Location Becontree Fare zone 5 2013 3.04 million Opened 1932 | Managed by London Underground 2012 2.84 million 2014 3.40 million Number of platforms 2 | |
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Address Dagenham RM9 4LJ, United Kingdom Similar Dagenham Heathway tube station, Upney tube station, Dagenham East tube station, Elm Park tube station, Plaistow tube station | ||
Becontree is a London Underground station on Gale Street in the Becontree neighbourhood of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in northeast London, England. The station is on the District line, between Upney and Dagenham Heathway stations and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station was originally opened as Gale Street Halt in 1926 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway on the existing route from Fenchurch Street to Southend. The station was renamed and completely rebuilt in 1932 with an additional pair of platforms to serve the electric District Railway local service.
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History
Gale Street Halt had been opened on the London Tilbury & Southend (LT&S) line in 1926. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (owners of the LT&S line)(LMS) quadrupled their line between Barking and Upminster and constructed a common station with their existing line and the new trains of the Metropolitan District Railway. The 1932 station was constructed and initially operated by the LMS with services provided by the District line from the outset. The new District line's platforms opened on 18 July 1932 and its route from Barking to Upminster had been electrified on 12 September of the same year.
The railway here was crossed by a temporary railway constructed as part of the building of the Becontree housing estate which operated between 1921 and 1934.
Design
The station has four platforms which two are used by the District line and another two are disused since the LT&S service was withdrawn in 1962. The single storey brick station buildings are of typical 1930s design which are also constructed at Dagenham East, Hornchurch and Upminster at the time. The station was refurbished by Metronet in 2006.
Services and connections
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:
London Bus routes 62 and 145 serve the station.
In popular culture
The station is said to be haunted by a faceless woman with long blonde hair that several staff members have sighted.