East London and District Drivers Eye View

This programme presents a rare look at the East London Line in its final years before closure and major reconstruction. Filmed shortly before its transformation into part of the London Overground network, it captures the line as many remember it, with classic Metropolitan line A Stock operating between New Cross and New Cross Gate. The journey begins at New Cross and proceeds through Marc Brunel’s historic 1843 Thames tunnel — the oldest section of sub-surface railway engineering on the Underground — before continuing to Shoreditch, then the northern terminus during peak service.

Next, the focus shifts to the District line, starting at Richmond aboard now-withdrawn D Stock trains. This section covers the busy corridor from Earl’s Court, following the lower half of the Circle line to Tower Hill, then onward with the Hammersmith & City alignment toward Barking. From there the service runs alongside c2c rails all the way to Upminster. Covering one of the most intensive timetabled stretches on the Underground, the full journey across London lasts around an hour and a half, with trains in the peak period operating at just a few minutes’ interval.

The third segment features the Edgware Road branch, beginning at Wimbledon on former C Stock, which at the time served both the District and Hammersmith & City lines. Leaving Wimbledon, the train follows the former Southern Railway alignment to Putney Bridge, then turns north after Earl’s Court to travel up the western side of the Circle line. Passing through stations such as Notting Hill Gate, the run concludes at Edgware Road — uniquely served by the District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.

The final part of the programme takes a brief but notable trip between Kensington High Street and Kensington Olympia. Once operated mainly during exhibition periods, this shuttle was running daily in 2005 when filming took place, offering viewers a chance to see another seldom-documented piece of the District line network.