Redbridge tube station
Central line · Zone 4 · Redbridge
About Redbridge station
Planned as Ilford West (Red House) in the London Passenger Transport Board’s 1935 scheme to extend the Central line east from Liverpool Street, this was one of three stations to be built in tube tunnel between Leytonstone and Newbury Park. The name went through “West Ilford” and “Red House” before Redbridge was chosen. Work began in the mid-1930s but the Second World War stopped it, and between 1942 and 1945 the finished tunnels were used by the Plessey company as an aircraft parts factory. Passengers finally arrived on 14 December 1947, when this part of the Hainault loop opened.
Charles Holden designed the building, as he did the other two underground stations on the branch. Redbridge is often called the shallowest deep-level station on the network, at only 5.2 metres (17 ft) below the surface, though that is misleading: the station box was built by cut-and-cover, and the running lines drop into true tube tunnels at either end of the platforms, much as at Mile End. It was granted Grade II listed status by English Heritage in July 2011.
First and last trains from Redbridge
| Line and direction | Mon–Thu first – last | Friday first – last | Saturday first – last | Sunday first – last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central towards Ealing Broadway, White City or West Ruislip | 05:29 – 23:59 | 05:29 to Ealing Broadway – all night | 24 hours | all night – 23:18 |
| Central towards Hainault or Newbury Park | 06:23 – 01:02 | 06:23 – all night | 24 hours | all night – 00:11 |
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 15 Central trains an hour per direction from Redbridge, counting both directions separately.
Next stations from Redbridge
Running times between Redbridge and the adjoining stations, from TfL’s timetable.
| Line | Next station | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Gants Hill | 1.8 min |
| Central | Wanstead | 2 min |
Connections
Redbridge is served by the Central line only; there is no interchange with other rail lines here.
Station facilities
What is near Redbridge station
The station is on Eastern Avenue in the Redbridge district of Ilford, beside a large roundabout built after it opened, where the A406 meets the A12. No named attractions sit within a few minutes’ walk; the station mainly serves local residents, with a car park and bus routes 66, 145 and 366 plus the N8 at night. On the Central line it lies between Wanstead and Gants Hill on the Hainault loop.
Frequently asked questions
It is often described that way, being only 5.2 metres (17 ft) below the surface. The claim is misleading, though: the station itself was built by the cut-and-cover method, and the trains only enter genuine tube tunnels at each end of the platforms, as also happens at Mile End.
Construction stopped when the Second World War began, and from 1942 to 1945 the completed train tunnels at Redbridge served as an aircraft parts factory run by the Plessey company. The station opened to passengers only on 14 December 1947.