Line History:

The Northern Line has its roots in two pioneering railways: the 5.25 km (3.25 mile) City and South London Railway - the world's first electric deep-level tube line - which opened in 1890 and ran from King William Street in the City to Stockwell; and the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway, which opened in 1907. Between 1922 and 1926, the City and South London Railway was rebuilt and linked with the Hampstead Railway at Camden Town, with extensions to Hendon Central (1923), Edgware (1924) and Morden (1926). The line, renamed the Northern Line in 1937, was further extended between Archway and East Finchley in 1939, on to High Barnet in 1940, and finally to Mill Hill East in 1941.

Depots:

Three depots are used to overhaul and maintain Northern Line trains. The largest depot is at Morden while most maintenance and overhaul work is performed at Golders Green. The third depot is at Highgate. Additional sidings at Highgate, Edgware and High Barnet are used to stable trains overnight

Improving the Northern Line:

Plans to modernise the Northern Line, which include new trains and a state-of-the-art signalling system, took a significant step forward with the announcement in November 1994 of a de al with the then Anglo-French company, GEC-Alsthom, to lease 106 new trains. The first new trains started to enter passenger service in the summer of 1998. \par Major expansion schemes at Camden Town and Tottenham Court Road are being planned. Work is already well advanced at London Bridge to provide improved facilities and interchange with the Jubilee Line Extension when it opens next year. \par Clapham North, Clapham Common, Clapham South, Balham, Oval, Tooting Bec, and Tooting Broadway have been modernised. Funds have been secured to refurbish Colliers Wood, South Wimbledon and the designs for these stations are currently under review. These two stations are scheduled to be completed late 1999 early 2000. \par Mornington Crescent re-opened in April 1998 after full modernisation that included new lifts. The escalators at Highgate, which are more than 50 years old, are being replaced. The project should be completed by Summer 2000. Close working with the local British Transport Police Home Beat Officers has also led to greater security for passengers and staff and a marked decrease in the level of crime.

Northern route map:

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