Clapham Common

One of two remaining island platforms on the Underground network that are actually underground (the other being Clapham North). Island platforms used to be popular on the Tube network, and especially on the City and South London railway. The main reason for this was that you could fit the whole station in a narrower area, preventing from building the line under any houses, and only under roads, thus reducing any compensation which had to be paid to home owners who had a tube line built directly underneath. This is also the reason for some stations having their platforms on top of each other, to fit into confined spaces. However over the years health and safety has intervened, and most have gone, with reminders at large platforms such as Kings Cross and Angel that have space for a second line to run.

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