View source for Aldgate East tube station

{{short description|London Underground station}}
{{distinguish|Aldgate tube station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox London station
| name          = Aldgate East
| alt_name      =
| manager       = [[London Underground]]
|symbol=underground
| owner         = [[Transport for London]]
| locale        = [[Whitechapel]]
| borough       = [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
| platforms     = 2
| fare_zone     = 1
| railcode      =
| image_name    = Platform (15234313935).jpg
| caption       = District and Hammersmith & City line eastbound platform at the station
| coordinates   = {{coord|51.5152|-0.0722|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| map_type      = Central London
| label_position= left
| years1        = {{start date|1884|10|6}}
| years2        = 31 October 1938
| events1       = Opened
| events2       = resited
<!--| tubeexits03   = 6.943
| tubeexits04   = {{increase}} 7.24
| tubeexits05   = {{decrease}} 7.14
| tubeexits06   = {{increase}} 8.19
| tubeexits07   = {{decrease}} 7.657
| tubeexits08   = {{increase}} 8.15
| tubeexits09   = {{increase}} 9.05-->
| interchange   =  [[Aldgate tube station|Aldgate]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} 
| interchange_note = <ref>{{citation London station interchange January 2016}}</ref>
}}

'''Aldgate East''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔː|l|d|ɡ|eɪ|t|_|ˈ|iː|s|t}}) is a [[London Underground]] station on [[Whitechapel High Street]] in [[Whitechapel]], in [[London]], England. It takes its name from the [[City of London]] [[Wards of the City of London|ward]] of [[Aldgate]], the station lying to the east of the ward (and the City). The station is served by the [[District line|District]] and [[Hammersmith & City line|Hammersmith & City]] lines, and is located in [[London fare zone 1]].

On the District line, the station is between [[Tower Hill tube station|Tower Hill]] and [[Whitechapel station|Whitechapel]] stations. On the Hammersmith & City line, it is between [[Liverpool Street station|Liverpool Street]] and Whitechapel stations.<ref>{{cite map/Standard Tube Map}}</ref>

==History==
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2015}}

===Original station===
[[File:Aldgate east station c1895.jpg|thumb|The original Aldgate East station]]
The original Aldgate East station opened on 6 October 1884 as part of an eastern extension to the [[District Railway]] (now the District line).<ref name=culgdistrict>[http://www.davros.org/rail/culg/district.html Clive's Underground Line Guides - District line]</ref> It was {{Convert|500|ft|}} to the west of the current station, close to the [[Metropolitan Railway]]'s [[Aldgate tube station|Aldgate station]]. The curved link to the Metropolitan Railway had to be particularly sharp owing to the location of Aldgate East station.

===Resited station===
[[File:Stairway at Aldgate East station (8379806789).jpg|thumb|The resited Aldgate East station, showing its modernist, simple appearance]]
As part of the [[London Passenger Transport Board]]'s [[New Works Programme|1935–1940 New Works Programme]], the triangular junction at Aldgate was enlarged to allow for a much gentler curve and to ensure trains that were held on any leg of the triangle did not foul any signals or points elsewhere.<ref>H.F. Howson, ''London's Underground'', 4th ed. London: Ian Allan, 1967, {{OCLC|502266970}}, p. 47.</ref> The new Aldgate East platforms were sited almost immediately to the east of their predecessors with one exit facing west toward the original location and another at the eastern end of the new platforms.

The new station opened on 31 October 1938 <ref name=culgdistrict /> and the earlier station closed permanently the previous night.<ref>H.V. Borley, ''Chronology of London Railways'', Oakham, Leicester: Railway & Canal Historical Society, 1982, {{ISBN|9780901461339}}.</ref><ref>J.E. Connor and B. Halford, ''Forgotten Stations of Greater London'', Colchester: Connor & Butler, 1991, {{ISBN|9780947699178}}.</ref> It was designed to be completely subterranean providing a much-needed [[Subway (underpass)|pedestrian underpass]] for the road above. [[File:Aldgate East reconstruction (8380887296).jpg|thumb|The reconstruction of Aldgate East station in progress. To lower the track level, the trackbed has been excavated with an interim support of timber trestles. With the tracks attached to chains from the ceiling, the trestle was then dismantled and the tracks lowered to the new lower track level.]]
In order to accommodate the space needed for the underpass, the existing track needed to be lowered by more than {{Convert|7|ft||0|spell=in}}. To achieve this task whilst still keeping the track open during the day, the bed underneath the track was excavated and the track held up by a timber trestle framework. Once excavation was complete and the new station had been constructed around the site, an army of over 900 workmen lowered the whole track simultaneously in one night using overhead hooks to suspend the track when necessary.<ref>Howson, pp. 47&ndash;48.</ref> The hooks {{As of
 |2010
 |alt=still remain
}}.
[[File:Aldgate East reconstruction (8379806075).jpg|thumb|A second view of reconstruction under the tracks, showing them ready to be lowered to their new level]]

The eastern exit of the new station was now close enough to [[St. Mary's (Whitechapel Road) tube station|St Mary's (Whitechapel Road)]], the next station along the line, that this could also be closed.{{#tag:ref|The station closed on 30 April 1938, six months before the resited Aldgate East station opened.<ref name=culgdistrict />|group=note}} This reduced operational overheads and journey times because the new Aldgate East had effectively replaced two other stations.

===Past proposals===
A campaign was launched by a local councillor in a bid to change the name of the station to [[Brick Lane]] tube station by 2012,<ref>
{{cite news
  | title = Bid to name Tube stop Brick Lane
  | publisher =[[bbc.co.uk]]
  | work = [[BBC News]]
  | date = 2006-12-15
  | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6183977.stm
  | access-date = 2007-01-10
  | quote = Tower Hamlets councillor Abdul Ullah wants the Tube station to be renamed in time for the 2012 summer Olympics. He told BBC London: 'I think it will truly reflect the character of the area by renaming Aldgate East... people get it confused with Aldgate.' He said the area's tourist trade was being affected because, while people had heard of Brick Lane and its reputation for curry restaurants, they could not find it on a Tube map.
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070116045125/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6183977.stm| archive-date= 16 January 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> but this had no official support and was not successful. The same councillor has also campaigned to have [[Shoreditch High Street railway station]] renamed "Banglatown".<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Calls to rename East End station
  | publisher =[[bbc.co.uk]]
  | work = [[BBC News]]
  | date = 2008-05-20
  | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7411512.stm
  | access-date = 2008-06-10
  | quote = Tower Hamlets councillor Abdal Ullah said the new station should be called "Banglatown" to reflect the strong Bangladeshi community. But a TfL spokesman said 'It is important that a station name takes into account the street or the official name of its area, as recorded on official maps.'
}}</ref>

==The station today==
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2015}}
The station has no surface buildings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.geofftech.co.uk/tube/facts.html |title=Tube Facts - Tube Stations that have no surface buildings |access-date=28 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222130926/http://www.geofftech.co.uk/tube/facts.html |archive-date=22 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A canopy was constructed in the 2000s and in 2013–14, the high-rise Aldgate Tower, was built above it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://surveyoflondon.org/map/feature/30/detail/ |title=Aldgate Tower |website=Survey of London |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=7 March 2022 }}</ref> {{As of|2022|03}}, when there was a fire in the building, the tower also contained apartments.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-60652664 |title=Aldgate fire: Large blaze at high-rise London tower block |publisher=BBC News |date=7 March 2022 }}</ref> [[Turnstiles|Ticket barriers]] control access to all platforms.

District and [[Hammersmith & City line]] trains run into Aldgate East from Liverpool Street and [[Tower Hill tube station|Tower Hill]] along two sides of the above triangle and pass through the site of the earlier station, most of which has been obliterated by the current junction alignment although the extensive width and height and irregular shape of the tunnel can be observed.

The platforms have a particularly high headroom and this, combined with the late-1930s style of tiling, typical of the stations of the then [[London Passenger Transport Board]], gives the platforms a particularly airy appearance, unusual on the Underground at the time of construction. The tiling contains relief tiles showing devices pertinent to [[London Passenger Transport Board|London Transport]] and the area it served; these were designed by [[Royal Designers for Industry|Harold Stabler]] and made by the [[Poole Pottery]].

===Station improvements===
The station was Metronet's first (and show-piece) station refurbished in 'heritage' style.<ref name=stnrefurbishment>{{cite web |url=http://www.lurs.org.uk/documents/pdf%2007/july/STATION%20REFURBISHMENT%20SUMMARY%20JULY.pdf |title=Station Refurbishment Summary |website=London Underground Railway Society |date=July 2007 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> Work began at platform level in 2007.<ref name=stnrefurbishment /> On 9 March 2007, it was noted that every other platform bullseye and its associated blue enamel "Way Out" plate below had been removed on both platforms marking the end of the only sub-surface 'New Works' station.<ref name=stnrefurbishment /> By 14 March, all the roundels had been removed and temporary signs substituted.<ref name=stnrefurbishment /> The north-east entrance was closed from 10 March 2007 until 2009.<ref name=stnrefurbishment /> As of 23 May 2007, the tiling had been removed from the eastbound platform and the walls were rough cemented but the tiles remained on the westbound one.<ref name=stnrefurbishment /> The new framework for lighting and cabling had been installed.<ref name=stnrefurbishment />

==Services==
===District line===
This is the general off-peak frequency. During peak times trains also operate to [[Wimbledon station|Wimbledon]]. During off-peak times, 3 trains per hour from Wimbledon terminate at [[Barking station|Barking]] (as of December 2014).

*12 tph eastbound to {{Stnlnk|Upminster}} (On Sundays alternate trains run to Barking only)
*3 tph eastbound to [[Barking station|Barking]]
*6 tph westbound to [[Ealing Broadway station|Ealing Broadway]]
*6 tph westbound to [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]]
*3 tph westbound to [[Wimbledon station|Wimbledon]]

===Hammersmith & City line===
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:
*6 tph eastbound to [[Barking station|Barking]]<ref name=culgh&c>[http://www.davros.org/rail/culg/hammersmith.html Clive's Underground Line Guides - Hammersmith & City line]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/timetable/hammersmith-city?FromId=940GZZLUADE&ToId=940GZZLUWPL&SelectedTime=5 |title=Hammersmith & City line timetable: From Aldgate East Underground Station to Whitechapel Underground Station |website= [[Transport for London]] |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>
*6 tph westbound to [[Hammersmith tube station (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)|Hammersmith]]<ref name=culgh&c /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/timetable/hammersmith-city?FromId=940GZZLUADE&ToId=940GZZLULVT&SelectedTime=5 |title=Hammersmith & City line timetable: From Aldgate East Underground Station to Liverpool Street Underground Station |website= [[Transport for London]] |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>

It is not a regular service but before 6am, two [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle line]] trains run from Barking to [[Edgware Road tube station (Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines)|Edgware Road]] via [[London Victoria station|Victoria]] (as of February 2015).<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.citymetric.com/transport/london-underground-why-are-circle-line-trains-showing-whitechapel-1544 |title = London Underground: Why are Circle line trains showing up at Whitechapel? &#124; CityMetric| date=2 November 2015 }}</ref>{{Current event inline|date=April 2022}}

==Connections==
[[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 15|15]], [[London Buses route 25|25]], [[London Buses route 115|115]], [[London Buses route 135|135]], [[London Buses route 205|205]], [[London Buses route 242|242]], [[London Buses route 254|254]] and night routes [[London Buses route N15|N15]], [[London Buses route N25|N25]], [[London Buses route N205|N205]], [[London Buses route N253|N253]] and [[London Buses route N550|N550]] serve the station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/aldgate-east-a4-0622.pdf|title=Buses from Aldgate East|date=June 2022|website=TfL|access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/aldgate-east-night-a4-0622.pdf|title=Night buses from Aldgate East|date=June 2022|website=TfL|access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>

==Nearby tourist attractions==
*[[Whitechapel Gallery|Whitechapel Art Gallery]]
*[[Petticoat Lane Market]]
*[[Brick Lane]]
*[[Old Spitalfields Market|Spitalfields Market]]
*[[Hamish Mackie]]'s public artwork of six galloping horses

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{reflist|group=note}}

===References===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{Butt-Stations}}
* {{Jowett-Nationalised}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Aldgate_East_station.html London's Abandoned Tube Stations - Aldgate East]

{{clear}}
{{Adjacent stations|system=London Underground
  |line1=District|left1=Tower Hill|right1=Whitechapel|type1=Upminster
  |line2=Hammersmith & City|left2=Liverpool Street|right2=Whitechapel
|header3=Former services|system4=London Underground
  |line4=District|left4=Tower Hill|right4=St. Mary's (Whitechapel Road)|type4=Upminster|note-mid4=(1884–1938)
  |line5=District|left5=Mark Lane|right5=Whitechapel|type5=Upminster|note-mid5=(1884–1967)
  |line6=Metropolitan|left6=Liverpool Street|right6=St. Mary's (Whitechapel Road)|to-left6=Hammersmith|to-right6=Barking|note-mid6=[[Metropolitan Railway#Hammersmith & City Railway|Hammersmith branch]] (1884–1938)
  |line7=Metropolitan|left7=Liverpool Street|right7=Whitechapel|to-left7=Hammersmith|to-right7=Barking|note-mid7=[[Metropolitan Railway#Hammersmith & City Railway|Hammersmith branch]] (1938–1990)|hide1=yes
}}
{{District line navbox}}
{{Hammersmith & City line navbox}}
{{Metropolitan line navbox}}

[[Category:District line stations]]
[[Category:Hammersmith & City line stations]]
[[Category:Tube stations in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
[[Category:Former Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Joint Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1884]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1938]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1938]]
[[Category:Whitechapel]]