Central Line Drivers Eye View

This programme answers a long-standing request by showcasing the Woodford branch, travelling through the Roding Valley to Hainault before continuing to Leytonstone aboard a 1992 Stock train. After completing this rare stretch of line, the focus shifts to the main Central line, one of London’s busiest Underground routes reaching deep into the capital.

The journey begins on the outer edges of the network at Epping, a rural Essex town surrounded by countryside. From here, we board another 1992 Stock train for the longest uninterrupted run possible on a single Tube service, heading all the way to West Ruislip in Middlesex. Early scenery includes open fields near Theydon Bois, which gradually give way to the residential suburbs, followed by the first tunnel section at Leyton. Emerging at Stratford, the route passes through an area transformed into an international landmark following the 2012 Olympic Games.

From Stratford, the train stays underground through the central core of the network, travelling beneath Liverpool Street, the City, the West End and beyond. On reaching White City, the train surfaces on the right-hand track — a quirk left over from the early days of the line — before switching back to the traditional left-hand running. The route then continues in the open through North Acton Junction, Hanger Lane and Greenford, where traditional semaphore signals still stand, before reaching the terminus at West Ruislip. Multiple cab-mounted cameras and enhanced lighting ensure a clear and immersive view throughout, including the automatically controlled sections similar to those found on the Victoria line.

Narration is provided by Rob Curling, who shares insights into the line’s history and development. The release also revisits a previous Central line production made in 1992, when filming took place aboard 1962 Stock during the final years of crew-operated services. That earlier programme travelled from Ealing Broadway and even included the now-closed Ongar branch, but did not feature the Woodford branch or the line to West Ruislip — making this new journey an essential and comprehensive update for enthusiasts.