By Elliott West
“The railway in a bathroom”.
Andrew Martin
Introduction
The year was 1962 and Britain was experiencing a cultural revolution, a period in its history which was dubbed the ‘Swinging Sixties’. Meanwhile, deep below the bustling expanse of London, work began on a project that could have easily ticked the box as an example of Harold Wilson’s later soundbite of ‘The White Heat of Technology’. A construction project by London Transport that would link North London to South London, serving many of the capital’s central London stations in between. This would be London’s first new underground line since the opening of the Central Line opened in 1907 and the first line to be completely underground. A feat that was planned and built by the government rather than private companies.
Using a team of experienced designers, including London Transport’s chief architect Kenneth Seymour, Sir Misha Black OBE and his consultancy Design Research Unit, the Victoria Line opened in four phases, from Walthamstow to Highbury in September 1968, Highbury to Warren Street in December 1968, Warren Street to Victoria in 1969 and finally to stations to Brixton in 1971 with Pimlico station added in 1972. A line that had royal approval when Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the line between Walthamstow and Victoria on 7th March 1969.
A Modern Approach
The Victoria Line was literally a breath of air to the already ageing underground network. The first to use a fixed-block Automatic Train Operation system (ATO) for its 1967 stock trains, the train operator could safely depart a platform when the platform interface was clear after pressing a pair of start buttons. The train would then depart at a safe speed to the next station. Using a system that allowed the train operator to switch to manual control at any time if ATO failed to operate for any reason. With fewer stations, trains could travel much faster and provide customers with a faster journey to their destinations. A brilliant thought-out concept with almost all of the stations providing an interchange to other underground lines or national rail links. A line that soon became a must for commuters, shoppers and tourists to travel on.
As described in Andrew Martin’s book ‘Underground Overground: A Passenger’s History of the Tube’ “the railway in a bathroom” for its use of warmer shades of cream tiles at some stations, the architecture tried to lighten the deep-level construction that had no station above ground apart from Blackhorse Road. Designed to do what it said on the tin with stations limited to ticket halls and platforms, the line definitely still emanates a 1960s feel to it with concrete flooring, grey ceramic tiles and brushed stainless steel.
Look closely at the platform seat recesses and you will see the unique designs on the tile panels, depicting an image with local significance, a silhouette of Queen Victoria at Victoria, a black horse at Blackhorse Road and a ton of bricks as a play on the name Brixton. Others include the Euston Arch and the maze design at Warren Street to depict a warren. A line that is almost something out of a time capsule that has changed very little apart from upgrading its rolling stock in 2009.
The Pride of Pimlico
Pimlico station always reminds me of the 1949 Ealing comedy classic, Passport to Pimlico. The last edition to the Victoria Line in 1972, the year I was born, Pimlico remains a popular station to exit for the Tate Britain museum. A station that was built thanks to the Crown Estate offering a site. Incorporated in the station design, is the desire to keep customers moving with escalators moving them between the ticket hall and platforms, keeping them safe via CCTV. A desire that resonates in a 1968 pamphlet.
“Escalators will lead direct to platform level wherever possible. Closed-circuit television equipment at stations to assist in controlling and speeding up the movement of passengers at peak hours.”
1968 pamphlet
Victorious Victoria
Victoria underground station has metamorphosed like a butterfly since it first opened during the Victorian era. Now providing yellow, green and blue veins of transport to its customers, the station is a vital artery between its four platforms and the 19 National Rail platform in the station above it. Now step-free with various lifts across the station, it has transformed in the last few years, now having three ticket halls, Victoria, District and the additional Cardinal Place to provide greater access to the station. The Victoria ticket hall has increased in size with a large gate array and a large walkway has been built to allow customers to freely flow and limit congestion.
I have worked at Victoria for 9 years as a Supervisor and although it provides various challenges on a day-to-day basis, it still remains one of the best I have worked at. There is a strong family bond amongst the staff and although some days can really test you, there is always someone who is able to crack a joke and put a smile back onto your face. A station that is always busy and constantly keeps you on your toes.
