View source for Stratford station

{{short description|London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and National rail station}}
{{other uses|Stratford station (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox London station
| name          = Stratford
| symbol        = underground
| symbol2       = dlr
| symbol3       = rail
| symbol4       = overground
| symbol5       = crossrail
| symbol6       = bus
| alt_name1     = Stratford (London)<ref name=atoc/>
| alt_name      = Stratford Regional<ref name=looc>
{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.london2012.com/photos/2008/11/stratford-regional-station-60490.php
 |publisher    = London 2012 Olympic Organising committee
 |access-date   = 14 December 2009
 |title        = Stratford Regional Station
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091202135945/http://www.london2012.com/photos/2008/11/stratford-regional-station-60490.php
 |archive-date = 2 December 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}
</ref>
| manager       = [[Transport for London]]<ref name=travelwatch>{{cite web|url=http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/get_document.php?id=2325 |work=Rail & Underground Sub-committee |title=Sub-committee Minutes |date=16 May 2006 |access-date=8 December 2009 |publisher=[[London TravelWatch]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210180137/http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/get_document.php?id=2325 |archive-date=10 December 2006 }}</ref>
| owner         = [[Network Rail]]<ref name=travelwatch/>
| owner1        =
| owner2        =
| locale        = [[Stratford, London|Stratford]]
| borough       = [[London Borough of Newham]]
| platforms     = 19 (17 in use)
| fare_zone     = 2
| fare_zone_1   = 3
| railcode      = SRA
| railcode2     =
| dft_category  = B
| image_name    = Stratford station (7028902411).jpg
| image_alt     =
| caption       = The station's south entrance
| coordinates   = {{coord|51.5422|-0.0033|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| map_type      = United Kingdom London Newham
| years1        = 20 June 1839
| years2        = 4 December 1946
| years3        = 31 August 1987
| years4        = 14 May 1999
| events1       = Opened by [[Eastern Counties Railway|ECR]]
| events2       = [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]] started
| events3       = [[Docklands Light Railway|DLR]] started
| events4       = [[Jubilee line]] started
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| access_note   =<ref>{{citation step free tube map}}</ref><ref>{{citation step free south east rail}}</ref>
}}

'''Stratford''' is a major multi-level [[interchange station]] serving the town of [[Stratford, London|Stratford]] and the [[mixed-use development]] known as [[Stratford City]], in the [[London Borough of Newham]], [[East London]] for [[London Underground]], [[London Overground]], [[Docklands Light Railway]] (DLR) and [[Elizabeth line]] services. [[National Rail]] services also operate on the [[West Anglia Main Line]] and the [[Great Eastern Main Line]], {{convert|4|mi|3|chain|km}} from [[Liverpool Street station|Liverpool Street]]. 

It is the fifth [[List of busiest railway stations in Great Britain|busiest railway station in Britain]],<ref name=":9" /> the busiest station in London outside the [[London station group]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stratford station improvements |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/anglia/improving-the-railway-in-anglia/stratford-station-improvements/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Network Rail |language=en-GB}}</ref> and is the busiest station on the London Underground network outside [[Travelcard Zone 1]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Estimates of station usage &#124; ORR Data Portal |url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage}}</ref>

On the London Underground, it is on the [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]] between {{lus|Mile End}} and {{lus|Leyton}} stations. It is also the eastern terminus of the [[Jubilee line]]. On the DLR, it is a terminus for some trains and for others it is a through-station between {{stl|DLR|Stratford High Street}} and {{stn|Stratford International}}. On the Overground, it is the terminus of the [[North London Line]]; on the main line it is served by [[Elizabeth line]] stopping services between [[London Paddington station|Paddington]] and {{rws|Shenfield}} and by medium- and longer-distance services operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]] to and from numerous destinations in the [[East of England]]. There are also limited off-peak services operated by [[c2c]] connecting to the [[London, Tilbury and Southend line]] to {{rws|Shoeburyness}}.

The station was opened in 1839 by the [[Eastern Counties Railway]]. Today it is owned by [[Network Rail]] and is in [[List of stations in London fare zone 2|Travelcard zone 2]]/[[List of stations in London fare zone 3|3]].<ref>[https://www.london.gov.uk/media/mayor-press-releases/2014/07/mayor-announces-major-new-plans-for-queen-elizabeth-olympic-park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018010332/https://www.london.gov.uk/media/mayor-press-releases/2014/07/mayor-announces-major-new-plans-for-queen-elizabeth-olympic-park |date=18 October 2015 }} Stratford to be 're-zoned' to bring its three stations into transport zones 2/3. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2015</ref> To distinguish it from {{rws|Stratford-upon-Avon}} in Warwickshire it is sometimes referred to as '''Stratford (London)''',<ref name=atoc>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/SRA/details.html |publisher=National Rail Enquiries |title=Station Facilities: Stratford |date=26 November 2009 |access-date=11 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105203513/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/SRA/details.html |archive-date=5 January 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> or as '''Stratford Regional''' to differentiate it from Stratford International, which is some {{convert|370|m|yd|order=flip}} to the north.<ref name=looc/> Stratford served as a key travel hub for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympic]] and [[2012 Summer Paralympics|Paralympic Games]] held in London.<ref>[http://www.london2012.com/making-it-happen/transport/stratford-regional-station.php London 2012: Stratford Regional station] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916104133/http://www.london2012.com/making-it-happen/transport/stratford-regional-station.php |date=16 September 2010 }}. Retrieved 9 September 2010.</ref>
{{Overground RDT}}

==History==

===Early days: 1839–62===
Stratford station was opened on 20 June 1839 by the [[Eastern Counties Railway]] (ECR) with the first station building being located on Angel Lane which crossed the line on an over-bridge to the east of the station.  The [[Northern and Eastern Railway]] opened a section of its authorised line from {{stnlnk|Broxbourne}} to join the ECR at Stratford on 15 September 1840.<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=H.P. |editor1=Thomas, David St John |title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain – Volume 3: Greater London |edition=3rd |year=1987 |publisher=[[David & Charles]] |location=Dawlish, UK}}</ref> As well as a station, a railway works was built adjacent to the line to Broxbourne. This and the [[Stratford TMD|engine shed]] later expanded into the area to the west of the station which is now occupied by a shopping centre and [[Stratford International station]].

The ECR tracks were originally set to a [[rail gauge|gauge]] of {{Track gauge|5ft|lk=on}} on the recommendation of engineer John Braithwaite. At this time there was no legislation dictating the choice of gauge and indeed the directors favoured the [[Great Western Railway]]'s broad gauge {{Track gauge|7ft|lk=on}}. Braithwaite persuaded the directors otherwise on the grounds of additional cost but recommended the {{Track gauge|5ft|disp=1}} gauge in an effort to reduce wear on locomotive parts. This choice meant that the [[Northern & Eastern Railway]] who were planning to share the ECR line between Stratford and Bishopsgate were forced to adopt the same gauge.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Brooks |first=Lyn |title=Broad gauge on the Eastern Counties Railway |journal=Great Eastern Journal |date=October 1993 |page=34}}</ref>

With the extension of the ECR in the early 1840s it became apparent that [[standard gauge]] {{Track gauge|4ft8.5in}} was a more realistic choice and subsequently between September and October 1844 the gauge conversion was carried out. At the same time the associated [[Northern & Eastern Railway]] was also converted.

New station buildings were built in 1847 replacing the original structure on Angel Road. These were located in the V between the Cambridge and Colchester lines and access was via Station Road.<ref name="Irwell Press">{{cite book |last1=Kay |first1=Peter |title=Great Eastern in Town and Country Vol 3 |date=1996 |publisher=Irwell Press |location=Clophill, UK |isbn=1-871608-74-0 |page=18}}</ref>

The line through the low level platforms first opened in 1846 as a goods only branch as far as Thames Wharf. The bridge under the main line was too low for many locomotives, so a number of engines were equipped with hinged chimneys in order they could operate the line.<ref name="photo caption">{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Lyn D |title=Return to North Woolwich |year=1987 |publisher=PEMT/Great Eastern Railway Society |location=North Woolwich |isbn=0-906123-09-7 |page=4 |author2=Watling J |display-authors=etal}}</ref> On opening there was also a line that linked what is now known as the Great Eastern Main Line directly to the docks enabling through running from Colchester to Thames Wharf. The docks and associated railway networks expanded with passenger services to North Woolwich starting in 1847.<ref name=Maps>{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Lyn D |title=Return to North Woolwich |year=1987 |publisher=PEMT/Great Eastern Railway Society |location=North Woolwich |isbn=0-906123-09-7 |pages=24–25 |author2=Watling J |display-authors=etal}}</ref>

There was an accident at Stratford station on 18 July 1846 when an up goods train ran into the back of a passenger train from Ipswich. There were 10 passengers seriously injured one of whom later died.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Cock |first=Chris |author2=Roger Farrant |title=Hall's panel signals on the ECR |journal=Great Eastern Journal |date=August 2006 |volume=128 |page=128.20}}</ref>

In 1854 the newly opened London Tilbury and Southend Railway served Stratford joining the main line at Forest Gate Junction a few miles north. Their services generally served [[Fenchurch Street]] and were routed via the [[Bow Road railway station|Bow Road]] route (although that station was not opened at this time) although some carriages were detached at Stratford for onward working to Bishopsgate. This practice was discontinued in 1856 as passengers preferred the more conveniently sited (for the city) Fenchurch Street.

In connection with the introduction of the new LTSR services a third line was built from Stratford to Bow Junction which was used by down Fenchurch Street services and a new platform face opened.<ref name="Irwell Press"/>

It soon became apparent that congestion was a problem at Stratford and by 1856 permission was sought to build a line from Barking to Gas Factory Junction (Bow) which was opened in 1858. After that LTSR trains were no longer routed via Stratford.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Connor |first1=J. E. |title=Fenchurch Street to Barking |date=1998 |publisher=Middleton Press |location=Midhurst UK |isbn=1-901706-20-6 |page=x}}</ref>

By 1855 there were links from both the low and high-level stations to the North London Line as well as a spur that enabled trains from Liverpool Street to North Woolwich to avoid Stratford altogether (although this served Stratford Market station) which was a short distance away. Services from the North London line normally started from Victoria Park and ran through to Stratford Market. This service operated from 1866 until 1874 and was operated by the GER and [[North London Railway]] in alternate years up until 31 October 1874.<ref>{{cite book |last=Borley |first=H V |title=The memories and writings of a London railway man |year=1993 |publisher=Railway & Canal Historical Society |location=Mold |isbn=0-901461-16-4 |page=76}}</ref>

The [[North London Railway]] was also running through Stratford high level with two return trains per day from Hampstead Road (later renamed Chalk Farm) via Victoria Park and Forest Gate Junctions to Tilbury which commenced on 1 July 1855 and finished 30 September.<ref name="Railway and Canal History Society">{{cite book |last1=Borley |first1=Harold V |title=The memories and writings of a North London Railwayman |date=1993 |publisher=Railway and Canal History Society |location=Clwyd, UK |isbn=0-901461-16-4 |page=77}}</ref>

Services to [[Loughton tube station|Loughton]] commenced on 22 August 1856 and used the Lea Valley platforms, leaving the main line at Loughton Branch Junction half a mile north of Stratford. Initially nine trains per day operated to Fenchurch Street (Bishopsgate on Sundays) on this route.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jackson |first1=Alan A |title=London's Local Railways |date=1999 |publisher=Capital Transport Publishing |location=Harrow Weald UK |isbn=1-85414-209-7 |page=382 |edition=Second}}</ref>

By the 1860s the railways in East Anglia were in financial trouble, and most were leased to the ECR; they wished to amalgamate formally, but could not obtain government agreement for this until 1862, when the [[Great Eastern Railway]] was formed by amalgamation. Thus Stratford became a GER station in 1862.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vaughan |first=Adrian |title=Railwaymen, Politics and Money |year=1997 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |isbn=0-7195-5150-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/railwaymenpoliti0000vaug/page/134 134, 135]|url=https://archive.org/details/railwaymenpoliti0000vaug/page/134}}</ref>

===Great Eastern Railway: 1862–1923===
The Loughton branch was extended to Ongar on 24 April 1865 and by 1874 there were a total of 40 trains each day (10 terminating at Loughton, 18 at Epping and 12 at Ongar) with most serving the newly opened Liverpool Street although a few peak hour services continued to serve Fenchurch Street.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jackson |first1=Alan A |title=London's Local Railways |date=1999 |publisher=Capital Transport Publishing |location=Harrow Weald UK |isbn=1-85414-209-7 |pages=384, 387 |edition=Second}}</ref>

Even after LTSR services were routed away from Stratford in 1858 working remained intense. Following an accident in 1866 the accident report noted that "Stratford needs complete re-arranging, extending and fitting with modern improvements for working points and signals, as in its present state it appears to be quite insufficient for the traffic that passes through it". Although one of the signal boxes had interlocking fitted soon after, the poor state of GER finances saw little further work until 1877 when a significant rebuilding of Stratford took place.

Another short-lived North London Railway service operated in September and October 1866, linking Chalk Farm with Barking (again routed via Victoria Park and Forest Gate Junctions). This service was withdrawn due to congestion, and one of the services was involved in a collision on 10 September 1866 with 20 passengers being injured.<ref name="Railway and Canal History Society"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kay |first1=Peter |title=London,Tilbury & Southend Railway |date=1996 |publisher=Peter Kay |location=Teignmouth, United Kingdom |isbn=1-899890-10-6 |page=40}}</ref>

The 1877 rebuilding saw a number of changes made, which were:
* A fourth line was added from Bow Junction to Stratford;
* Western Junction (where a spur to towards the Woolwich line existed along with various crossovers) was moved further west;
* New Goods lines added on the down (north) side of the line between Western Junction and the Cambridge line platforms – changes made at Central Junction to accommodate these;
* New Goods lines between Western Junction and Maryland Point signal box (west of the current 2015 {{rws|Maryland}} station);
* Eastern curve (which allowed up goods trains from the main line to directly access the low level line towards the docks) was re-aligned; and
* New signal boxes at Eastern, Central and Western Junctions.

Between 1886 and 1887, improvements were made to the station buildings and the canopies extended.<ref name="Irwell Press"/>

On 26 December 1886, a train was derailed at Stratford station as facing points had not been properly locked into position. Fortunately there was no loss of life.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vosiey|first=F|title=Accidents on the Great Eastern part 13|journal=Great Eastern Journal|date=July 1986|page=47.21}}</ref>

By 1889, traffic on the GER had grown to such an extent, that quadrupling the section from Bethnal Green to Bow Junction and from Maryland Point-Romford was proposed. Once again significant changes which were implemented between 1891 and 1893 and included:
* Two additional lines from Bow Junction resulting in six tracks in total (named Up and Down Local, Up and Down Through and Up and Down Fenchurch Street);
* To accommodate these the Up and Down Fenchurch Street lines were slewed to the south of the formation;
* The 1877 signal boxes at Western, Central and Eastern Junctions were all replaced between 1891 and 1893; and
* Carpenters Road curve added at this time (Western Junction to Carpenters Road Junction)<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kay|first1=Peter|title=Great Eastern in Town and Country Vol 3|date=1996|publisher=Irwell Press|location=Clophill, UK|isbn=1-871608-74-0|pages=18, 19}}</ref>

In 1896, the low-level line was lowered under the main line so locomotives no longer required hinged chimneys.<ref name="photo caption"/>

By July 1897, it was apparent that the decision not to include platforms on both Through lines was causing some operational difficulty. To address this a new platform serving the Up Through line was opened in 1900.

The [[Fairlop Loop]] opened on 1 May 1903 and services generally ran as an out and back circle from either Liverpool Street or Fenchurch Street. The routing of these services was Liverpool Street – Stratford – Ilford – Fairlop Loop – Woodford – Stratford – Liverpool Street) and Liverpool Street – Stratford – Woodford – Fairlop Loop – Ilford – Stratford – Liverpool Street in the reverse direction.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jackson |first1=Alan A |title=London's Local Railways |date=1999 |publisher=Capital Transport Publishing |location=Harrow Weald UK |isbn=1-85414-209-7 |pages=395, 396 |edition=Second}}</ref>

[[File:Bow, Bromley, Forest Gate, Hackney Wick or Victoria Park, Stratford & Woodgrange Park RJD 98.jpg|thumb|left|Railway lines around Stratford in 1914]]

On 1 January 1923, the GER became part of the [[London & North Eastern Railway]].

===London and North Eastern Railway: 1923–47===
By the 1930s electric tramways were taking a lot of traffic from the railway and proposals were drawn up to electrify the lines from Liverpool Street to Shenfield using the 1500 V DC system. By 1938 the major contracts were let and work started. Despite the commencement of the Second World War in 1939, work was initially continued on the scheme, however, the scheme was postponed in late 1940. In February 1946, the LNER announced work would recommence. On 5 October 1946, the new interchange platforms with the Central line (see below) were opened.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=John |title=The Great Eastern Section electrification part 1 |journal=Great Eastern Journal |date=April 1992 |pages=70.9–70.12}}</ref>

[[London Underground]] [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]] services started on 4 December 1946, extended from Liverpool Street station in new tunnels after being delayed due to the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Croome |first1=Desmond F. |title=Rails through the clay: a history of London's tube railways |last2=Jackson |first2=Alan A. |date=1993 |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=978-1-85414-151-4 |edition=2nd |location=Harrow Weald |pages=286}}</ref> The line was further extended to {{stl|London Underground|Leyton}} on 5 May 1947 and then to the former [[Great Eastern Railway]] branch lines to {{stl|London Underground|Epping}}, {{stl|London Underground|Ongar}} and {{stl|London Underground|Hainault}} progressively until 1957.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Croome |first1=Desmond F. |title=Rails through the clay: a history of London's tube railways |last2=Jackson |first2=Alan A. |date=1993 |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=978-1-85414-151-4 |edition=2nd |location=Harrow Weald |pages=294–297}}</ref> Prior to this date trains to and from Epping and Ongar had used the currently numbered platforms 11 and 12 and diverged from the Broxbourne line about half a mile north of the station. Trains for the Hainault loop used either these platforms or the currently numbered platform 5 (up) or 8 (down) diverging from the Great Eastern Main Line at a junction between Ilford and Seven Kings which has since been redeveloped as part of the Ilford Carriage sheds.

===British Railways: 1948–96===
[[File:19870919-Stratford-Class416.jpg |thumb|right |Stratford low level platforms in 1987]]
The nationalisation of Britain's railways saw the operation of Stratford station pass to [[Eastern Region of British Railways|British Railways Eastern Region]]. A new station building was designed by [[Thomas Bennett (architect)|Thomas Bennett]] and opened in 1948.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=David |date=2018 |title=British Rail Architecture 1948-97 |publisher=Crecy Publishing Ltd |page=18 |isbn=9780860936855 }}</ref> 

Progress on electrification that had been halted by the Second World War resumed after the end of hostilities. The line between Liverpool Street and Stratford was electrified from 3 December 1946, and the full electrification of the Shenfield line at 1500 V DC was completed in September 1949.
The electric service between Liverpool Street to Shenfield was inaugurated on 26 September 1949 but services were run to steam timings with a number of steam trains still operating. The full electric service officially commenced on 7 November 1949 (although a full dummy run had taken place the previous day). Two days earlier services to Fenchurch Street via Bow Road were withdrawn.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=John |title=The Great Eastern Section electrification part 2 |journal=Great Eastern Journal |date=July 1992 |pages=71.8–71.9}}</ref>

On 8 April 1953, 12 people were killed and 46 were injured as a result of a [[Stratford tube crash|rear-end collision]] in a tunnel just to the east of Stratford station, caused by [[Motorman (locomotive)|driver]] error after a [[Railway signal|signal]] failure.<ref name="mcmullen-19533">{{cite report |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_Stratford1953.pdf |title=Report on the Collision which occurred on 8th April 1953 near Stratford on the Central Line |last=McMullen |first=D. |author2=London Transport Executive |date=October 1953 |publisher=Her Majestry's Stationery Office |editor=Ministry of Transport |work=Railway Accidents}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |year=1953 |title=Tube Train Crash – Stratford |work=[[Pathé News]] |format=black & white newsreel |url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/tube-train-crash-stratford |url-status=live |access-date=12 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604025001/http://www.britishpathe.com/video/tube-train-crash-stratford |archive-date=4 June 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Between 1960 and 1961, the 1,500 V DC electrification to Shenfield line which had been extended to Southend and Chelmsford was converted to 6.25kV ac.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cowley |first=Ian |title=Anglia East |date=1987 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |pages=11 |isbn=9780715389782}}</ref>

In the autumn of 1980, conversion of the overhead electrification from 6.25kV ac to the standard supply of 25kV ac of the Liverpool St. to Shenfield line.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cowley |first=Ian |title=Anglia East|date=1987 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |pages=59 |isbn=9780715389782}}</ref>

The [[Docklands Light Railway]] (DLR) opened on 31 August 1987 reusing redundant rail routes through the [[Bow, London|Bow]] and [[Poplar, London|Poplar]] areas to reach the new Docklands developments on the [[Isle of Dogs]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Pearce |first=Alan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/456423124 |title=Docklands Light Rail : official handbook |date=2000 |publisher=Capital Transport |others=Brian Hardy, Colin Stannard |isbn=1-85414-223-2 |edition=4th |location=Harrow |pages=8 |oclc=456423124}}</ref><ref name="open">{{Cite news |last=Cross |first=David |date=1 September 1987 |title=Enthusiasts flock to busy opening day: Docklands Light Railway |newspaper=The Times |location=London}}</ref> Initially the line used one of the south facing bays which had been built for the Fenchurch street via Bow Road service (but never used).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jolly |first1=Stephen |title=Docklands Light Railway Official Handbook |last2=Bayman |first2=Bob |publisher=Capital Transport |year=1987 |isbn=9780904711806 |edition=1st}}</ref>

===Privatisation era: 1996–present===
[[File:Stratford Station London UK.jpg|thumb|South entrance of the station in 2005]]
In the 1990s, the low-level station was substantially rebuilt as part of the [[Jubilee Line Extension]] works.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Bennett |first=David |title=Architecture of the Jubilee Line Extension |date=2004 |publisher=Thomas Telford |isbn=0727730886 |location=London |oclc=51870430}}</ref> This work included three additional surface platforms and a train crew building (designed by [[John McAslan|Troughton McAslan]]) and a large steel and glass building that encloses much of the low-level station, providing a new ticket hall (designed by [[Wilkinson Eyre]]).<ref name=":4" /> The old ticket hall, at the eastern end of the station and connected via a subway, has since been demolished. The [[Jubilee line]] opened to passengers on 14 May 1999 as far as {{stl|London Underground|North Greenwich}} station, and to {{stl|London Underground|Green Park}} and {{stl|London Underground|Stanmore}} in November 1999.<ref>{{cite book |last = Horne |first = M |title = The Jubilee Line |page = 79 |publisher = Capital Transport Publishing |year = 2000}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=14 May 1999 |title=Prescott launches Dome tube link |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/343506.stm |access-date=25 March 2023 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> 

In preparation for the [[London 2012|2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games]], the capacity of the station was tripled at a cost of around £200m, with construction work funded by the [[Olympic Delivery Authority]] (£125m) and [[Westfield Group|Westfield]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=29 August 2009 |title=£100 million work begins on upgrading Stratford Station |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/4833/p100-million-work-begins-on-upgrading-stratford-station |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=insidethegames.biz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 June 2011 |title=Stratford station will be the gateway to 2012 Games |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-13609428 |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref> It was estimated that around 120,000 people would use the station at peak periods during the Games.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date= |title=Stratford Regional Station |url=http://www.london2012.com/making-it-happen/transport/stratford-regional-station.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916104133/http://www.london2012.com/making-it-happen/transport/stratford-regional-station.php |archive-date=16 September 2010 |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=[[London 2012]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 June 2011 |title=Stratford station will be the gateway to 2012 Games |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-13609428 |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref> 

Construction took place between 2005 and 2011, and work included:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stratford Station Upgrade |url=https://www.adamshendry.co.uk/stratford-station-upgrade/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=adamshendry.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" />

* New high level DLR platforms, allowing three-car trains to use the station. These platforms were designed by [[Will Alsop]], and opened in December 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 August 2018 |title=Stratford DLR Station — aLL Design International Architects |url=https://all.design/posts/stratford-dlr-station |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=all.design |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Expansion, reopening and refurbishment of interchange subways
* Provision of step free access to all platforms, including 14 new lifts<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2007 |title=Stratford station is given £104m |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6457359.stm |access-date=14 October 2023 |quote=14 new lifts}}</ref>
* Widened and lengthened platforms 
* New mezzanine entrance on the south side of the station, connecting to a unpaid pedestrian link bridge over the railway funded by Westfield 
* New platforms for [[London Overground]] (newly built high-level platforms 1 & 2, moving from the original low-level platforms 1 & 2). These opened in spring 2009.
* Additional [[Spanish solution]] westbound platform for the Central line. This opened in September 2010.
* New northern ticket hall built as part of the [[Westfield Stratford City]] development, adjacent to [[Stratford City bus station]]
* An [[Docklands Light Railway#Stratford International extension|extension of the DLR]] to [[Stratford International station]] using the old [[North London line]] route from Canning Town, using the platforms vacated by the North London Line. This opened in August 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 August 2011 |title=New £211m DLR extension connecting Olympic venues opens |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14727813 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901173549/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14727813 |archive-date=1 September 2011}}</ref>

Since the turn of the millennium, "passenger movements"{{Efn|Refers to the number of people who use the station, including those who only change train or Tube lines.|name=}} have risen from around 40 million a year in 2006 to 128 million in 2019, making it [[List of busiest railway stations in Great Britain|one of Britain's major rail interchanges]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1 August 2023 |title=Stratford: Business case submitted to improve 'confusing' railway station |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66365032 |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>

From 6 November 2022, [[Elizabeth line]] services enter the central tunnel built as part of the [[Crossrail]] project, allowing direct trains to [[Heathrow Terminal 4 railway station|Heathrow]] and [[Reading railway station|Reading]] via [[London Paddington station|Paddington]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=23 August 2022 |title=Elizabeth Line set to further transform travel with direct links to central London |url=https://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/transforming-travel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823080058/https://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/transforming-travel |archive-date=23 August 2022 |access-date=23 August 2022 |website=Crossrail |language=en-GB}}</ref> All trains, save for some early morning, late night and peak hour services, go via Whitechapel.

Work started in 2023 to add a new entrance to the station at its southwestern corner, adjacent to the Jubilee line concourse, allowing access to the [[Carpenters Estate]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=16 May 2023 |title=New Stratford Station entrance opens up the potential for Carpenters Estate |url=https://www.newham.gov.uk/news/article/1061/new-stratford-station-entrance-opens-up-the-potential-for-carpenters-estate |website=Newham.gov.uk}}</ref> This will reducing walking time for local residents by up to 20 minutes.<ref name=":2" />
The new entrance opened on 10 July 2024.<ref>{{cite web | date=10 July 2024 | title=New Carpenters Estate Entrance to Stratford Station Now Open | url=https://www.newham.gov.uk/news/article/1287/new-carpenters-estate-entrance-to-stratford-station-now-open | website=Newham.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Station layout==
[[File:Stratford station 13.jpg|thumb|left|800px|A 360° view taken in October 2005 of the canopy structure housing the ticket hall. The high-level station is through the windows in the centre, the low-level station is on the right, with the gates to the Jubilee line (now removed) on the far left.]]
[[File:Stratford station 360 - August 2008.jpg|thumb|left|800px|The same view in August 2008. Note the new DLR platforms on the left, and the additional westbound Central line platform under construction through the windows in the left-centre.]]
{{clear}}

===High-level platforms===
{{Stratford stations}}
The high-level platforms run at right angles to the low-level, roughly east–west. The [[Docklands Light Railway]] serving platforms 16 and 17 passes beneath the high-level station. Except for platforms 4A and 4B, access from the main station entrance is via [[subway (underpass)|subway]]s, one of which links the [[Jubilee line]] platforms directly to platforms 3 and 5 to 10. Another subway, which had served the old entrance to the station, was re-opened in September 2010.<ref name="ODA June 2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/documents/oda-transport/transport-big-build.pdf |title=Transport Big Build – Complete |date=June 2011 |publisher=[[Olympic Delivery Authority]] |page=7 |access-date=14 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201021111/http://www.london2012.com/documents/oda-transport/transport-big-build.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* Platforms 1 and 2 are used by the London Overground's [[North London Line]]. They comprise an [[island platform]] with a step-free link to platform 12 and the subways linking to platforms 3 to 11.<ref name="loleaflet">[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/livetravelnews/realtime/rail/London-Overground-Stratford-leaflet.pdf London Overground: Statford Platform Changes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118215633/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/livetravelnews/realtime/rail/London-Overground-Stratford-leaflet.pdf |date=18 January 2012 }} (Information leaflet, TfL January 2009)</ref> The platforms can accommodate trains with up to six carriages, though at present, due to short platforms elsewhere, shorter trains are used.
* Platforms 3, 3A and 6 are used by the [[London Underground]] [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]], which rise from their tunnels onto the overground here and then immediately descend back underground upon departure from Stratford. Platforms 3 and 6 are island platforms providing [[cross-platform interchange]] with the Elizabeth line and weekend c2c services operating from platforms 5 and 8 respectively, while platform 3A has a direct step-free connection at mezzanine level, facilitating easier interchange with Jubilee line trains on platforms 13 to 15 and DLR trains on platforms 4A and 4B. Westbound Central line trains travelling towards central London open doors on both sides so that passengers can alight and board trains from either platform, reducing dwell times and peak-hour congestion in the passageways.
* Platforms 4 and 7 are disused. When the main line to {{rws|Shenfield}} was electrified in the 1940s there was an intention to run a shuttle service from {{rws|Fenchurch Street}} to Stratford, calling at [[Limehouse station|Stepney East]] (now Limehouse) and {{rws|Bow Road}}, which would have terminated at these [[bay platform]]s. However, this service was never introduced (despite all the works required being carried out). From the 1980s platform 4 was used as the terminus of the DLR while platform 7 remained abandoned. In 2007, platform 4 was abandoned again as the DLR moved to two new platforms to the south of platform 4, though these are signposted as "platform 4" within the station.
* Platforms 4A and 4B (signposted as "platform 4") are used by the DLR for services to [[Poplar DLR station|Poplar]], [[Canary Wharf DLR station|Canary Wharf]], {{stnlink|Greenwich}} and {{stnlink|Lewisham}}. They are formed of an island platform, and are not accessed by the subways but through a separate entrance on the upper level of the main concourse.
* Platforms 5 and 8 are used by [[Elizabeth line]] stopping services on the electric line between [[Paddington station|Paddington]] and Shenfield. They may also be used by some [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]-operated main line trains to and from {{rws|Southend Victoria}}. Weekend [[c2c]] trains call on the way to or from Liverpool Street connecting to or from the [[London, Tilbury and Southend line]] via {{stnlink|Barking}}. Cross-platform interchange is available with the Central line running from platforms 3 and 6 respectively.
* Platforms 9, 10 and 10A are used by Greater Anglia services on the main line out of Liverpool Street towards {{rws|Norwich}} and intermediate stations and branch lines. Originally there were only two platforms here, but in the 1990s the station buildings on platform 9 were demolished to make an island platform with faces on both sides. The new face became number 9, the former 9 became 10, and the previous platform 10 became 10A.
* Platforms 11 and 12 are used for the Greater Anglia services to {{rws|Bishop's Stortford}} that start from Stratford. There is currently a half-hourly service Mondays to Saturdays, with additional services to and from {{rws|Hertford East}}, {{rws|Harlow Town}}, {{rws|Broxbourne}} or {{rws|Cambridge}} in the peak hours with a half-hourly service to Hertford East on Sundays.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/content/download/40278/424001/file/Table+18+TT+Book+web.pdf|title=National Express West Anglia Timetable 18 – Cambridge/Bishop's Stortford to Stratford|publisher=[[National Express East Anglia]]|date=December 2011|access-date=20 January 2012}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2021 these platforms were additionally used for London Overground's [[North London Line]].

===Low-level platforms===
These platforms are at ground level and run north–south. Platforms 13 to 16 are served by a footbridge (with lifts and escalators) from the main station entrance, while platform 17 adjoins directly onto the main station concourse.
* Platforms 13 to 15 were built in the late 1990s to serve the Jubilee line when it was extended to Stratford in 1999. All three are bay platforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=288&field=btstr&term=Transport&type=1 |title=Stratford Station |publisher=Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) |access-date=1 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=288&field=btstr&term=Transport&type=1 |archive-date=18 January 2011 }}</ref> A footbridge joins the platforms at the southern end, away from the main station building. Since 2018, almost all trains use platforms 14 and 15 (an island platform), with platform 13 only seeing a few trains at either end of the day (including [[Night Tube]] services).
* Platforms 16 and 17 (known as platforms 1 and 2 until 2009) originally served trains from [[Palace Gates (Wood Green) railway station|Palace Gates]] in north London to {{stnlnk|North Woolwich}}, but this service has since been discontinued. In the 1980s, [[North London Line]] trains from {{stnlink|Richmond|London}} to [[Broad Street railway station (London)|Broad Street]] were diverted to run via these platforms to North Woolwich. Following the closure of the line to North Woolwich in 2006, these effectively became terminus platforms, with trains departing westbound only towards Richmond. Following the North London Line trains moving to new platforms 1 and 2 on the high level, they were converted in 2011 for use by DLR services: platform 16 is for northbound trains to {{stnlink|Stratford International}} and platform 17 is for southbound trains via {{stnlink|Canning Town}} to {{stnlink|Woolwich Arsenal}}.<ref name="loleaflet"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/documents/oda-transport/stratford-regional-station-christmas-2007-improvements-map.pdf |title=Stratford Station |access-date=16 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007111804/http://www.london2012.com/documents/oda-transport/stratford-regional-station-christmas-2007-improvements-map.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The new platforms have also been built with a reversing siding immediately to the south, accessible from both running lines. This enables trains from Stratford International to terminate at Stratford and trains from Canning Town to also terminate here. There is also a crossover immediately to the north, allowing trains from the southbound platform to reverse onto the northbound line back to Stratford International.

==Services==
[[File:Stratford station signage.jpg|thumb|(Photos taken in 2008) Different platform signage, clockwise from top left: on [[London Overground]] platforms, [[Docklands Light Railway]], [[Jubilee line]], and main line ([[National Express East Anglia]])]]
Stratford is a major rail hub with services operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]], [[London Overground]], the [[Elizabeth line]] and [[London Underground]] on the [[Central line (London Underground)|Central]] and [[Jubilee line|Jubilee]] Lines. The typical off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Operator/line !! Frequency to destination
|-
|rowspan=2| [[London Underground]]<br/>[[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]]
||9 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Ealing Broadway}}<br/>9 tph to {{stl|London Underground|West Ruislip}}<br/>3 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Northolt}}<br/>3 tph to {{stl|London Underground|White City}}
|-
| 9 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Hainault}} (via Newbury Park)<br />3 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Newbury Park}}<br />9 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Epping}}<br/>3 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Loughton}}
|-
| [[London Underground]]<br/>[[Jubilee line]]
||12 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Stanmore}}<br/>4 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Wembley Park}}<br/>4 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Willesden Green}}
4 tph to [[West Hampstead tube station|West Hampstead]]
|-
|rowspan=3| [[Elizabeth line]]
||6 tph to [[London Paddington station#Elizabeth line station|Paddington]]
|-
| 2 tph to {{rws|Heathrow Terminal 5}}
|-
| 8 tph to {{rws|Shenfield}}
|-
| [[London Overground]]<br />[[North London line|Mildmay Line]]
||4 tph to {{stl|London Underground|Richmond}}<br/>4 tph to {{stnlnk|Clapham Junction}}
|-
|rowspan=3| [[Docklands Light Railway]]
| 12 tph to [[Canary Wharf DLR station|Canary Wharf]] via [[Poplar DLR station|Poplar]]
|-
| 8 tph to [[Stratford International station|Stratford International]]
|-
| 8 tph to [[Woolwich Arsenal DLR station|Woolwich Arsenal]] via [[London City Airport DLR station|London City Airport]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]
||7 tph (+ 1 tph to set down only) to [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]]
|-
|'''East Anglia'''<br/>3 tph to {{stnlnk|Southend Victoria}}<br/>1 tph to {{stnlnk|Norwich}} (pick up only)<br/>1 tph to {{stnlnk|Braintree|England}}<br/>1 tph to {{stnlnk|Clacton-on-Sea}}<br/>1 tph to {{stnlnk|Colchester Town}}<br/>1 tph to {{stnlnk|Ipswich}}
|-
|'''West Anglia'''<br/>2 tph to {{stnlnk|Bishop's Stortford}}<br />2 tph to {{stnlnk|Meridian Water}}
|-
| [[c2c]] (weekends only)
| 2tph to {{stnlnk|Shoeburyness}}<br/>2tph to London Liverpool Street
|}
{{Adjacent stations|noclear=y
|system1=London Underground
|line1=Central|left1=Mile End|right1=Leyton
|line2=Jubilee|left2=West Ham
|system3=Docklands Light Railway
|line3=dlr|left3=Pudding Mill Lane|to-left3=Lewisham
|line4=dlr|left4=Stratford International|right4=Stratford High Street|to-left4=Stratford International|to-right4=Woolwich Arsenal
|system5=London Overground
|line5=North|left5=Hackney Wick|to-left5=Clapham Junction or Richmond
|system6=Elizabeth Line
|line6=Elizabeth|to-left6=Heathrow Terminal 5|left6=Whitechapel|right6=Maryland|to-right6=Shenfield
|line7=Elizabeth|to-left7=Liverpool Street|left7=Liverpool Street|right7=Maryland|to-right7=Shenfield
|system8=National Rail
|note-row8=
{{s-rail-national|toc=Greater Anglia|route=[[Great Eastern Main Line]]|previous=London Liverpool Street|next=Romford|rows1=2|rowsmid=2}}
{{s-rail-national|toc=Greater Anglia|route=[[Great Eastern Main Line]]|previous=London Liverpool Street|next=Shenfield|hide1=2|hidemid=2}}
{{s-rail-national|toc=Greater Anglia|route=[[Lea Valley lines|Temple Mills branch line]] |next=Lea Bridge}}
{{s-rail-national |toc=c2c|route=Connection to [[London, Tilbury and Southend line|LTS Line]]<br/><small>(Limited services)</small>|next=Barking|previous=London Liverpool Street}}
|header13=Disused Railways
{{Rail line one to three|previous=[[Coborn Road railway station|Coborn Road for Old Ford]]<br /><small>Line open, station closed</small> |next1=[[Maryland railway station|Maryland Point]]<br /><small>Line and station open</small> |next2={{stnlnk|Lea Bridge}}<br /><small>Line and station open</small> |next3=[[Leyton tube station|Leyton]]<br /><small>Line closed, station open</small> |route1=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br/><small>[[Great Eastern Main Line]]</small>|route2=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br/><small>[[Lea Valley lines]]</small>|route3=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br/><small>[[Eastern Counties Railway]]<br />Loughton branch</small> |col={{GER colour}} }}
{{Rail line|previous={{rws|Ilford}}|rowsmid=2|rows2=2|next={{rws|Lea Bridge}}|route=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br><small>[[Hall Farm Curve]]</small> |col={{GER colour}}}}
{{Rail line|previous=[[Coborn Road railway station|Coborn Road for Old Ford]]|hidemid=yes|hide2=yes|next={{rws|Lea Bridge}}|route=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br><small>[[Hall Farm Curve]]</small> |col={{GER colour}}}}
{{Rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Bow Road}}|next=|route=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br/><small>[[Bow Curve]]</small> |col={{GER colour}} }}
{{Rail line|previous=[[Stratford High Street DLR station|Stratford Market]]|rowsmid=2|rows2=2|next={{stnlnk|Lea Bridge}} |route=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br/><small>[[Palace Gates line]]</small> |col={{GER colour}} }}
{{Rail line|previous=[[Coborn Road railway station|Coborn Road for Old Ford]]|hidemid=yes|hide2=yes|next={{stnlnk|Lea Bridge}} |route=[[Great Eastern Railway]]<br/><small>[[Palace Gates line]]</small> |col={{GER colour}} }}
{{Rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Hackney Wick}}|next=[[West Ham station|West Ham]]|route=[[Silverlink]]<br/><small>[[North London line]]</small> |col={{Temporary rail colour|000080}} }}
{{Rail line|previous={{stl|London Underground|Highbury & Islington}}||next={{stnlnk|Romford}}|route=[[Anglia Railways]]<br/><small>[[London Crosslink]]</small> |col={{Anglia colour}} }}
}}

==Electrification==
All lines at Stratford are electrified, although a few passenger and freight services which pass through this station are hauled by diesel locomotives. At one time there were four different systems of [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrification]] in use, a record for any station in London. However, since the diversion of the North London Line from the low-level to the new high-level platforms these trains have changed the electrical system they use while at this station. The remaining systems used are:
* [[25 kV 50 Hz]]   [[Overhead line|overhead]] on [[Network Rail]] lines (high level)
* 630 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[fourth rail]] on [[London Underground]] [[Central line (London Underground)|Central]] and [[Jubilee line|Jubilee]] lines
* 750 V DC bottom-contact [[Third rail|conductor rail]] on [[Docklands Light Railway]]
* Since April 2009, 750 V DC third rail is no longer used at this station. This was used for the [[London Overground]] (low level) [[North London Line]] services.

In 1949, the Great Eastern Main Line through Stratford was electrified at 1,500{{nbsp}}V{{nbsp}}DC overhead before being converted to 6.25{{nbsp}}kV [[Alternating current|AC]] 50{{nbsp}}[[Hertz|Hz]] overhead in 1960 and converted again to 25{{nbsp}}kV in about 1976.<ref>{{cite book |last = Glover |first = John |year = 2003 |title = Eastern Electric |publisher = Ian Allan |location = London |ISBN = 0-7110-2934-2}}</ref>

==Geography==
===Channelsea River===
The [[Channelsea River]] is a [[culvert]]ed major [[tidal river|tidal stream]] that is one of the [[Bow Back Rivers]] that flow into the [[Bow Creek (England)|Bow Creek]] part of the [[River Lea]].  It flows under Stratford station and rises along the Jubilee line platforms to the south. It was diverted in the 19th century by the Great Eastern Railway and again during construction of the Jubilee Line platforms in the 1990s.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Nearby facilities==

===Goods facilities===
There were three primary goods facilities in the Stratford area in the steam age, although the nearby [[Stratford Works]] and [[Stratford TMD|engine shed]] generated their own traffic. A short distance to the north of Stratford station (on the line to Cambridge) there were marshalling yards at [[Temple Mills]]. There was a small goods yard north of the station on the east side of the line which occupied a constrained site. The mainstay of traffic was domestic coal although shortly before closure in the 1960s the site was used as a reception point for concrete components for the building of tower blocks in [[Newham]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Watling |first=John |title=London Goods stations of the Great Eastern Railway Part 1 |journal=Great Eastern Journal |date=July 1984 |issue=39 |page=12,13}}</ref>

There was a small depot at Carpenters Road about a quarter of a mile south of Stratford station. Opened in 1900, the depot consisted of four long sidings and primarily dealt with coal and building materials. It was closed on 7 December 1964.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Watling |first=John |title=London Goods stations of the Great Eastern Railway Part 1 |journal=Great Eastern Journal |date=July 1984 |issue=39 |page=13}}</ref>

There was a large depot at [[Stratford Market railway station]]. All of these three facilities were operated by the Great Eastern Railway up until 1923 before being taken over by the London & North Eastern Railway until nationalisation in 1948 when they became part of British Railways Eastern Region.

There was also a goods terminal at Bow operated by the [[Midland Railway]] which is still open today mostly for building materials. This yard operated as the terminal for building materials for the adjacent Olympics site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonreconnections.com/2009/bow-midland-yard/ |title=Bow Midland Yard| publisher=London Reconnections |access-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102163450/http://www.londonreconnections.com/2009/bow-midland-yard/ |archive-date=2 January 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Between Stratford and Maryland stations Windmill Lane cattle pens existed on the down side of the line whilst four private sidings belonging to Young & Martens were located on the up side.

During the 1960s part of the [[Stratford Works]] site was converted to the London International Freight Terminal (LIFT) which opened in 1967 and there was a freight liner terminal that operated on the far side of the Stratford railway complex (on the Channelsea Loop line) between 1967 and 1994. The former site is now occupied by the international station and shopping centre.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brennand |first1=D |title=London's East End Railways |date=2011 |publisher=Booklaw Publications |location=Nottingham, UK |isbn=978-1-907094-74-3 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Shannon |first1=Paul |title=Freightliner's 50 years |magazine=Rail |date=23 December 2015 – 5 January 2016 |volume=790 |page=72}}</ref>

===Stratford International===
{{main|Stratford International station}}
The nearby [[Stratford International station]] opened on 30 November 2009 (for preview services only). Since 13 December 2009 [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] began its full domestic high-speed service between [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]], directly to [[Ebbsfleet International]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebbsfleetinternational.co.uk/?cx=partner-pub-2213277033625561%3Ajq5qe2y6yqs&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=ISO-8859-1&station=dir_search&q=stratford&sa=Go |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215172157/http://www.ebbsfleetinternational.co.uk/?cx=partner-pub-2213277033625561%3Ajq5qe2y6yqs&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=ISO-8859-1&station=dir_search&q=stratford&sa=Go |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2015 |title=Ebbsfleet interconnecting station for international trains |access-date=30 June 2012}}</ref> and [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford]] in Kent. The Docklands Light Railway 'Stratford International' extension has provided a link between the two stations since 31 August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/20862.aspx |title=Docklands Light Railway extension marks one year to go to the London 2012 Paralympic Games |access-date=31 August 2011 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> There is also a walking route between the two stations passing through [[Westfield Stratford City]] Shopping Centre.

Despite Stratford International's name, no international trains call there, and [[Eurostar]] (currently the only international operator) has no plans to do so. Passengers instead interconnect on [[HS1|high-speed]] trains travelling to either [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]] or [[Ebbsfleet International|Ebbsfleet]] in Kent, there are a number of [[High Speed 1#Future operations|other potential operators]] that may use the station for international services. These include [[Deutsche Bahn]]'s proposed London-Frankfurt/Amsterdam service.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7055789.ece |work=The Times |location=London |title=Deutsche Bahn may run London to Frankfurt service |date=10 March 2010 |access-date=2 April 2010 |first=Angela |last=Jameson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629133136/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7055789.ece |archive-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Stratford City===
{{main|Stratford City}}
In preparation for the Olympics and the [[Stratford City]] development, a new north-facing exit and ticket hall has been built. Both existing passenger subways have been extended north to connect with the ticket hall, and the abandoned subway at the eastern end of the station, which formed part of the old station complex, has been reopened and refurbished to allow interchange between platforms 3–12 and the new high-level platforms 1 & 2.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Stratford-Subway-Layout.pdf |work = Transport for London |title = Stratford Station Upgrade: Proposed Subway Level Layout |access-date = 11 February 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604190652/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Stratford-Subway-Layout.pdf |archive-date = 4 June 2011 |url-status = live |df = dmy-all}}</ref> A new pedestrian bridge has also been built to connect Stratford shopping centre with the Stratford City development. This also connects the mezzanine-level ticket hall with the northern one. The northern ticket hall and the footbridge opened along with [[Westfield Stratford City]] on 13 September 2011.

===Bus stations===
{{Main|Stratford bus station|Stratford City bus station}}

[[Stratford bus station]] is to the south of the station and [[Stratford City bus station]] is to the north. Both are served by bus services right across London and to the [[Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park]].

{{clear}}

==Future proposals==
[[Stansted Express]] may call at Stratford in the future via the [[West Anglia Main Line]], reconnecting the two to each other.<ref name="Stansted Express 2019">{{cite news |url=http://m.ttgdigital.com/4695591.article?mobilesite=enabled |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702032156/http://m.ttgdigital.com/4695591.article?mobilesite=enabled |title=Stansted targets 40-minute train trip to London |archive-date=2 July 2015 }}</ref>{{Current event inline|date=May 2022}}

The [[Hall Farm Curve]] link could be reinstated allowing a Liverpool Street to Chingford service via Stratford. Designs for new services have been suggested to reduce journey times between Chingford and Stratford to 20 minutes, and high-frequency journeys between Walthamstow Central and Stratford to 12 minutes from the current duration of about 35 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9782815.CHINGFORD__Return_of_Hall_Farm_Curve_to_be__seriously_considered_/ |title=CHINGFORD: Return of Hall Farm Curve to be 'seriously considered' |date=26 June 2012 |first=Joe |last=Curtis |newspaper=Waltham Forest Guardian |access-date=1 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214002932/http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9782815.CHINGFORD__Return_of_Hall_Farm_Curve_to_be__seriously_considered_/ |archive-date=14 December 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{Current event inline|date=May 2022}}

=== Rebuild of station ===
In the 2020s, work is underway planning a rebuild of the station.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Vickers |first=Noah |date=1 August 2023 |title=Plans for major upgrade at Stratford Station revealed |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/stratford-station-upgrade-business-case-newham-london-railway-b1097860.html |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref> "Passenger movements"{{Efn|Refers to the number of people who use the station, including those who only change train or Tube lines.|name=}} have grown by 90 million in 13 years,<ref name=":3" /> and this is predicted to rise by 60% by 2041, leading to overcrowding.<ref name=":1" /> Three different plans have been outlined, ranging from "modest changes to a major redevelopment of the station".<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spocchia |first=Gino |date=21 August 2023 |title=5th Studio unveils first concepts for Stratford Station redesign |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/5th-studio-unveils-first-concepts-for-stratford-station-redesign |access-date=14 October 2023 |publisher=The Architects’ Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref> Redevelopment would also include [[transit-oriented development]] including new homes and offices.<ref name=":3" />

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stratford station}}
* [http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/xls/station_usage_2005-06.xls Excel file displaying National Rail station usage information for 2005/06] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122100934/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/xls/station_usage_2005-06.xls |date=22 January 2013 }}
{{stn art lnk|SRA|E151AZ}}
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/dlr/3240.aspx Docklands Light Railway website – Stratford station page]
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Stratford-Platform-Layout.pdf Diagram showing planned platform layout of Stratford Station]
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Stratford-Subway-Layout.pdf Diagram showing planned subway layout of Stratford Station]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090611124020/http://improvements.dlr.co.uk/project_updates/index.asp DLR Project Updates at Stratford Station]

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[[Category:Stratford, London]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in England]]
[[Category:DfT Category B stations]]
[[Category:Jubilee line stations]]
[[Category:Docklands Light Railway stations in the London Borough of Newham]]
[[Category:Central line (London Underground) stations]]
[[Category:London Underground Night Tube stations]]
[[Category:Tube stations in the London Borough of Newham]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by London Overground]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the London Borough of Newham]]
[[Category:Former Great Eastern Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1839]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by c2c]]
[[Category:Transit centers in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Greater Anglia]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by the Elizabeth line]]
[[Category:Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park]]
[[Category:Thomas Penberthy Bennett railway stations]]