The Victoria Line is a line of the London Underground, coloured light blue on the Tube map. It is a deep-level line running from the south to the north-east of London. It was built in the 1960s to relieve congestion on other lines, in particular the Piccadilly Line. It was designed to maximise possible interchanges, yet keep sufficient distance between stations for trains to build up speed. It is because of this that the Victoria line has just one station that is not a tube or rail interchange: Pimlico.

Many stations on the route were rearranged to allow for cross-platform interchanges. In some cases this was achieved by placing the Victoria Line platforms on either side of the existing station, while in others the Victoria Line uses one of the old platforms and the older line was diverted into a new platform. At Euston, while northbound Victoria and Northern Line (Bank branch) trains run along adjacent platforms, they go in opposite directions along them. Other cross-platform interchanges are at Stockwell (with the Northern Line), Oxford Circus (with the Bakerloo Line), Highbury & Islington (with First Capital Connect, then known as the Northern City Line) and Finsbury Park (with the Piccadilly Line). There is a connection from Seven Sisters to the line's depot at Northumberland Park.

Trains

The Victoria Line is served by a fleet of 43 1967 Tube Stock trains. Each train is made up of two four-car units. The line is equipped with an automatic train operation system (ATO); the train operator (driver) closes the train doors and presses a pair of "start" buttons: and if the way ahead is clear, the ATO will drive the train at a safe speed to the next station and stop there. This system has been in place since the line opened in 1968.

The 1967 stock is due for replacement over the next decade as part of Transport for London's 5-year £10 billion redevelopment project. The replacement for the line's 1967 Tube Stock will be the 2009 Tube Stock built by Bombardier Transportation. The first prototypes will be built in 2006 and be tested in service from 2008, with the main fleet entering service between 2009 and 2012.

Map

Stations

• Walthamstow Central, opened September 1, 1968.
• Blackhorse Road, opened September 1, 1968.
• Tottenham Hale opened September 1, 1968.
• Seven Sisters, opened September 1, 1968.
• Finsbury Park, opened September 1, 1968.
• Highbury & Islington, opened September 1, 1968.
• King's Cross St. Pancras, opened December 1, 1968.
• Euston, opened December 1, 1968.
• Warren Street, opened December 1, 1968.
• Oxford Circus, opened March 7, 1969.
• Green Park, opened March 7, 1969.
• Victoria, opened March 7, 1969 (railway station)
• Pimlico, opened September 14, 1972.
• Vauxhall, opened July 23, 1971.
• Stockwell, opened July 23, 1971.
• Brixton opened July 23, 1971.

Opening

The first section to be opened was between Walthamstow Central and Highbury & Islington stations. There was no opening ceremony, instead the normal timetable started on Sunday September 1, 1968. The first train left Walthamstow Central for Highbury & Islington at about 6.30am.

The official opening ceremony took place at Victoria station when the line was opened through to Brixton station.

Depot

• Northumberland Park Depot

External links

• Victoria Line - London Underground website
• Victoria Line at Clive's UndergrounD Line Guides
• Tube Prune description of the Victoria Line ATO system
• BCV (Bakerloo, Central & Victoria) Upgrade at alwaystouchout.com

London Underground | Lambeth | Westminster | Transport in Camden | Islington | Haringey | Waltham Forest

Victoria Line | Victoria Line | Victoria Line | Victoria-linjen