View source for Silvertown railway station

{{Short description|Former railway station in London}}
{{distinguish|West Silvertown DLR station}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox London station
|name=Silvertown
|symbol    = 
| image_name=Silvertown railway station in 2006.jpg
| caption = In April 2006 a single track and platform were still in use, with disused infrastructure still visible adjacent
| owner=[[Transport for London]] (formerly [[Network Rail]])
| locale=[[Silvertown]]
| borough = [[London Borough of Newham]]
| platforms=1 (originally 2)
| raillowexits0203 = {{increase}} 49,328
| raillowexits0405 = {{decrease}} 22,563
| raillowexits0506 = {{increase}} 24,765
| raillowexits0607 = {{increase}} 250,771
| years1 = {{start date|1863|06|19|df=y}}
| events1 = Opened as '''Silvertown'''
| years2  = 4 October 1987
| events2 = Renamed '''Silvertown and London City Airport'''
| years3 = 29 May 1994
| events3 = Closed
| years4 = 29 October 1995
| events4 = Reopened
| years5  = 30 September 2001
| events5 = Renamed '''Silvertown'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/silvertown/ |title=Disused Stations: Silvertown Station |access-date=14 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114184244/http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/silvertown/ |archive-date=14 January 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| years6 = {{end date|2006|12|09|df=y}}
| events6 = Closed
| replace=
<!--
| manager = [[Silverlink]]
-->
| fare_zone = 3
| railcode=SVW

| coordinates = {{coord|51.5019|0.0452|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Silvertown railway station''' was on the [[North London Line]] (NLL) serving the [[Silvertown]] area of east [[London]], the station and the eastern section of the line it was on were closed in 2006. It was situated between [[Custom House station|Custom House]] (now a [[Docklands Light Railway]] and [[Elizabeth line]] station) and {{rws|North Woolwich}}, the eastern terminus of the line.

==History==
Silvertown was opened in 1863 by the [[Great Eastern Railway]],<ref name=Butt>{{cite book |last=Butt |first=R.V.J. |title=The Directory of Railway Stations |year=1995 |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |location=Yeovil |isbn=1-85260-508-1 |id=R508 |page=212 }}</ref> on the route of the former [[Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway]], with two tracks and platforms. A decline in use of the line led to the removal of one of the two tracks in 1980, leaving just one platform to serve trains in both directions. North Woolwich was also reduced to one platform. After [[third rail]] electrification of the line in 1986 by [[British Rail]], services were increased and the single-track section became a bottleneck. Prior to closure, the typical Monday to Saturday service frequency westbound towards {{stn|Stratford}} and eastbound towards North Woolwich was one train every 30 minutes during the daytime, increasing to one every 20 minutes in the evening; one train called every 30 minutes all day on Sundays.

In 1973 a government report on the redevelopment of London's Docklands proposed an extension of the unbuilt [[Fleet line]] from [[Charing Cross tube station|Charing Cross]] via [[Fenchurch Street railway station|Fenchurch Street]] to [[Woolwich Arsenal station|Woolwich Arsenal]], with stations on each side at [[Custom House for ExCeL DLR station|Custom House]] and Woolwich Arsenal. The proposal was developed during the 1970s as the Fleet line developed into the Jubilee line. Although approved in 1980, financial constraints meant that the route was not proceeded with.<ref>{{cite book | first=Mike |last=Horne |title=The Jubilee Line |year=2000 |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=1-85414-220-8 |pages=50–52}}</ref> By the start of the 1990s new plans had been developed to extend the Jubilee line on a route south of the River Thames towards Stratford.

After [[London City Airport]] opened nearby there was an attempt to offer the station for connection to the airport, the station being renamed '''Silvertown and London City Airport''' on 4 October 1987,<ref name=Butt /> but the walk through adjacent side streets, and the relatively infrequent service, which was peripheral rather than into central London, led to little usage of the airport interchange.

The Docklands Light Railway [[Woolwich Arsenal station|Woolwich Arsenal]] branch now provides a substitute service for much of this part of the NLL; the nearest DLR station to the disused Silvertown station is [[London City Airport DLR station|London City Airport]].

The remaining station buildings and platforms were demolished in 2012<ref name=abandonedstations>{{cite web |url=http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/North_Woolwich_line_7.html |title=North Woolwich Line |author=Neal Jones |date=June 2012 |work=London's Abandoned Tube Stations |access-date=14 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912161943/http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/North_Woolwich_line_7.html |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> as part of the construction of [[Crossrail]], by [[Vinci (construction)|Vinci]], the contractor responsible for the reconditioning of the Connaught tunnel.<ref name="Harvey">{{cite journal |date=July 2011 |last=Harvey |first=Dan |title=New lease of life for Docklands tunnel |journal=Modern Railways |volume=68 |issue=754 |publisher=Ian Allan |page=61 }}</ref> Despite talk of constructing a replacement station nearby, this has not been provided for in the [[Crossrail Act 2008]].<ref name="Harvey"/> Nevertheless, passive provision will be made for a station shortly to the east in the event of development of nearby properties.<ref>[http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab656259048fb93837ecc0ecbcf0c557.r23.cf3.rackcdn.com/assets/library/document/s/original/silvertown_station.pdf Silvertown Station - Crossrail Proposals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705231549/http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab656259048fb93837ecc0ecbcf0c557.r23.cf3.rackcdn.com/assets/library/document/s/original/silvertown_station.pdf |date=5 July 2015 }} - ''Crossrail Ltd.'' January 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lcymeansbusiness.com/regeneration|title=London City Airport :: Regeneration|first=London City Airport & Greyspot Web Solutions|last=Ltd|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320220929/http://www.lcymeansbusiness.com/regeneration|archive-date=20 March 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Currently,{{when|date=May 2021}} there are proposals from London City Airport to fund the construction of a £50 million Crossrail station so as to serve London City Airport. However, [[Transport for London]] require a formal feasibility study from City Airport to be completed. This is so that progress of the Crossrail project would not be affected by station's construction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/civils/sectors-civils/airport-chief-slams-tfl-over-refused-crossrail-station-plans-31-05-2016/|title=Airport chief slams TfL over refused Crossrail station plans|date=31 May 2016|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108174027/https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/civils/sectors-civils/airport-chief-slams-tfl-over-refused-crossrail-station-plans-31-05-2016/|archive-date=8 November 2020|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wharf.co.uk/news/local-news/tfl-hostile-crossrail-station-lcy-11406486|title=Why is TfL so hostile to a Crossrail station at LCY?|first=Giles|last=Broadbent|date=31 May 2016|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126220239/http://www.wharf.co.uk/news/local-news/tfl-hostile-crossrail-station-lcy-11406486|archive-date=26 January 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=180>
File:Silvertown Station - geograph.org.uk - 387976.jpg|In March 2007 vegetation had begun to take hold on the last used line, while the older tracks have completely disappeared
File:Silvertown railway station in 2008.jpg|By 2008 vegetation has reclaimed the platform and track of the station
File:Silvertown and London City Airport railway station - from footbridge.jpg|In March 2011 the unused trackbed has been cleared but vegetation has a greater hold on the platform
File:Silvertown railway station in October 2011.JPG|In October 2011 the vegetation and trackbed has been completely cleared and preparation for Crossrail has begun
File:Silvertown railway station (site), Greater London (geograph 4673964).jpg|By 2015 the station and platform have been demolished and construction of Crossrail's trackbed is well underway
File:Silvertown station May 2021 8.jpg|[[British Rail Class 345|Class 345]] train running past the former station in May 2021, during Crossrail testing
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/s/silvertown/index.shtml Disused stations in the UK - Silvertown]
{{adjacent stations|noclear=y
|header1=Disused railways
|system2=National Rail
|line2=Silverlink|type2=North London Line |left2=Custom House|right2=North Woolwich
|system3 = London Underground
|line3 = Jubilee |left3=Custom House |right3=Woolwich Arsenal|to-right3=Woolwich Arsenal|note-mid3=Phase 3 (1980) (never constructed)
}}

{{Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway nav box}}
{{Disused railway stations of London}}
{{Jubilee line navbox}}
{{Crossrail navbox}}
{{Closed London Underground stations}}
{{Proposed rail infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Disused railway stations in the London Borough of Newham]]
[[Category:Former Great Eastern Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1863]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 2006]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2006 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Unbuilt London Underground stations]]
[[Category:Proposed London Underground stations]]
[[Category:Silvertown]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in London]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2012]]