Dalston Junction Station (DLJ)

Address: Dalston Lane, Dalston, London E8 3DE
Opened: 1st November 1865
Station Code: DLJ
Fare Zone: 2

London Overground Line(s) Served:

East London Line

Service Pattern(s):

8 trains per hour to Highbury & Islington
8 trains per hour terminate here
4 trains per hour to Clapham Junction
4 trains per hour to Crystal Palace
4 trains per hour to West Croydon
4 trains per hour to New Cross

Interchange(s)

OSI: London Overground Dalston Kingsland – 250 metres

Station History

The East & West India Docks & Birmingham Junction Railway began operating into Fenchurch Street station on 26th September 1860. However, their route was very circuitous and they therefore requested parliamentary approval to construct a more direct line from Dalston to their new terminus at Broad Street.

Following the passing of an Act of Parliament, the new line began construction in 1861. The construction saw two junctions provided from the current line, one for westbound traffic from Willesden, Richmond and Watford, and one for eastbound traffic towards Bow and Hackney.

Dalston Junction station was constructed to the immediate north of the converging junctions and was provided with six platform faces, teo for the Poplar services and four for westbound traffic. The station opened for traffic on 1st November 1865 and allowed the nearby Dalston Kingsland station to be closed.

On 1st February 1909, the North London Railway (as the East and West India Docks & Birmingham Junction Railway had become known in 1853) workings were taken over by the London & Northwestern Railway under a common management arrangement.

Under the new ownership, a goods yard was constructed linking to the Eastern Junction.

In 1916 the LNWR electrified the two western side tracks through the station for use by the Broad Street to Richmond services, all other services were still provided with steam-operated trains.

The Railways Act 1921, and the subsequent grouping of railway companies saw the LNWR absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway on 1st January 1923.

World War II saw a downturn in usage of the line and, as an economy measure, Through services to Kew Bridge were withdrawn in September 1939, followed by Sunday services to Poplar on 29th January 1940. This was followed by the complete withdrawal of Poplar services on 15th May 1994, being replaced by a bus service.

Nationalisation of the railways following World War II saw Dalston Junction and its services placed under British Railways London Midland Region.

Further decline saw the closure of the goods yard after the last trains ran on 1st March 1965, followed by the withdrawal of steam hauled passenger services on 2nd January 1966. The East Curve was lifted on 4th July 1966 and the up and down steam lines received similar treatment, being completely removed by 5th November 1969.

With the reopening of Dalston Kingsland station in 1983, coupled with the formation of Network Southeast, the decline in passenger numbers from Broad Street saw the station close on 10th June 1986, followed by the closure of the entire line just 20 days later.

The reopening of Dalston Junction was planned as part of Phase 1 of the East London Line extension for London Overground. The new station began construction in 2005.

Following the completion of the construction and conversion works, the line and its stations were reopened on 23rd May 2010 with services between Dalston Junction and Crystal Palace, New Cross and West Croydon.

The second phase of the new line, providing services to Clapham Junction and Highbury & Islington was opened on 9th December 2012.