The Open Guide to London: the free London guide - Differences between Version 12 and Version 11 of Silverlink Barking Line
| Version 12 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| == Line 7 == | == Line 7 == |
|
* '''[[Harringay Green Lanes Station|Harringay Green Lanes]]''' |
* '''[[Haringay Green Lanes Station|Haringay Green Lanes]]''' |
| == Line 37 == | == Line 37 == |
|
host='212.118.243.173' |
host='82.69.47.157' |
| == Line 40 == | |
|
major_change='1' |
|
| == Line 45 == | |
|
summary='' |
Nicknamed the GOBLIN (Gospel Oak to Barking Line), the Silverlink metro service that runs between Gospel Oak Station and Barking station is occasionally a useful line. Besides its two ends, the only other interchange it has is with the Victoria Line at Blackhorse Road Station, although several stations are only a short walk from other lines.
The route:
- Gospel Oak
- Upper Holloway (near Archway Station)
- Crouch Hill
- Haringay Green Lanes
- South Tottenham
- Blackhorse Road
- Walthamstow Queens Road (near Walthamstow Central Station)
- Leyton Midland Road
- Leytonstone High Road
- Wanstead Park
- Woodgrange Park (near Manor Park Station)
- Barking
The experience of waiting for trains on this line can be a frustrating and unpleasant one. Leyton Midland Station and Leytonstone High Road Station are barely stations at all and are better described as platforms on either side of the rail viaduct. There are no staff and a single timetable on each platform. Every now and then you may hear a crackly announcement that a train has been delayed. The "shelters" barely provide any shelter, because the sides are made of steel sheeting with round holes in - presumably because glass or perspex sheets would be prey to vandalism. As a result, whilst rain may not fall on your head you will still be extremely cold in the winter because you're high up and not protected from the wind at all. Whilst you shiver you can look at the plastic flowers in the hanging baskets.
The service itself is a diesel, noisy but otherwise pleasant, two car train, connecting parts of East London that are probably grateful for the link. The train has a toilet on it, unlike the Silverlink North London Line. Apocryphally, there are only four trains on the whole line(!), so if something goes wrong with one of them you can expect extended delays.
Links:
- The Barking to Gospel Oak Line Rail Users' Group is campaigning for improvements.
- Official timetable (PDF)
Comments
This was handy for me to reach a party at AlexMcLintock's place in Leytonstone from Acton, with the Central Line being out of action. --IvorW
A nice feature is the almost total absence of ads. Oh, and you buy tickets on the train. --Roger Wernersson
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