South Hampstead Station (SOH)

Address: 156 Loudoun Road, South Hampstead, London NW8 0DJ
Opened: 1879
Station Code: SOH
Fare Zone: 2

London Overground Line(s) Served:

Watford DC Lines

Service Pattern(s):

4 trains per hour to London Euston
4 trains per hour to Watford Junction

Interchange(s)

None

Station History

Although the London and North Western Railway had constructed their main line from London Euston through the area in 1851 a station was not provided here. The station, originally named Louden Road, opened in 1879 in response to local demand.

The construction of their ‘New Line’ by the LNWR in 1912 saw a further two platforms constructed at the station for the new services.

Following the passing into law of the Railways Act 1921, the London & North Western was amalgamated with other companies to become part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Under this new entity, the station was renamed South Hampstead in 1922.

This was followed by the passing of the Transport Act 1947 that saw the ‘Big Four’ railway companies of the time Nationalised to become British Railways. The line and its services were taken up by the Midland Region on 1st January 1948.

Electrification of the West Coast Main Line in the early 1960s saw the platforms on the ‘fast’ lines demolished to allow the tracks to be realigned, leaving the station layout as it is today. As part of the work, the original LNWR station building was also demolished and replaced with the current structure.

Management changes saw the station pass to the London & Southeastern business unit upon sectorisation in 1982, relaunched as Network Southeast on 10 June 1986.

Privatisation of the railways saw the station and line become part of National Express under their Silverlink Trains subsidiary in 1993.

The final change of management for the line and its stations came in November 2007 when Transport for London began operation of the services under their London Overground brand.