There are a number of towns in Essex that are crying out for a stop on the London Underground – and some of them could be closer than you think
Epping Station in Essex(Image: Getty)
The age-old debate of where Essex ends and London begins is a contentious one, especially when it comes to the London Underground. Just because an area is within the Tube network, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in London.
This holds true for certain Essex towns like Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill and Epping. Despite these places having handy links to the capital, other areas in Essex are clamouring for a stop on the Tube.
With the Tube map expanding annually, it might come as a surprise that there’s potential for even more Essex train stations to join the London Underground – take the Elizabeth Line connecting areas like Brentwood to London as an example. Some towns in Essex would certainly benefit from the commuting speed and convenience offered by the Underground lines, attracting more residents.
The Underground isn’t just a crucial form of public transport, it plays a key role in transforming locations into fully-fledged towns. A direct link to the capital instantly makes a place desirable for commuters – and with the coronavirus pandemic, many people are looking to relocate further away from central London.
You might think the Tube map rarely changes and that there’s no chance of Essex locations appearing on it anytime soon. However, it wasn’t too long ago that Shenfield or Brentwood weren’t on the map – and look at them now!, reports Essex Live.
We’ve compiled a list of the seven towns and villages in Essex that are most likely to appear on the London Underground map in the near future. What’s your take?
Ingatestone.
With its neighbour Shenfield now linked to London via the Elizabeth Line, Ingatestone is just a stone’s throw away from being within tube reach. It’s the next stop out of London on the Brentwood/Shenfield line and has previously been hailed as an ideal spot for commuters by the Sunday Times.
If Ingatestone isn’t added as the next stop on the Elizabeth Line, it could be the terminus of the District line stretching from Upminster and passing through Brentwood – making it a perfect extension to the London Underground.
South Ockendon.
In south Essex, the District line already snakes into the county. Locations like Upminster, Barking and Dagenham, all served by the c2c line (which also serves South Ockendon), are generally considered part of Essex.
The next logical move would be to extend the District line. At present, both Barking and Upminster are served by the c2c Rail line running from Shoeburyness to London Fenchurch Street.
The next stop – branching off towards Tilbury – is Ockendon, located in Thurrock, Essex.
This station caters to South Ockendon – which boasts a larger population than both Upminster and Epping – locations which both have tube stations. Transforming the c2c Rail station into a Tube station could be the next step in rejuvenating this area – and would also make South Ockendon a more appealing commuter town.
Rainham.
Remaining on the c2c Rail line, Rainham seems a logical addition to the map. Nestled in the London borough of Havering, Rainham is closer to Dagenham than South Ockendon.
Despite being part of Greater London, it’s also a stone’s throw away from neighbouring Purfleet and Aveley, located in the Essex borough of Thurrock. This section of the c2c line stretches from West Ham to Dagenham Dock before reaching Rainham.
Given that the areas served by the previous stations on this line are already catered for by the London Underground, it would seem sensible for Rainham to join their ranks. If both Rainham and South Ockendon were to become new stations, then the District line would need a new split, creating two new termini in Essex.
Ongar.
This suggestion is bending the rules slightly, as Chipping Ongar was once featured on the Tube map. From 1949 to 1994, Ongar was a stop on the Central line – until the station was closed.
It remains the end of the physical train track line for the central line, with steam trains still operating a heritage line between Epping and Ongar – given that Epping is now the end of the Central line.
The station was initially closed after services to the line were gradually reduced throughout the 1980s and 1990s due to cost-cutting measures. The station is well-prepared to re-open, as it’s still connected to the active Central line.
North Weald.
North Weald, like Ongar, was once a bustling London Underground station. It served the Central line from 1949 to 1994, but was closed for the same reason as Ongar – cost-cutting measures.
Today, it’s a stop on the Epping to Ongar Heritage Railway and still sees regular use. If Ongar were to be reinstated as a Tube station, it would make sense to reopen North Weald too, to cater to residents in North Weald Bassett and Thornwood.
Purfleet-on-Thames, located in Thurrock, is poised for significant regeneration over the next ten years. Purfleet is the next stop after Rainham on the c2c line, and there’s plenty of chatter about a fresh look and funding for the town.
The town even underwent a name change a few years back to make it more attractive to commuters!
With planned improvements to the train service already in the pipeline, it would seem logical to extend the District line Tube services to Purfleet-on-Thames as well.
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