| District |
| Colour on map |
Green |
| Year opened |
1868 |
| Line type |
Sub-Surface |
| Rolling stock |
C , D stocks |
| Stations served |
60 |
| Length |
64 km (40 mi) |
| Depots |
Upminster
Ealing Common |
| Journeys made |
172,879,000 (per annum) |
Rail lines of
Transport for London |
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The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines and the fourth busiest overall on the Underground network. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground.
History
The District line has a long history. It was built by the Metropolitan District Railway and opened in stages from 1868. The MDR was later bought by Charles Yerkes, forming part of the "Underground" group until it was nationalised in the 1930s. It had branches to Uxbridge and Hounslow West, but both are now operated by the Piccadilly line. Eastbound services ran as far as the seaside town of Southend in Essex from 1 June 1910 and to Shoeburyness from 1911, until 30 September 1939. Between 1 March 1883 and 30 September 1885 the line also served stations from Ealing Broadway to Windsor, running on the Great Western Mainline.
Trains
Most of the District line's services use sub-surface D stock, although the Wimbledon to Edgware Road service uses C stock, due to shorter platform lengths between High Street Kensington and Edgware Road. The D stock has been refurbished, having received the standard Underground livery of red, white and blue, having replaced the previous unpainted aluminium finish which is prone to damage by graffiti vandals. The stock also received a complete interior refurbishment and was fitted with CCTV and passenger information displays. The trains are maintained at Ealing Common Depot and Upminster Depot.
Last unrefurbished train
A D stock (unit 7115) was taken out of service to be refurbished on 15 February 2008. Its run may have extended into the weekend, but due to planned weekend engineering works it was taken out on Friday at the end of operations. It was the very last unrefurbished train on the London Underground.
Map
The TFL line diagram is available online.
Stations
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Ealing Common is one of only two stations where District and Piccadilly line trains call at the same platforms (the other being Acton Town)
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The District line platforms at Wimbledon
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Earl's Court station is the hub of the District line
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A typical District line cut & cover station - Temple
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Inside an unrefurbished District Line Tube Train
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The District and Circle line platforms at Paddington station on the Edgware Road branch
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C69/C77 Stock train leaving for Wimbledon via Fulham Broadway
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