Editing Victoria line (section)

==History==

===Planning===
The first proposal for a railway in this area appeared in the [[County of London Plan]], published in 1943.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=143}} In 1948, a working party set up by the [[British Transport Commission]] (BTC) proposed a tube railway from [[Victoria, London|Victoria]] to [[Walthamstow]],{{sfn|Horne|1988|pp=14–15}} largely based on a 1946 plan for a [[Croydon]]-to-[[Finsbury Park (area)|Finsbury Park]] line. Its main purpose was to relieve congestion in the central area, which had been a problem since the 1930s.{{sfn|Wolmar|2012|p=301}} Other benefits were linking the key railway stations at {{rws|Victoria|London}}, {{rws|Euston}}, {{rws|King's Cross|London}} and {{rws|St Pancras}} and improving connections between north-east London and the city.{{sfn|HMSO|1959|p=10}}

In early 1949, the BTC committee looked at the feasibility of building a deep-level tube to fulfil these requirements.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=148}} For the first time, [[cost–benefit analysis]] was used to ensure the line would be built within budget and be profitable.{{sfn|Wolmar|2012|pp=300–301}} A [[private bill]] was introduced in Parliament in 1955, describing a line from [[London Victoria station#London Underground station|Victoria]] to Walthamstow ({{rws|Wood Street}}), next to the [[British Rail]] station. Another proposal, not in the bill, supported an extension from Victoria to [[Fulham Broadway tube station|Fulham Broadway]] on the [[District line]] terminating at [[Edmonton, London|Edmonton]] instead of Walthamstow.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]] |date=April 1955 |editor-first=B.W.C. |editor-last=Cooke |title=Proposed New London Underground |volume=101 |issue=648 |pages=279–281 |location=London}}</ref>{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=153}} Proposals were made to extend the line north to [[South Woodford tube station|South Woodford]] or [[Woodford tube station|Woodford]] to provide interchange with the [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1963/dec/18/public-passenger-transport-london#S5CV0686P0_19631218_CWA_125 |title=Public Passenger Transport, London |publisher=Hansard |date=18 December 1963}}</ref> In 1961, it was decided that the line would terminate at Walthamstow (Hoe Street) station rather than Wood Street – this would cut costs by £1.4{{nbsp}}million, and "satisfactory interchange" with [[British Railways]] was available at Hoe Street station.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 1962 |title=Victoria Line Change |journal=London Transport Magazine |volume=15 |issue=10 |page=5 |quote=Plans for the alignment in the Walthamstow area of the proposed Victoria tube railway line are being changed so that it ends at Hoe Street station, and not at Wood Street station as originally intended. This is because alterations to the layout of the British Railways track and overhead electrical equipment at Wood Street would too costly. Satisfactory interchange with the Eastern Region electric service to Highams Park and Chingford will be provided at Hoe Street. [...] The revision of plans will cut the capital cost of the Victoria line by about €1,400,000.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Horne |first=Mike |title=The Victoria Line: An Illustrated History |publisher=Capital Transport |year=2005 |isbn=1-85414-292-5 |page=26}}</ref> Walthamstow (Hoe Street) was later renamed {{rws|Walthamstow Central}} on 6 May 1968 in anticipation of the line's opening).{{sfn|Horne|1988|p=15}}{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=240}} The line was planned to have [[cross-platform interchange]]s at [[Oxford Circus tube station|Oxford Circus]], [[Euston tube station|Euston]] and {{stn|Finsbury Park}} (with the Bakerloo, Northern (Bank) and Piccadilly lines respectively) and at Walthamstow Central to provide a quick and easy connection between the new line and existing services.{{sfn|HMSO|1959|p=13}}

The name "Victoria line" dates from 1955; other suggestions were "Walvic line" (Walthamstow–Victoria), "Viking line" (Victoria–King's Cross), "[[Mayfair]] line" and "[[West End of London|West End]] line".{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=153}} During the planning stages, it was known as ''Route C'' and named the Victoria line (after the station) by David McKenna, Chairman of British Transport Advertising, whose suggestion was seconded by [[John Elliot (railway manager)|Sir John Elliot]].{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=153}}{{sfn|Klapper|1976|p=123}} The board decided that the Victoria line sounded "just right".{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=153}}

===Walthamstow–Victoria===
Initial construction began in January 1960, when two test tunnels were started from [[Tottenham]] to [[Manor House, London|Manor House]] under [[Seven Sisters Road]]. The tunnels were excavated using an experimental "drum digger" rotary shield, powered by [[hydraulic ram]]s, that could cut more than {{convert|60|ft}} per day. The work was completed in July 1961, with the expectation it would be used for the completed Victoria line.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=156}}

After the line gained parliamentary approval on 20 August 1962 with a budget of £56{{nbsp}}million, construction began the following month.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|pp=160–161}} The economic boom of the mid-to-late 1950s had faded leading to a rise in unemployment in London, and the government had hoped that building the Victoria line would alleviate this.{{sfn|Martin|2012|p=235}} Work began adapting Oxford Circus station to link to the new line; a cross-platform interchange was provided with the [[Bakerloo line]] and a subway link with the Central line.{{sfn|HMSO|1959|p=36}} A steel umbrella was erected over the junction in August 1963 so that a new ticket hall could be built without disrupting existing traffic.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|pp=160–161}} Rolling stock on the line was fitted with [[Automatic Train Operation]] (ATO), which allowed self-driving of the train based on automatic electrical signals along the track.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=160}} In March 1964, a £2.25{{nbsp}}million contract was awarded to [[Metro-Cammell]] for the Victoria line fleet.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=161}}

That October, the [[Northern City Line]] closed between {{rws|Drayton Park}} and {{rws|Finsbury Park}} so that the latter station could be redesigned for a cross-platform interchange between the Victoria and Piccadilly lines. All major contracts had been awarded by 1965, and construction was on track to be completed in 1968.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=163}} New stations were constructed at Walthamstow Central, {{rws|Blackhorse Road}}, {{rws|Tottenham Hale}} and {{rws|Seven Sisters}}.{{sfn|HMSO|1959|p=37}} The station at Blackhorse Road was built on the opposite side of the road from the mainline station (serving the [[Gospel Oak to Barking line|Kentish Town to Barking line]]) and was not an interchange.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=167}}{{refn|The Kentish Town-to-Barking service, serving Blackhorse Road, was proposed for closure under the [[Beeching cuts]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.railengineer.uk/2016/09/13/gospel-oak-to-barking-renaissance/ |title=Gospel Oak to Barking Renaissance |work=Rail Engineer |date=13 September 2016 |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=12 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712122518/https://www.railengineer.uk/2016/09/13/gospel-oak-to-barking-renaissance/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>|group=note}}

The line opened from Walthamstow Central to {{stn|Highbury & Islington}} on 1 September 1968.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=166}}<ref name="Modern-Railways-1068">{{cite magazine |date=October 1968 |title=London's new tube starts work |magazine=Modern Railways |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd. |location=Shepperton, Middlesex |volume=XXIV |issue=241 |page=532}}</ref> There was no opening ceremony; instead the normal timetable started.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=166}} The first train left Walthamstow Central for Highbury & Islington at 7:32&nbsp;a.m. The line proved to meet a need; more than 1,000 tickets were purchased at Highbury & Islington within its first hour of opening.<ref name=times19680902>{{cite news |title=Busy start for Victoria Line |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=2 September 1968 |page=3 |access-date=12 September 2018 |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS51736354&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The next section to [[Warren Street tube station|Warren Street]], opened on 1 December 1968, again without ceremony.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=166}} The line was formally opened by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] on 7 March 1969 when it had been completed to Victoria. At 11:00&nbsp;a.m., the Queen made the first trip, on a 5[[£sd|d]] (2.08p) ticket, from Green Park to Victoria, where she unveiled a plaque.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=168}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Victoria Line |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=7 March 1969 |page=X |access-date=13 September 2018|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS771977319&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In so doing, she was the first reigning monarch to ride on the Underground.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/150-facts-for-150-years-of-the-london-tube-8444153.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220817/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/150-facts-for-150-years-of-the-london-tube-8444153.html |archive-date=17 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=150 Facts for 150 Years of the Tube |newspaper=The Independent |date=9 January 2013 |access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> The line was open to the general public by 3:00&nbsp;p.m. Trains from Walthamstow to Victoria took around 24{{nbsp}}minutes.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=168}}

===Victoria–Brixton===
[[File:PimlicoStation.jpg|thumb|[[Pimlico tube station|Pimlico station]] was the last part of the Victoria line to open, and is the line's only station that is not an interchange.]]
The {{convert|3.5|mile|adj=on}} extension from Victoria to Brixton with stations at {{rws|Vauxhall}} and [[Stockwell tube station|Stockwell]] was approved in March 1966.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=163}} Preparatory work had started at Bessborough Gardens near [[Inner Ring Road, London#Vauxhall Bridge Road|Vauxhall Bridge Road]] in May 1967.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seeing Red Over A Green |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=24 May 1967 |page=2 |access-date=12 September 2018 |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS34434232&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The contract was awarded on 4 August 1967.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=163}} A proposal to build [[Pimlico tube station]] received Government approval on 28 June 1968.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1968/jun/28/victoria-line-extension-pimlico-station|title=Victoria Line Extension (Pimlico Station) (Hansard, 28 June 1968)|website=api.parliament.uk|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=166}} In July, the [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Duke of Edinburgh]] and the [[Charles III|Prince of Wales]] visited tunnel workings under Vauxhall Park.<ref>{{cite news |title=Picture Gallery |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=13 July 1968 |page=3 |access-date=12 September 2018 |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS51605229&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The Brixton extension was bored using the older [[James Henry Greathead#Greathead Shield|Greathead shield]]. Although slower, use of the [[tunnelling shield]] allowed easier digging through the gravel strata south of the Thames. It was opened on 23 July 1971 by [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy|Princess Alexandra]], who made a journey from Brixton to {{stn|Vauxhall}}.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=171}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Picture Gallery |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=24 July 1971 |page=2 |access-date=14 April 2018 |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS34436344&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> On opening, it was the first new section of Underground to open south of the Thames since the extension of the [[City and South London Railway]] from [[Clapham Common tube station|Clapham Common]] to [[Morden tube station|Morden]] in 1926.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=171}} The final piece of the Victoria line, Pimlico station, opened on 14 September 1972.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=172}}

London Transport considered extensions to Streatham, Dulwich and Crystal Palace to provide a connection to southeast London and Kent but no construction work was undertaken.<ref>{{cite news |first=Christopher |last=Warman |title=GLC Conservatives hope to put north Kent towns on Tube |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=23 March 1973 |page=6 |access-date=13 September 2018 |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS101152887&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Post-opening===
The Kentish Town to Barking line did not close as expected and both stations at Blackhorse Road remained open. The mainline station was moved to the same side of the road as the tube station and was connected to the Victoria line on 14 December 1981 via an overbridge. The original station was then closed and demolished.{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=36}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20120427_e_bulletin.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20120427_e_bulletin.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2022 |url-status=live |page=14 |title=Barking – Gospel Oak Line User Group E-Bulletin |date=27 April 2012 |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>

The London Underground (Victoria) Act 1991 allowed for the construction of a {{convert|43|m|adj=on|sigfig=2}} underground pedestrian link at Victoria station between the Victoria line platforms and the sub-surface Circle line platforms above.<ref name="victoria-act-1991">{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1991/10/enacted |title=London Underground (Victoria) Act 1991 |date=27 June 1991 |access-date=11 June 2012 |format=Statutory Instrument |publisher=The National Archives}}</ref> The London Underground (Victoria Station Upgrade) Order 2009 came into force in September that year, authorising the construction of a second {{convert|1930| m2|adj=on|sigfig=2}} ticket hall at Victoria.<ref name="victoria-station-twao">{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2364/made |title=The London Underground (Victoria Station Upgrade) Order 2009 |date=28 August 2009 |access-date=11 June 2012 |format=Statutory Instrument |issue=2364 |publisher=The National Archives}}</ref>

[[Warren Street tube station]] was attacked in the 21st July 2005 London bombings. There were no fatalities in this attack. After the [[7 July 2005 London bombings]], there was heightened security. The Metropolitan Police wrongly detained and fatally shot 27-year-old [[Jean Charles de Menezes]] once he boarded a train at {{lus|Stockwell}}. After his death, a memorial to Menezes was placed close to Stockwell station.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jury-sees-harrowing-de-menezes-film-6631730.html | title=Jury sees harrowing de Menezes film | date=12 April 2012 }}</ref>

On 23 January 2014, during upgrade work at Victoria, construction workers accidentally penetrated the signalling room of the Victoria line and flooded it with quick-drying [[concrete]], leading to the suspension of services south of Warren Street.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25862543|work=BBC News|title=Victoria Tube line part shut hit by wet concrete flood|date=23 January 2014|access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref> Services resumed the following day after sugar was used to slow the setting of the concrete and make it easier to shovel out.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10594427/Underground-blunder-sugar-used-to-slow-concrete-setting.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10594427/Underground-blunder-sugar-used-to-slow-concrete-setting.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Underground blunder: 'sugar used to slow concrete setting'|date=24 January 2014|access-date=30 July 2017|last1=Edgar|first1=James}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10594718/Why-sugar-helped-remove-Victoria-Line-concrete-flood.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10594718/Why-sugar-helped-remove-Victoria-Line-concrete-flood.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Why sugar helped remove Victoria Line concrete flood|date=24 January 2014|access-date=25 January 2014|last1=Gray|first1=Richard}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

A 24-hour [[Night Tube]] service on Friday and Saturday nights, due to start in September 2015 on the entire line,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tube-improvements/the-future-of-the-tube/night-tube |title=The Night Tube |work=The Future of the Tube |access-date=11 July 2015 |publisher= [[Transport for London]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711150816/https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tube-improvements/the-future-of-the-tube/night-tube |archive-date=11 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> was delayed because of strike action.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37108375|title=Night Tube begins in London, bringing 'huge boost' to capital|work=BBC News|date=20 August 2016|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref> The service began in August 2016, with trains running at 10-minute intervals on the whole line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tube-improvements/what-we-are-doing/night-tube |title=The Night Tube |website=Transport for London |access-date=21 August 2016 }}</ref>