Wikipedia

Draft:Sutton Tube Station (Proposed)

Sutton Tube Station (Proposed) London Underground
Sutton Tube Station (Proposed) is located in Greater London
Sutton Tube Station (Proposed)
Sutton Tube Station (Proposed)
Location of Sutton Tube Station (Proposed) in Greater London
LocationSutton
Local authoritySutton
Managed byLondon Underground
OwnerLondon Underground
Station codeSUO[1]
AccessibleYes[2]
Fare zone4
London Underground annual entry and exit
2018No data[3]
2019No data[4]
2020No data[5]
2021No data[6]
2022No data[7]
Railway companies
Original companyCity and South London Railway
Other information
External links
  • [1] Departures
  • [1]/stationOverview.xhtml Layout
  • [1]/details.html Facilities
  • [1].pdf Buses
Coordinates51°21′35″N 0°11′28″W / 51.3597142°N 0.1910099°W / 51.3597142; -0.1910099
 London transport portal

Sutton was a proposed London Underground station in Sutton in the London Borough of Sutton. The station was meant to be the southern terminus for the Northern line and is the most southerly station on the Underground network, despite being on the Northern Line. This historical narrative delves into the various proposals, negotiations, and challenges encountered in the endeavour to establish a Tube station serving Sutton and its surrounding areas.

Background edit

Sutton, was served by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) on a line to Portsmouth, experienced rapid growth in population during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [8] Amidst this growth, local landowners and transportation planners sought to enhance connectivity by proposing the construction of a Tube station to integrate Sutton into the London Underground network.

District Line Extension to Sutton edit

The proposed extension of the District line to Sutton was part of an ambitious plan to integrate Sutton into the London Underground network. Initiated by local landowners and transportation planners, the project aimed to enhance connectivity between Sutton and central London.

Background edit

A meeting to consider a new scheme to connect Wimbledon and Sutton was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel on October 7, 1908, presided over by various stakeholders and a committee was formed. The Railway Gazette thought the promoters “peculiarly optimistic”’ and observed that there had been no negotiations with either the District or the L.S.W.R., whose line it was proposed to join at Wimbledon. [8]

Sutton, served by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) on a line to Portsmouth, experienced rapid population growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In response to this growth, stakeholders proposed the construction of a railway line connecting Sutton to Wimbledon, where the District Railway operated. [8]

Proposal and Parliamentary Proceedings edit

The proposed railway project, known as the Wimbledon and Sutton Railway (W&SR), faced opposition from existing railway companies, including the LBSCR and the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). Despite challenges during parliamentary proceedings, the bill was passed in 1911, paving the way for the construction of the railway line. [8]

Implementation Challenges edit

Construction of the railway line encountered various challenges, including engineering obstacles and political opposition. However, work began in the 1920s, with the aim of integrating the new line with the existing District line infrastructure at Wimbledon. [8]

Northern Line Extension from Morden to Sutton edit

In November 1922, the Underground Group unveiled an ambitious plan to extend the Northern line beyond its Morden terminus, all the way to Sutton.[9] This extension was to include tunnels up to Morden and then proceed overground, utilising the reserved land initially intended for the unconstructed segment of the Wimbledon and Sutton railway. This initiative was in conjunction with the extension of the District line, reflecting a comprehensive strategy to broaden the reach of the London Underground network and improve transportation links within the area. [10]

Integration with Existing Lines edit

The Northern line extension plan involved upgrading and extending the City and South London Railway (CSLR), which would connect with the District line at Camden Town. The proposed extension would then run through Balham, Tooting, and Morden, ultimately reaching Sutton.[11]

Opposition and Compromise edit

The proposed Northern line extension faced opposition from the Southern Railway, which viewed it as a threat to its commuter lines. To address concerns and reach a compromise, negotiations resulted in the decision for the Southern Railway to own and operate the Sutton line, while allowing the District line to run trains over it.

Legacy and Impact edit

Although the Northern line extension to Sutton did not materialise as initially planned, the construction of the railway line and integration with existing infrastructure contributed to the region's transportation network. The compromise reached between stakeholders reflected the complex dynamics of railway development in South London.

WW1: Cancelled Extension edit

Due to the outbreak of World War I, both ambitious projects to extend the District line & Northern line to Sutton were cancelled. The war demanded immense resources and attention, leading to the reallocation of funds and labour that were initially intended for civil projects like the underground extensions. The economic impact of the conflict, coupled with the subsequent post-war financial constraints, meant that the plans for the District line & Northern line could not be resumed, leaving the proposed extension to remain on paper and never come to fruition despite being approved.

Recent years edit

In recent years plans to try to extend the Underground to Sutton from the Northern Line and the District line have been refused multiple times.[12] In recent times leaders of Sutton tried a different method and instead asked for a tram line called the SuttonLink to connect Sutton to the Underground network which residents pay for. In 2019 the plan was approved and by 2020 it was paused due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

References edit

  1. ^ "Station Codes" (PDF). Transport for London. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Step free Tube Guide" (PDF). Transport for London. April 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Station Usage Data" (CSV). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2018. Transport for London. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2019. Transport for London. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2020. Transport for London. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2021. Transport for London. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Station Usage Data" (XLSX). Usage Statistics for London Stations, 2022. Transport for London. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e Jackson 1966, p. 679.
  9. ^ "90th anniversary of the Northern Line extension". ianvisits. 13 September 2016.
  10. ^ "No. 28665". The London Gazette. 22 November 1912. p. 8798.
  11. ^ "No. 28665". The London Gazette. 22 November 1912. p. 8798.
  12. ^ "Council and TfL explain why Northern line isn't coming to Sutton". Your Local Guardian. 7 September 2018.

Bibliography edit

External links edit

Category:Transport in the London Borough of Merton Category:Transport in the London Borough of Sutton Category:Trams in London Category:Modes of transport in London Category:Tramlink

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