Barkingside tube station
Central line · Zone 4 · Redbridge
About Barkingside station
The station is older than its tube trains by 45 years. The Great Eastern Railway opened it on 1 May 1903 on the Fairlop Loop, a branch from Woodford to Ilford via Hainault meant to encourage suburban building. It had a chequered start: wartime economies closed it to passengers from 21 May 1916 until 30 June 1919. London Transport’s New Works Programme planned to absorb most of the loop into the Central line, and although work began in 1938 the war halted it until 1946. Steam services ended on 29 November 1947, and electric Central line trains to central London via Gants Hill began on 31 May 1948.
Little was changed when the Underground took over, which is why Barkingside still looks like an Edwardian country station. The Grade II listed building is a substantial brick structure topped by a cupola, and inside, the ticket hall has a fine hammerbeam roof. Both platforms keep their ornate canopies, with the GER initials still visible in the brackets.
First and last trains from Barkingside
Times are TfL’s published timetable departures from this station; on Saturday the list follows TfL’s “Saturdays and public holidays” timetable.
At the busiest hour on a weekday there are up to 14 Central trains an hour per direction from Barkingside, counting both directions separately.
Next stations from Barkingside
Running times between Barkingside and the adjoining stations, from TfL’s timetable.
| Line | Next station | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Fairlop | 1.5 min |
| Central | Newbury Park | 1.9 min |
Connections
Barkingside is served by the Central line only; there is no interchange with other rail lines here.
Station facilities
What is near Barkingside station
Hardly anyone passes Barkingside station by chance: it sits on the eastern edge of this district of Ilford at the end of a cul-de-sac off Station Road, itself a dead end, and its passengers are mostly local residents. It has a car park. The nearest named open space is Barnardo’s Village Green, about 360 m away. Bus routes 275 and 462, and the night route N8, call at the station, and the neighbouring stops on the Hainault loop are Newbury Park and Fairlop.
| Place | Walk from the station |
|---|---|
| Barnardo's Village Green | 360 m |
Frequently asked questions
It was built by the Great Eastern Railway and opened on 1 May 1903, long before it became part of the Central line in 1948, and few changes were made on transfer. The listed brick building has a cupola and a hammerbeam roof in the ticket hall, and the platform canopies still carry the GER initials.
Yes. As a First World War economy it was closed to passengers from 21 May 1916 until 30 June 1919. Steam services also stopped on 29 November 1947, and the station reopened to Central line trains on 31 May 1948.