Hackney Downs railway station facts for kids
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Hackney Downs in December 2017
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| Location | Hackney Central |
|---|---|
| Local authority | London Borough of Hackney |
| Managed by | London Overground |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Station code | HAC |
| DfT category | C2 |
| Number of platforms | 4 |
| Fare zone | 2 |
| OSI | Hackney Central  |
| Key dates | |
| 27 May 1872 | Opened as Hackney Downs Junction |
| 1896 | Renamed Hackney Downs |
| Other information | |
| Lists of stations | |
| Other websites |
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Hackney Downs is a busy train station in Hackney Central, London. It's a key stop for both London Overground and National Rail services. The station is named after the nearby green space called Hackney Downs. It helps people travel to and from areas like Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney.
This station is part of the Lea Valley lines and the West Anglia Main Line. It's about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) from London Liverpool Street. You can also easily switch trains here to Hackney Central station, which connects to the North London line.
For London Overground trains on the Lea Valley Lines, Hackney Downs is located between London Fields and either Clapton (for trains to Chingford) or Rectory Road (for trains to Cheshunt or Enfield Town). Main line trains, run by Greater Anglia, stop here between Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale. The station's special code is HAC, and it's in London fare zone 2. It was first called Hackney Downs Junction until 1896.
Contents
The Story of Hackney Downs Station
Early Days: Great Eastern Railway (1872-1922)
Hackney Downs station first opened its doors on May 27, 1872. It was built by the Great Eastern Railway company. This new line helped people travel faster from Enfield Town to Stoke Newington. It also created new ways to reach the growing suburbs in northeast London.
Soon after, another line connected Hackney Downs to Tottenham Hale. This made journeys to Cambridge and Walthamstow quicker. It also helped reduce train traffic at Stratford railway station. When it first opened, the station had two platforms for trains.
In 1894, the station got bigger. The railway line between Bethnal Green and Hackney Downs expanded from two tracks to four. This change meant Hackney Downs station now had four platforms.
Changes Over the Years (1923-1994)
In 1923, many railway companies joined together. The London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) took over running Hackney Downs. In 1935, the old signal system was updated to newer, more modern signals. These new signals could show three different colors: green, yellow, or red.
After 1948, the station became part of British Railways. In the late 1950s, the train lines through Hackney were updated to use electricity. Electric trains started running on November 21, 1960. The station's ticket hall was also rebuilt in the early 1980s. The roofs over the platforms were updated too.
In 1986, a new line was added near Hackney Downs. This line helped connect the North London Line to other services. It allowed trains to travel between Watford and Liverpool Street.
Modern Times: Privatisation and London Overground (1994-Present)
Since 1994, the railway system has changed again. The old signal box at Hackney Downs closed in 2001. All the signals for the line are now controlled from Liverpool Street. In 2011, ticket barriers were installed at the station. These barriers help manage who enters and exits the platforms.
A special walking path between Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations opened in 2015. This link makes it much easier for passengers to switch between the two stations. Before 2015, people had to walk along the street to transfer.
The Lea Valley Lines services at Hackney Downs are now run by London Overground. They used to be operated by another company. However, some West Anglia Main Line trains, run by Greater Anglia, still stop at Hackney Downs.
Train Services
Hackney Downs station is a busy place with many trains. Here's a look at how often trains usually run:
| Operator/line | How often trains go to each place |
|---|---|
| London Overground | 8 trains per hour (tph) to London Liverpool Street 2 tph to Cheshunt 2 tph to Enfield Town 4 tph to Chingford |
| Greater Anglia | 2 tph to London Liverpool Street 2 tph to Hertford East |
More trains stop at the station during busy weekday mornings and evenings.
On Sundays, Greater Anglia trains run hourly. These trains travel beyond Broxbourne to places like Harlow Town and Cambridge North.
Getting Around: Connections
You can easily connect to other transport from Hackney Downs station. London Buses routes 30, 56, and 276 all stop near the station.
