View across the main lines out of Paddington seen from Royal Oak station

Image: © Marathon Taken: 6 Nov 2013

The Hammersmith & City Railway (H&CR) opened on 13th June 1864 between Westbourne Park and Hammersmith stations and the West London Railway (WLR) opened on 1st July 1864. This left the H&CR line at what is now Latimer Road to reach Addison Road (now Kensington Olympia). Subsequently an agreement was made between the Great Western Railway (GWR) and the Metropolitan Railway (who had co-owned the Hammersmith & City with the GWR since 1867) which came into force on 1st July 1868. Under this agreement various improvements were to be made including the provision of a station at Royal Oak, and the reconstruction of Westbourne Park. Royal Oak station opened on 30th October 1871. In 1878 when the Great Western Main Line was being quadrupled a dive-under was constructed between Royal Oak and Westbourne Park. From its opening Royal Oak was served by both main line and Hammersmith & City trains, and, for over sixty years, this was the first stop out of Paddington for main line trains. Trains along the Great Western Main Line ceased to call at Royal Oak from 1st October 1934. Trains on the Hammersmith & City Line serve the station and now also, in an effort to improve its reliability, the Circle Line. The next station in this direction on the Hammersmith & City Line is Westbourne Park, and the next station on the Great Western route is Acton Main Line.

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