The North London Line - Richmond to North Woolwich Drivers Eye View

The North London Line was notable for being the only Network Rail route consistently shown on the London Underground map, and 2006 marked the final year of operation into North Woolwich using class 313 EMUs. To preserve this piece of railway history, Silverlink Trains granted Video 125 unrestricted access to the train cab and stations along the line.

The journey begins at Richmond in South West London, where North London Line services share tracks with the District Line as far as Gunnersbury. From there, the train branches off towards South Acton and onto the main North London Line. At Acton Central, we see the pantograph raised and the train switch from third-rail to 25kV overhead electrification, which was installed to support vital freight movements around London.

Along the route, unusual station layouts stand out, such as Willesden Junction, where platforms are situated above the West Coast Main Line and the DC lines from Euston to Watford. As the train progresses, stations in North London—including Hampstead, Camden Town, and Hackney—pass by quickly, showcasing the dense suburban network before reaching Stratford’s low-level platforms, where two of the four hourly trains once terminated.

The final sections take the train alongside the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway to Canning Town, then over the former Custom House to North Woolwich line, a stretch now completely lost to rail. Throughout the journey, Rob Curling provides a detailed narrative of the complex and fascinating history of the route, giving viewers a full sense of its operational and historical significance.