Last Friday, Marylebone station celebrated its 125th anniversary with a special train naming ceremony.
Adrian Shooter watches the event (c) ianVisits
The anniversary marked 125 years since the opening of the Great Central Railway on 15th March 1899, the last London mainline opened before the High Speed 1 link to the Channel Tunnel. The station was designed by Henry William Braddock, a civil engineer working for the Great Central Railway. It was considered modest in design at the time due to budgetary constraints, but fast forward to the present day, is considered as one of the jewels in the crown of London’s rail offering.
Last Friday’s 125th anniversary also marked the 40th anniversary of the fight to keep the station open, when on 15th March 1984, British Rail announced plans to close it – prefering the to sell of the railway for a planned dedicated bus service. Furious campaigning saw the scheme quietly dropped.
Today, the station’s passenger numbers are growing, and plans are underway to refurbish the station shed and clean up the roof, which is showing its age.
On the anniversary date itself, as part of the celebrations, one of Chiltern’s Intercity (Class 168) trains has been named ‘Marylebone: 125 Years’
(c) ianVisits
The anniversary also comes as Chiltern Railways continue work to deliver its Right Route 2030 vision of modernised customer facilities, additional capacity and a cleaner, greener fleet for its customers.
Many Congratulations London Marylebone Railway Station. But when will it be Step Free Access in the future. And will London Overground be Connected to it in the future as well?
Marylebone is all on one level, so is already step-free. I have also seen boarding ramps on platforms in the past.
I think he means the esclator down to the tube
Many Happy Returns to Marylebone for what is arguably London’s poshest rail terminal. I love that due to its smaller size it has an intimacy that none of the other termini have. More like a large hotel lobby than a station and you could almost imagine it being carpeted.
Well it was a lobby in effect to its actual hotel on Marylebone Road to which it is connected by tunnel and canopy.
When I browsed its WH Smith in the late 80s it really was quiet, no other shops, the booking hall (now M&S) was disused and the Smiths itself was a kiosk trestle tables.
Marylebone station survived proposals for closure, and has since expanded to six platforms. Pollution from diesels is a problem from neighbours.I seem to remember a ‘poster’ by the Harewood Avenue exit showing a (possible) parallel rail tunnel to the west of existing, so maybe an expansion to four lines out to Neasden could be done, and battery operation (like Greenford- West Ealing?) could provide for the next 125 years?
It could have been a contender for HS2 on the old Great Central. It needs better tube links. A very likeable station.
Quite a fun day. I went on the “Master Cutler” mini-tour to Banbury and back, the atmosphere on that and at the station was great.
Looking forward to seeing the eventual disappearance of the diesel trains especially if battery powered technology, mentioned elsewhere on this website, is incorporated into Chiltern Railway’s trains and come into service soon. I can’t wait.
It is within walking distance of Baker Street for the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, and Metropolitan lines