Crosstown return ticket - North London Line : promotional leaflet 1980 : British Rail, London Midland Region
The old North London line, relic of the North London Railway, has a fascinating history. At one time, before early electric tramway competition started to seriously abstract passengers, it was one of the busiest commuter lines in Britain serving the growing and populous northern suburbs of the Victorian city and with a terminus in the heart of the City. Subsequenty, especially in LMS and British Railways days, the line, its infrastructure and services despite being largely electrified, became fairly moribund and neglected.
In the 1970s the line, despite its near Cinderella status, started to get some attention - with the GLC amongst others, keen to promote the line as part of promoting the use of public transport. This January 1980 leaflet, issued by BR's London Midland Region, shows some "get up and go" from the line's owners and is aimed at promoting the line, its destinations and connection, along with a special 80p 'Crosstown" return ticket.
The line did see significant changes even after this date, most notably the closure of the old City terminus at Broad Street and, despite the infamous 'Graham Road Curve' to connect the line into Liverpool Street, the effective extension of passenger services further east to Stratford and North Woolwich - somewhat mirroring the railway's original services. Privatisation of the railways saw the line operated as part of franchises, most notably as 'Silverlink Metro' before, in 2007 seeing a transfer to Transport for London control as part of the Overground services. Major changes, including the re-opening of parts of the previously abandoned line south of Dalston Junction and extensions on to what was the East London line of the Underground, have seen the use of the 'North London' blossom and usage at several of the stations shown on this leaflet are almost unrecognisable these days.
Crosstown return ticket - North London Line : promotional leaflet 1980 : British Rail, London Midland Region
The old North London line, relic of the North London Railway, has a fascinating history. At one time, before early electric tramway competition started to seriously abstract passengers, it was one of the busiest commuter lines in Britain serving the growing and populous northern suburbs of the Victorian city and with a terminus in the heart of the City. Subsequenty, especially in LMS and British Railways days, the line, its infrastructure and services despite being largely electrified, became fairly moribund and neglected.
In the 1970s the line, despite its near Cinderella status, started to get some attention - with the GLC amongst others, keen to promote the line as part of promoting the use of public transport. This January 1980 leaflet, issued by BR's London Midland Region, shows some "get up and go" from the line's owners and is aimed at promoting the line, its destinations and connection, along with a special 80p 'Crosstown" return ticket.
The line did see significant changes even after this date, most notably the closure of the old City terminus at Broad Street and, despite the infamous 'Graham Road Curve' to connect the line into Liverpool Street, the effective extension of passenger services further east to Stratford and North Woolwich - somewhat mirroring the railway's original services. Privatisation of the railways saw the line operated as part of franchises, most notably as 'Silverlink Metro' before, in 2007 seeing a transfer to Transport for London control as part of the Overground services. Major changes, including the re-opening of parts of the previously abandoned line south of Dalston Junction and extensions on to what was the East London line of the Underground, have seen the use of the 'North London' blossom and usage at several of the stations shown on this leaflet are almost unrecognisable these days.