History

The Victoria Line, the first deep-level Underground line serving central London to be built since the " tube boom" of 1890 - 1907, links Walthamstow in north east London with Brixton in south London. The line opened in stages between 1968 and 1971 (listed at the end of this Fact Sheet), penetrating areas of north and south London not previously served by the U nderground. The line serves four main line railway stations (Victoria, Euston, St Pancras and King's Cross). In addition to crossing the very heart of London's West End, it passes through London's three busiest Underground stations, Victoria, Oxford Circus and King's Cross.

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. Conceived originally to relieve congestion on existing Underground and suburban railway routes, the Victoria Line quickly established new markets of its own and today carries nearly three times more people than originally envisaged. Brixton alone today caters for over 15 million people per year - more than twice the original estimate.

Running the Lines

London Underground is currently in the process of working towards the establishment of a public private partnership (PPP) designed to increase 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 infrastructure companies (Infracos) which will be contracted to maintain and enhance the infrastructure. In order to facilitate the transition to the new PPP structure when the contractual arrangements are in place, the operational side of the Underground has been reorganised, with a structure based on individual lines or groups of lines replaced by one reflecting the proposed Infraco groupings. From September 1999, the Victoria Line has been grouped with the Bakerloo and Central/Waterloo & City Lines, with Bob Bayman, Train Service Manager (BCV), and Andy Byford, Station Services Manager (BCV), jointly responsible for delivering train and station services which meet customers' requirements.

Some 770 staff are involved in the day-to-day operation and management of the Victoria Line. All stations except Finsbury Park have automatic ticket-checking gates.

The Line has 43 trains, of which 37 are currently needed for service in the peak periods. The fleet was designed for the opening of the line and is known as 1967 tube stock.

Each train has only one person in charge, the Train Operator. Once the 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.

Those trains not in service are undergoing cleaning, maintenance or overhaul. These activities are carried out at the Victoria Line depô t at Northumberland Park in Tottenham. The depô t is the only part of the Victoria Line which is not below ground. All the trains have recently 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. A new washing machine has recently been installed to keep the trains looking good, as well as meeting the latest environmental standards.

The safe and secure operation of stations is equally important, and a new security room has been opened at Brixton which monitors all the stations at the southern end of the line. Work is also in progress on the installation of a new control room at Seven Sisters in order to improve control of this busy station, especially the football crowds en route to and from Tottenham Hotspurs' matches.

Refurbishment work has commenced on the Underground's busiest escalators at Victoria, which link the Ticket Office and the Victoria Line; work is also taking place on escalators at Brixton and Walthamstow.

At Tottenham Hale work is almost complete on a major station modernisation project which has completely transformed the upper levels of the station. Included in the modernisation is a small lift to link the ticket hall and bus station level with the platforms, thereby making Tottenham Hale the first station on the line to have step-free access from street level to the platforms. Other improvement works are being carried out in the adjacent bus station, to create one of north London's most important bus-rail interchanges.

Some 143 million passenger journeys were made on the Victoria Line in1996. The 21 km (13.25 mile) journey from Brixton to Walthamstow takes 32 minutes and trains run every two minutes during peak periods in each direction.

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. When completed, the Victoria Line upgrade should make it possible to run trains at intervals of one and a half minutes, and there is also likely to be a minor extension to the line at its southern end. In addition, the upgrade will include a major improvement scheme at Victoria to relieve congestion and provide proper interchange between the Underground (the Victoria Line and the Circle and District Lines), the main line and suburban rail services at Victoria Railtrack station and London Transport Bus services.

Victoria Line Stations

Further Information 43

If you want to comment on Victoria Line services, or wish to know more about the line, please contact:

Customer Services
Victoria Line
London Underground Limited
Western House
237-239 Oxford Street
London W1R 1AB
Telephone 020 7918 1275