About the Central Line
The Central line is the longest line on the London Underground, stretching 74 km from Epping in Essex in the east to Ealing Broadway and West Ruislip in the west. Running through the very heart of London, it serves Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Bank, Liverpool Street and Stratford among its 49 stations, making it one of the busiest lines on the network with over 300 million passenger journeys annually. The Central line is immediately recognisable by its bold red colour on the tube map - fitting for a line that cuts a direct east-west axis across central London. Its high-frequency service, large capacity trains and east-west reach make it indispensable for both daily commuters and visitors exploring London's major attractions.
History
The Central London Railway opened on 30 July 1900, running between Shepherd's Bush and Bank. It was nicknamed the 'Twopenny Tube' because of its flat 2d fare regardless of distance - a revolutionary concept at the time. Extensions to both the east and west were built throughout the early 20th century, with the eastern branch absorbing the former Great Eastern Railway surface lines to Epping, Ongar and Hainault in the 1940s. The western branches to West Ruislip and Ealing Broadway were added at the same time. The Ongar branch was closed in 1994 and the line was modernised with new S7 stock from 2011 onwards.
Stations on this Line
49 stops along the route
Line Statistics
Travel Tips
- 1The Central line's east branch splits at Leytonstone - one branch goes to Epping/Woodford, the other to Hainault. Always check the destination on the front of the train
- 2West of North Acton the line splits again - trains go to either Ealing Broadway or West Ruislip
- 3Oxford Circus is one of the most congested stations on the network - at peak times consider using Tottenham Court Road or Bond Street as alternatives
- 4The Central line runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights - useful for late-night travel
- 5West Ruislip has free car parking - a popular park-and-ride option from west Middlesex
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Central Line in London.