Moorgate station

File:Moorgate tube station.jpg

The station has entrances on both Moorgate itself and Moorfields, which runs parallel. The public entrances from the street give access to all the train services at the station, there are three distinct levels.

The Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan underground lines use platforms 1 and 2, which are through platforms.{{cite web|url=https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/moorgate.jpg|title=Moorgate Axonometric Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522170528/https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/3d-maps-of-every-underground-station-hijklm-14683/|archive-date=22 May 2022}} For terminating trains at busy times, there are platforms 3 and 4 which are west-facing bays. Adjacent to these are platforms 5 and 6 of the former Thameslink service from {{rws|Bedford}} via St Pancras. These are disused following the closure of the Moorgate branch from Farringdon junction as part of the Thameslink Programme and are now used for storage.{{sfn|David|2017|p=325}}

The Northern line of the Underground uses platforms 7 and 8, which are in a deep-level tube section of the station. National Rail services on the Northern City Line use platforms 9 and 10, which are terminal platforms. Train services run via the East Coast Main Line to Welwyn Garden City, Hertford North and Stevenage.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations-and-destinations/stations-made-easy/moorgate-station-plan|title=Moorgate Station Plan|publisher=National Rail Enquiries|access-date=12 September 2017}} Because of this, Moorgate is part of the London station group and accepts tickets marked "London Terminals".{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46587.aspx|title=Travelling to, from and via London|publisher=National Rail Enquiries|access-date=14 December 2017}}

London Buses routes 21, 43, 76, 100, 141 and 153 serve the station.{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/moorgate-a4-170723.pdf|title=Buses from Moorgate|date=17 July 2023|website=TfL|access-date=2 August 2023}}

File:Insurance Plan of City of London Vol. I; sheet 23 (BL 150118).tiff

The station was opened as Moorgate Street by the Metropolitan Railway as the first eastwards extension from the original terminus at {{stl|London Underground|Farringdon}}. Parliamentary power had been obtained to build a station at Moorgate in 1861, two years before the initial section, and it was completed on 23 December 1865. Increased traffic from other companies, including goods traffic from the Great Northern Railway, led to the line between King's Cross and Moorgate being widened to four tracks; the route was called the City Widened Lines and included a new tunnel at Clerkenwell which was {{convert|16|ft}} lower than the original. The Widened Lines were open from Moorgate to Farringdon on 1 July 1866, and to King's Cross on 17 February 1868.{{sfn|Day|1979|pp=13–14}} Suburban services from the Midland Railway ran via Kentish Town and the Great Northern Railway ran via King's Cross.{{sfn|Jackson|1986|p=25}} In 1874, director of the Metropolitan, Edward Watkin, described Moorgate Street as "your great terminus" and recommended a 100-bedroom hotel should be built on top of the station.{{sfn|Day|1979|p=97}}

The now Northern line platforms were originally part of an extension of the City & South London Railway (C&SLR) beyond {{stl|London Underground|Borough}} towards {{stl|London Underground|Angel}}, forming the northern terminus of its services from {{stl|London Underground|Stockwell}} south of the River Thames. An act for the extension had been authorised in 1893 and included an eastern diversion of the original line underneath the Thames. The new station opened on 25 February 1900.{{sfn|Day|1979|p=46}} The line was extended to Angel on 17 November the following year.{{sfn|Day|1979|p=47}}

The Northern City Line to Moorgate was opened by the Great Northern & City Railway (GN&CR) on 14 February 1904 offering a service to {{stl|London Underground|Finsbury Park}}. It had an escalator connection to the other Moorgate platforms. The route was constructed in tube tunnels, but they were constructed at a diameter capable of accommodating main-line trains (in contrast to the majority of London tube tunnels which are much smaller).{{sfn|Day|1979|p=58}} The line was the first to use automatic signalling throughout its length without any moving parts. Though a popular route, it went into decline after the Metropolitan Railway purchased the route on 1 July 1913. Consequently, the planned through services to the Great Northern Railway's main line were never implemented.{{sfn|Day|1979|p=59}}

The CS&LR line (taken over by the Underground Group in 1913) closed services between Moorgate and {{rws|Euston}} on 9 August 1922 in order to widen tunnels to {{convert|11|ft|8+1/4|in|m|2}}. The section from Moorgate to Clapham Common was worked on during the night while daytime services remained running, but closed completely on 28 November 1923 following a roof collapse at Newington Causeway the day before. Services to Euston opened on 20 April 1924, along with a connection to {{stl|London Underground|Camden Town}} and stations further north. Services to Clapham Common resumed on 1 December.{{sfn|Day|1979|pp=84–85}} The station was renamed from Moorgate Street to Moorgate on 24 October that year.{{cite book|title=Tube trails|author=Mary Atkinson|author2=Debra Shipley|publisher=Dragon|page=53|year=1987|isbn=978-0-583-31042-0}}

File:1969 MOORGATE STATION (5457980921).jpg

File:Moorgate entrance Mfields.JPG

British Rail services to Moorgate were initially steam-operated. A commemorative service ran on 6 June 1971 from Moorgate to the depot at Neasden, powered by a 0-6-0 tank locomotive.{{sfn|Day|1979|p=153}} Steam was replaced by Cravens-built diesel multiple units and British Rail Class 31 locomotives class hauling non-corridor stock which remained in operation until 1976, when it was replaced with British Rail Class 313 electrics.{{sfn|Blake|2015|pp=11,15}}

The Northern City Line connection for Moorgate to Finsbury Park tube was closed beyond Drayton Park on 5 October 1964 to allow work on the Victoria line. The line never re-opened fully, but instead the line was connected to the Finsbury Park British Rail station, in order to provide a connection for suburban services into Moorgate. The new service opened on 1 September 1968.{{sfn|Day|1979|pp=123–124}}

Moorgate station was completely modernised at platform level and street level in the 1960s, and the Widened Lines part of the station was extended to six platforms. The realignment of the platforms enabled about {{convert|500|yd|abbr=on}} of the line to Barbican to be straightened and moved south to facilitate development of the Barbican Estate.{{cite magazine |title=Barbican Rerouting |magazine=The Railway Magazine|date=October 1963|page=685 |editor-first=B.W.C. |editor-last=Cooke |publisher=Tothill Press |location=Westminster |volume=109 |issue=750 }}

File:Metropolitan Railway E Class - Train (Moorgate).JPG

British Rail (Eastern Region) took over control of the Northern City Line from London Underground in 1975, as part of the Great Northern lines suburban electrification. The Highbury Branch of the Northern line was terminated. Services from Finsbury Park to Moorgate were diverted to the Northern City Line from the City Widened Lines the following year.{{sfn|Blake|2015|p=11}} The City Widened Lines were renamed the Moorgate line{{cite book |author=Network Rail |author-link=Network Rail |title=South Zone Sectional Appendix |volume=Module SO |date=April 2001 |id=SO/SA/001A |page=SO280 1/119 }} (Retrieved 10 December 2011) when overhead electrification was installed in 1982, allowing the Midland City Line service to run from Bedford via the Midland Main Line to Moorgate.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1983/feb/21/bedford-st-pancras-railway-line|title=Bedford-St. Pancras Railway Line (Electrification)|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=21 February 1983|access-date=13 December 2017}} This later formed a branch of the Thameslink route.

The Moorgate Thameslink branch was reduced to peak hours services only in 2003, and closed permanently on 20 March 2009 as part of the Thameslink Programme upgrades.{{sfn|David|2017|p=325}} The closure was required in order to lengthen the platforms at Farringdon to take the longer trains, which could only be done southward in the direction of Moorgate as there was too steep a gradient to the north.{{cite web|url=http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/faqs/faqs_categories/public_index#question_24|title=Why close the branch line to Barbican and Moorgate Thameslink?|publisher=Thameslink Programme|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210093440/http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/faqs/faqs_categories/public_index#question_24|archive-date=10 December 2008}}

Under Crossrail works, the western ticket hall of the Elizabeth line station at {{stl|London Underground|Liverpool Street}} was constructed just east of Moorgate station. This linked the Northern line platforms at Moorgate to the Central line at Liverpool Street via the Elizabeth line platforms spanning the two.{{cite web|url=http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/stations/liverpool-street/current-works/|title=Liverpool Street : Current Works|publisher=Crossrail|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214014558/http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/stations/liverpool-street/current-works/|archive-date=14 December 2017|url-status=dead}}

The refurbished entrance on Moorfields opened on 5 July 2021. Upon opening, this provided step-free access to the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan line platforms,{{Cite web|title=New modern ticket hall with step-free access opens at Moorgate as part of Elizabeth line improvement|url=http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/new-modern-ticket-hall-with-step-free-access-opens-at-moorgate-as-part-of-elizabeth-line-improvement|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705134654/https://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/new-modern-ticket-hall-with-step-free-access-opens-at-moorgate-as-part-of-elizabeth-line-improvement|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 July 2021|access-date=2021-07-05|website=Crossrail|language=en}} and later to the Northern line and Elizabeth line when the new line opened on 24 May 2022.

File:Moorgate Station memorial - Andy Mabbett.JPG]]

On 13 September 1905, a train derailed at the station. There were two injuries.{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=8028|title=Accident at Moorgate on 13th September 1905|publisher=Railways Archive|access-date=14 December 2017}}

On 28 February 1975, 43 people were killed and 74 seriously injured in the Moorgate tube crash, when a southbound Northern City Line train crashed into the end of the dead-end tunnel beyond the platform. The accident caused the most fatalities on the Underground during peacetime and has been considered the worst ever on the system. The cause was the unexplained failure of the driver to stop or even slow down at the platform, causing the train to run at speed into the dead-end tunnel, colliding with the buffers and then with the wall.{{cite web|last1=Foster|first1=Stefanie|title=Moorgate...the unresolved tragedy|url=http://www.railmagazine.com/trains/heritage/moorgatethe-unresolved-tragedy|website=RAIL magazine|publisher=Bauer Consumer Media Ltd|access-date=3 July 2017|date=4 March 2015}}{{cite book |last1=Rolt |first1=L.T.C. |author-link1=L. T. C. Rolt |last2=Kichenside |first2=Geoffrey M. |title=Red for Danger |edition=4th |year=1982 |orig-year=1955 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-8362-0 |page=298 }} Services were immediately suspended, resuming on 1 March from Drayton Park to Old Street only. The wreckage was not fully cleared until 6 March and the station fully re-opened four days later.{{cite report|title=Report on the Accident that occurred on 28th February 1975 at Moorgate Station|publisher=HMSO|year=1975|page=2}}

Trains using the deep level Northern City Line platforms (9 and 10) are supplied with 750 V DC{{cite book |author=Network Rail |author-link=Network Rail |title=London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix |volume=Module LN2 |date=December 2006 |id=SO/SA/001A |page=LN105 41 }} (Retrieved 12 April 2014) current via the third rail, overseen by York Electrical Control Room. The signalling is track circuit block, colour light signals with TPWS, the tripcock mechanisms having been removed in May 2022, controlled by York Rail Operating Centre.

The former subsurface Thameslink bay platforms (5 and 6) were equipped with 25 kilovolt alternating current overhead line equipment, overseen by York Electrical Control Room. Signalling was track circuit block, multiple aspect colour light signals, controlled by West Hampstead PSB.

File:Abandoned Greathead tunnelling shield at Moorgate railway station.jpg

South of the Northern City platform 10 is a Greathead tunnelling shield.{{cite web |title=Moorgate |url=http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Moorgate_station2.html |website=Abandoned Stations |access-date=23 August 2021}} The shield was used to dig part of a very short planned extension south to Lothbury, quickly abandoned.{{cite web |last1=Catford |first1=Nick |title=Moorgate Station |url=https://www.subbrit.org.uk/sites/moorgate-station/ |publisher=Subterranea Britannica |access-date=23 August 2021}}

On the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, Moorgate station is between Barbican to the west and Liverpool Street to the east.

The typical service in trains per hour (tph) is:{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/wtt-34-circle-and-hammersmith-and-city.pdf|title=Circle and Hammersmith & City line WTT|website=Transport for London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111061516/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/wtt-34-circle-and-hammersmith-and-city.pdf|archive-date=11 November 2016|url-status=dead}}

• 6 tph Clockwise via Liverpool Street and Tower Hill
• 6 tph Anti-Clockwise via Kings Cross St Pancras and Paddington

The typical service in trains per hour (tph) is:

• 6 tph Eastbound to Barking
• 6 tph Westbound to Hammersmith via Paddington

The Metropolitan line is the only line to operate express services from Moorgate, and then only at peak times. Fast services run non-stop between Wembley Park, {{rws|Harrow-on-the-Hill}} and Moor Park; semi-fast services run non-stop between Wembley Park and Harrow-on-the-Hill.{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/amersham-guide.pdf|title=Amersham / Chesham guide|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=14 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803070349/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/amersham-guide.pdf|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=dead}}

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/wtt-339-metropolitan.pdf|title=Metropolitan line WTT|website=Transport for London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701094033/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/wtt-339-metropolitan.pdf|archive-date=1 July 2016|url-status=dead}}

• 12 tph Eastbound to Aldgate
• 2 tph Westbound to Amersham (all stations)
• 2 tph Westbound to Chesham (all stations)
• 8 tph Westbound to Uxbridge (all stations)

Off-peak services to/from Watford terminate at Baker Street

The typical peak time service in trains per hour (tph) is:

• 14 tph Eastbound to Aldgate
• 2 tph Westbound to Amersham (fast in the evening peak only)
• 2 tph Westbound to Chesham (fast in the evening peak only)
• 4 tph Westbound to Watford (semi-fast in the evening peak only)
• 6 tph Westbound to Uxbridge (all stations)

On the Northern line via the Bank branch, Moorgate station is between Old Street to the north and Bank to the south.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) are:{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/timetable/northern/|title=Northern Line timetable|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=14 December 2017|at=Select "Moorgate" plus another station to see timetables and frequencies}}{{cite web |url=https://www.davros.org/rail/culg/northern.html |title=Northern Line |work=Clive's Underground Line Guides |last=Clive |first=Feather |date=28 January 2018 |access-date=3 February 2018 |url-status=live |archive-date=3 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203160554/https://www.davros.org/rail/culg/northern.html }}

• 10 tph Northbound to Edgware
• 10 tph Northbound to High Barnet
• 20 tph Southbound to Morden

The typical peak time service in trains per hour (tph) are:

• 12 tph Northbound to Edgware
• 12 tph Northbound to High Barnet
• 24 tph Southbound to Morden

Previously, typical off-peak services include terminating at Colindale to the north and Tooting Broadway to the south.

The Northern City Line is part of the Great Northern Route (itself part of the East Coast Main Line). It was formerly a stand-alone part of London Underground's Northern line between Moorgate and Finsbury Park. Typical services at Moorgate off-peak Monday-Friday (all operated by Great Northern):

• 2 tph to {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}} via {{rws|Potters Bar}}
• 2 tph to {{rws|Stevenage}} via {{rws|Hertford North}}

During Peak Hours, there are 4 tph to Welwyn Garden City, as well as an additional 2 tph that terminate at {{rws|Gordon Hill}} and 2 tph that terminate at Hertford North.

Great Northern introduced a weekend service from 13 December 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/about-us/news/seven-day-a-week-service-to-the-city-better-for-late-returning-commuters-and-weekend-shoppers/|title=Seven-day-a-week service to the City better for late-returning commuters and weekend shoppers|publisher=Thameslink|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030124/http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/about-us/news/seven-day-a-week-service-to-the-city-better-for-late-returning-commuters-and-weekend-shoppers/|url-status=dead}}

{{Adjacent stations|noclear=y

|system1=London Underground

|line1=Circle|left1=Barbican|right1=Liverpool Street|type1=section 2

|line2=Hammersmith & City|left2=Barbican|right2=Liverpool Street

|line3=Metropolitan|left3=Barbican|right3=Liverpool Street|to-right3=Aldgate

|line4=Northern|left4=Old Street|right4=Bank|type4=Bank branch|to-right4=Morden

|system5=National Rail

|note-row5=

{{s-rail-national|toc=Great Northern|route=Northern City Line|previous=Old Street|col={{GN colour}} }}

|header6=Internal connection

|system7=Elizabeth Line|line7=Elizabeth|left7=Farringdon|right7=Whitechapel|to-left7=|to-right7=Abbey Wood or Shenfield|transfer7=Liverpool Street

|header8=Disused railways

|system9=National Rail

|note-row9=

{{rail line|previous=Barbican|route=First Capital Connect
City Widened Lines|col={{FCC colour}}}}

|header10=Former services

|system11=London Underground

|line11=Metropolitan|left11=Old Street|right11=|to-left11=Finsbury Park|to-right11=Moorgate|note-mid11=Northern City Branch
(1913–39)

|line12=Northern|left12=Old Street|right12=|to-left12=Finsbury Park|note-mid12=Northern City Branch
(1939–64)

|line13=Northern|left13=Old Street|right13=|to-left13=Drayton Park|note-mid13=Northern City Branch
(1964–75)

|line14=Metropolitan|left14=Barbican|right14=Liverpool Street|to-left14=Hammersmith|to-right14=Barking|note-mid14=Hammersmith branch (1864–1990)

|header15=Abandoned Northern Heights proposal

|line16=Northern|left16=Old Street|to-left16=Bushey Heath or High Barnet or Alexandra Palace

|header17=Abandoned Northern City Line extension

|system18=London Underground

|note-row18=

{{Rail line|previous={{rws|Old Street}}
towards {{stn|Finsbury Park}}|next=Lothbury
Terminus|route=Metropolitan Railway
Northern City Line|col=660066}}

}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last=Blake|first=Jim|title=London's Railways 1967–1977: A Snap Shot in Time|publisher=Wharncliffe|year=2015|isbn=978-1-473-83384-5}}
• {{cite book|last=David|first=Gareth|title=Railway Renaissance: Britain's Railways After Beeching|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2017|isbn=978-1-473-86202-9}}
• {{cite book|last=Day|first=John R|title=The Story of London's Underground|publisher=London Transport|year=1979|edition=6th|isbn=0-85329-094-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Alan|title=London's Metropolitan Railway|publisher=David & Charles|year=1986|isbn=0-7153-8839-8}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Moorgate station}}

• [https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/photographs London Transport Museum Photographic Archive]
• {{LTM archive|1998-85599|Moorgate station building in 1915.}}

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