View from Alperton station

Image: © Marathon Taken: 8 Oct 2014

The District Railway opened its new extension from north of Ealing Common to Park Royal & Twyford Abbey on 23rd June 1903. The line was opened fully to South Harrow on 28th June 1903. This new extension was, together with the existing tracks between Ealing Common and Acton Town, the first section of the Underground's surface lines to be electrified and operate electric instead of steam trains. In the early 1930, Government money was on offer to combat unemployment and using some of this the Piccadilly line was extended to run west of its original terminus at Hammersmith sharing the route with the District line to Ealing Common. This change took place from 4th July 1932. From Ealing Common to South Harrow, the District line was replaced by the Piccadilly line on the same date. In 1903, Alperton station opened initially as Perivale-Alperton, although it was in the centre of Alperton. The surroundings consisted of a few houses and some long-established factories on the banks of the Paddington branch of the Grand Union Canal. Perivale, which was over a mile across fields to the west, was dropped from the name in 1905. Alperton station was rebuilt in time for the Piccadilly line taking over on 4th July 1932. This view is from the up platform looking towards Park Royal over the bridge carrying the line across Ealing Road.

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