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Old Bethnal Green Road, LONDON, E2 6FQ

Seen here from Cambridge Heath Road, Old Bethnal Green Road runs parallel with, but to the north of, Bethnal Green Road. The bridge carries the London - Cambridge railway, between Bethnal Green and Cambridge Heath stations.

Looking south-southwest.

The line from Bethnal Green Junction to Stoke Newington was opened on 27th May 1872. This had intermediate stations very closely spaced: at Cambridge Heath, just south of the bridge over the Regent's Canal, and at London Fields, Hackney Downs, Rectory Road and Stoke Newington. The section south of Hackney soon became very congested and the line was quadrupled between Hackney Downs and Bethnal Green with the new fast lines on the east side of the viaduct serving only Hackney Downs and Bethnal Green stations. This was completed in June 1894. Cambridge Heath and London Fields stations were closed because of Government pressure during the First World War to effect economies as there were parallel electric tramways. Both were reopened in 1919. In his book 'London's Local Railways' (1978) from which the above information was obtained, Alan A Jackson described a visit to the line in 1955: "The dreary stations almost untouched, their soot-stained brickwork and cavernous stairways giving shelter to the ghosts of corduroy-trousered workmen and consumptive clerks clutching their cheap tickets." The brickwork has been cleaned up but much of the rest of the description still rings true. In this view from the end of the up platform, the fast lines are to the left beyond the wall. The next station in this direction is Bethnal Green.

Running along the railway line behind

This motorcycle dealer stands on Cambridge Heat Road just south of the junction with Old Bethnal Green Road. The Liverpool Street - Cambridge railway runs behind.

Looking south-southeast.