Fairlop tube station

Fairlop
Station entrance
Fairlop Location of Fairlop in Greater London
Location	Fairlop
Local authority	London Borough of Redbridge
Managed by	London Underground
Number of platforms	2
Fare zone	4
London Underground annual entry and exit
2012	0.91 million
2013	0.97 million
2014	1.09 million
2015	1.13 million
Key dates
1903	Opened (GER)
1947	Closed (LNER)
1948	Opened (Central line)
24 March 1958	Goods yard closed
Other information
Lists of stations	DLR Underground National Rail Tramlink
WGS84	51°35′44″N 0°05′26″E / 51.59562°N 0.09054°E / 51.59562; 0.09054Coordinates: 51°35′44″N 0°05′26″E / 51.59562°N 0.09054°E / 51.59562; 0.09054

Fairlop is a station on the Central line of the London Underground. It has been in Travelcard Zone 4 since 2 January 2007. It is on the north side of Forest Road, in Fairlop, just north of Barkingside.

The station was opened on 1 May 1903 as part of the Great Eastern Railway's (GER) Woodford to Ilford "loop" or branch line (the Fairlop Loop). This line, designed to stimulate suburban growth, had a chequered career. As a consequence of the 1921 Railways Act, the GER was merged with other railway companies in 1923 to become part of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). As part of the 1935 - 1940 "New Works Programme" of the London Passenger Transport Board, the majority of the loop was to be transferred to form the eastern extensions of the Central line. Although work commenced in 1938, it was suspended on the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and work only recommenced in 1946.

Steam train services serving Fairlop were suspended on 29 November 1947 and electrified Central line passenger services, to Central London via Gants Hill, finally commenced on 31 May 1948. The line from Newbury Park to Hainault through Fairlop had been electrified for empty train movements to the new depot at Hainault from 14 December 1947.

Few alterations took place during this transfer, and the station remains a fine example of an Edwardian railway station including canopies that still bear the "GER" symbol in the bracketry.