019. Transport for London. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1401101)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  5. Dearden, Lizzie (10 November 2012). "Remembrance Sunday: The Secret Munitions Factory in the Underground tunnels at Gants Hill". Ilford Recorder.
Preceding station   London Underground   Following station
Central line
towards Hainault or
Woodford (via Hainault)
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