Are they any junctions on the London Underground?

Question

Obviously at stations you can get off one train and cross over to another line, but I mean is there anywhere were two lines physcially cross and signals are required?

Answer 1

Yes there are points where two lines cross each other on the london underground network.

If you travel on the Victoria Line towards Wathamstow the victoria line crosses the Piccadilly line. Then you have the Metropolitian Line crossing the Circle line near Paddington, then the Circle Line and the District line cross each other by Kensington High Street & then again outside Algate. All these junctions are controled by signals and trains waith for other trains to pass.

I hope that my answer helps.

Joolz

Answer 2

There are lots.  On the Metropolitan Line you have the track by Harrow on the Hill where all the lines cross, you have Watford South Junction just north of Moor Park where trains cross from the main to the local lines.  Those are two examples of many.

Bascially anywhere where there's points, two or more tracks will be combining or crossing paths.

Answer 3

rdenig_male and others have given good and accurate answers. In short, with the exception of the Waterloo & City line, all lines are connected by junctions. It is theoretically possible for a train at any location on any of the other lines to move to any other location. There are even connections to and from the national rail network. But before anyone starts, I am well aware that some trains will not fit in all the tunnels, etc.

Answer 4

Gunnersbury on the district line for one, this leads on to the Richmond branch.

Answer 5

There must be...musn't there?

They probably don't do straight across but just cut across gradually...

I don't really know and I use the tube every day!

Answer 6

Queens park on the Northern line?

Answer 7

There are junctions. If you are travelling on the Underground you will sometimes feel the carriage go over a set of points and see another tunnel with a line diverging to one side.

This happens where a line has a branch e.g. at Earl's Court, the line branches off to Kensington Olympia in one direction and Wimbledon in the other.

It also happens where two lines share the same track and then split, e.g. at Tower Hill where the District and Circle lines diverge heading eastbound.

Signals are present at all stations on the Underground both at the approach and exit, as well as at junctions. At peak times a train often has to stop for a few minutes before entering a station because the train ahead of it is occupying the platform and the signal guarding the approach to the station is at danger.

Likewise at a junction, if the points are set against the oncoming train.

Answer 8

Further to previous answers, there are many junctions. In fact, it is physically possible to travel on every line bar the Waterloo & City Line travelling on one train.

As well as the more obvious junctions, such as those previously mentioned where two or more lines share the same stretch of track, there are other less obvious ones used for stock transfers and engineers trains. For example, the Bakerloo Line used to split into two branches at Baker Street, one branch is now the existing line to Harrow & Wealdstone, the other is what is now the Jubilee Line. The junction still exists. Another example is at Kings Cross. It is possible to go from the nortbound Northern Line at Kings Cross to the eastbound Piccadilly Line at the same station. Likewise, you can get from the southbound Northern Line (Bank branch) platform at Euston to the same Piccadilly Line platform at Kings Cross using the same short spur, known as the Kings Cross Loop.

A third example, until it was closed in December 2007, was the St. Mary's Curve just west of Whitechapel where it was possible for a train to cross from the District/Hammersmith & City Lines to the East London Line. This was regularly used by A-Stock trains travelling to and from Neasden depot.

Answer 9

I would easily hazard a guess at 100 or more, there are loads of juctions even in the central zone let alone moving out all the way to Zone E (Amersham) and that does not include shunting and siding signals from the yards.

Sorry can not be more precise.

Answer 10

Yes, there are many. Perhaps the most complicated is on the Northern Line south of Camden Town where the High Barnet/Edgware branches join and then split again into the City and West End branches.You used to be able to see some of these junctions from the train and, indeed, markings on the tunnels saying where they led to. At the other end of the lines there are junctions at Kennington where they join and also a 'loop' which enables a train going south to turn to return north without reversal. There is another complicated set of junctions between High Street Kensington and Gloucester Road stations where the Circle and District lines merge and separate. (I used to know a signalman who worked one of the boxes controlling these junctions) In fact, there will be a junction wherever lines divide to enable the trains to take the correct route.

(Incidentally, Clapham Junction is not on the London Underground)

Answer 11

There are dozens of them. One of the most notorious is the flat triangular junction near Earl's Court. The Circle Line and District Line trains often have to wait for each other to clear the layout.

Answer 12

I'm just a passenger, but I'd say there were.... especially on the Circle Line (up near Baker St springs to mind)

As I say, I bow to any tube drivers who tell me I'm wrong, but that's how it feels/looks to this 30+ year veteran passenger.