East London Line

The East London Line is part of the London Overground orbital network, and forms a cross London route between north and south through a combination of existing infrastructure and reopened rail assets.

Carrying passengers since 2010, the route runs through a densely populated area of east London and provides a medium capacity system metro service with new rolling stock, making numerous new route options possible and taking pressure off congested transit hubs in central London.

WilkinsonEyre acted as consultant to Mott MacDonald, TfL’s technical advisors for the project, for the design of two new stations at Shoreditch High Street and Hoxton on the northern section, and for a new four-road train maintenance depot at New Cross Gate on the southern section.

Hoxton is located on an existing Victorian brick viaduct and has entrances on both sides which open directly into a concourse area, situated at ground level within the arches of the viaduct. The concourse acts as the central hub of the station, linking the entrance and the open air platforms and has been designed to ensure smooth passenger flows with minimum cross flows and the avoidance of congestion points. This, together with good sightlines, enhances a clear organisational layout.

Shoreditch High Street Station is located on a new 335m long concrete viaduct to facilitate future development of the site and allow future construction and maintenance of any development beside and above the railway, a permanent ‘crash deck’ including solid walls was designed for the full length of the viaduct.

The design solution developed by Wilkinson Eyre provided for the walls to be constructed from an arrangement of pre-cast concrete cladding panels. The external face of these is formed with a series of horizontal recesses, which create a dynamic articulation of the facade when viewed as a whole and are further enhanced by the application of a coloured coating.

The New Cross Gate Depot building provides four train maintenance bays, along with operational, administrative and amenity facilities within an economical portal frame structure 37m wide and 105m long, with robust levels of security, high environmental performance and low maintenance demands.

Careful consideration had to be exercised in addressing planning and environmental concerns resulting from the placement of the depot on a constrained urban site. Polycarbonate roof lights, semi-transparent screens and thermally efficient composite panels create a visually interesting facade through which both natural light and air can penetrate.