Bay platform at Upminster station

Image: © Marathon Taken: 29 Apr 2015

The line between London and Tilbury was opened on 13th April 1854 by the London Tilbury & Southend Railway (LTSR) on their new line to Tilbury, which split from the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) at Forest Gate. The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway (LTSR) direct line from Bow to Barking (avoiding Stratford and Forest Gate) was constructed from west to east in 1858. The route to Southend, however, was not direct, taking a considerable diversion from Barking via Dagenham Dock to serve the port at Tilbury. Between 1885 and 1888 a new direct route from Barking to Pitsea was constructed, and the station at Upminster opened in 1885. This is now the C2C line. The Whitechapel & Bow Railway allowed through services of the Metropolitan District Railway to operate through to Upminster from 1902 but the only station between Barking and Upminster was at Dagenham East which was opened in 1885. The Metropolitan District converted to electric trains in 1905. On 12th September 1932 the District line was extended over new tracks alongside the existing line between Barking and Upminster. The present C2C line therefore dates from 1885 and the present District line from 1932. For a fuller history see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upminster_station Upminster station is now the eastern terminus of District line trains, with a large depot to the east of the station. It is also served by C2C trains between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness as well as the self-contained shuttle service to Romford via Emerson Park Halt. The Romford to Upminster Line was constructed in 1893 as a branch of the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway. This view is of the bay for C2C trains terminating from the east. To the right are the up and down C2C lines. The footbridge connects all the platforms except the one serving the shuttle to Romford. For a view of the Underground platforms from the footbridge see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4454287

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