History

The first section of what is now the District Line, but known when it opened as the Metropolitan District Railway, started operation on 24th December 1868 between South Kensington and Westminster. The District (as the railway became known) was the second company to operate underground railway services in London, and like its predecessor, the Metropolitan, its history is inextricably linked with that of the Circle. The District was extended in stages beyond Westrminster and the final link of the present day Circle Line was completed in 1884. This link included an extension via Aldgate East to Whitechapel.

In 1869 the District started operating a line between Gloucester Road and West Brompton and the following year installed its own pair of tracks between Gloucester Road and South Kensington parallel to those of the Metropolitan Railway. The District also put in connections from Earl's Court to both High Street Kensington and Kensington Olympia. The railway reached Hammersmith in 1874, Richmond in 1877 and Ealing Broadway two years later. In 1883 a short-lived extension was introduced to Windsor from Ealing Broadway over the tracks of the Great Western Railway. This service was withdrawn in 1885. From West Brompton the service was extended to Putney Bridge in 1880 and to Wimbledon in 1889. In 1902 the Whitechapel & Bow Railway - with trains provided by the District - opened, allowing through operation to Upminster. Further District extensions to Hounslow (1884) and Uxbridge (1910) were transferred to the Piccadilly Line in 1964 and 1933 respectively.

The District has always been closely associated with the operation of other railways, and in its time has run services not just to Windsor but also to Southend. When Railtrack was set up in 1994, the District Line took over all the infrastructure of the line from Putney Bridge to Wimbledon including East Putney, Southfields and Wimbledon Park stations. The Richmond branch of the line continues to be a joint operation with Silverlink Train Services over tracks between Gunnersbury and Richmond for which Railtrack is now responsible.

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 District Line has been grouped with the Circle, East London. Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines. Kevin Hafter, Train Service Manager (Sub-Surface) and Rob Mason, Station Services Manager (Sub-Surface), are jointly responsible for delivering train and station services which meet customers' requirements.

Running the District Line

The fleet of trains are maintained at the line's two depô ts at Ealing Common and Upminster. Ealing Common also overhauls the trains and accommodates part of the fleet of engineers' vehicles needed for essential maintenance work throughout the Underground system.

The District is one of the most complex of all the Underground lines to operate, with a single route eastwards to Upminster but to the west three branches to Wimbledon, Ealing and Richmond. The main central London tracks also accommodate the southern section of the Circle Line. Additionally, there is a separate Wimbledon/Putney Bridge service to Edgware Road and a branch to Olympia. All services pass through Earl's Court, which is the operational hub of the line and the location of the control centre, from where the Piccadilly Line is also controlled. The District Line carries around 182 million people a year, making it the Underground's most used line.

The District Line covers 64 km (40 miles) and serves 60 stations, 42 of which are managed by the District Line team. 66 trains are required to operate the full morning and evening peak period services on the main section of the line, with an additional ten operating the Edgware Road branch.

Two types of train operate District Line services. The main service uses D stock trains, which entered service between 1979 and 1983, while the Edgware Road and Olympia branches are served by C stock trains, (which also run on the Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines), purchased in two batches in 1969 and 1977. The C stock is maintained at the Metropolitan and Circle Lines' Hammersmith depôt.

Stations

The District Line's stations reflect its long and varied history with a wide range of architectural styles, and include some such as Barons Court and Fulham Broadway which have been listed as buildings of especial interest. Contrasting with the District Railway's early overall-roofed stations at West Brompton and Fulham Broadway are the ex-London, Tilbury and Southend Railway stations at Plaistow and East Ham with their ornately monogrammed canopy ironwork. Ex-London and South Western Railway cottage-style stations at Wimbledon Park and Southfields are similarly distinctive as is the classic 1930s Charles Holden station at Chiswick Park (also listed). Hammersmith Station's platforms and circulating areas have recently been completely updated in contemporary style.

The busiest station is Embankment (also served by Bakerloo and Northern Line trains) with 36 million passengers a year. At the opposite end of the scale is Upney with just 1.3 million.

Future of the District Line

The District Line has some of the oldest infrastructure on the Underground. Maintaining and upgrading the track, structures and signalling to enable operation of a train service appropriate to the 21st Century poses a major challenge. Whilst every effort is made to minimise disruption, weekend closures are sometimes unavoidable so that major engineering work can be undertaken. Such work is vital to ensure improved service reliability in the future.

Mid-life upgrading of the D stock trains is planned to start in the next few years, together with a rolling programme of station refurbishments to improve the passenger environment and the range of facilities provided. Following on will be a new control room and an improved signalling system which will enable better Information to be provided for passengers.

In the longer term, proposals for a Chelsea-Hackney Line would affect services on the Wimbledon branch.

Further Informations

If you would like to comment on the District Line services, or would like to know more about the line, please contact:

Customer Services
District Line
London Underground Ltd
55 Broadway
London SW1H OBD
Telephone 020 7918 3200