The Waterloo & City line is the shortest underground railway line in London as it only connects two stations: Waterloo and Bank. Yet it is a proper tube line and part of the London Underground system. Some Londoners refer to the line as the "Drain" as it passes under the River Thames.
History
The Waterloo & City line opened on 11 July 1898 with the prime purpose to move commuters from the southwest of England arriving at Waterloo mainline railway station to their work location in The City.
The line became part of London Underground in 1994.
The Journey
The route is just 1.5 miles long and the journey takes four minutes.The line is busiest at the commuter rush hours so on weekdays at 7-10am and 4-7pm.The trains have only four carriages so are shorter than other tube trains but they are the same design as used on the Central Line.
The route is just 1.5 miles long and the journey takes four minutes.The line is busiest at the commuter rush hours so on weekdays at 7-10am and 4-7pm.The trains have only four carriages so are shorter than other tube trains but they are the same design as used on the Central Line.
Opening Hours
Since September 2013, The Waterloo & City line is open until 00:30 Monday to Saturday. It still remains closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Bank Station
Bank station opened as City and was renamed on 28 October 1940.The Waterloo & City Line is separate from the other tube lines at Bank so you need to come through the barriers and cross over to the W&C Line walkway. There’s a traveler here which always makes me feel as if I’m going on holiday as I generally only see them at airports. The 300 ft long sloping moving walkways were added in 1960 to ease congestion.
Make sure you 'touch in' again with your Oyster Card/Contact less Payment Card so the system knows you are catching a Waterloo & City Line train. Look out for the ‘validators’ before the platform. (When at Waterloo, make sure you 'touch out' at the end of the walkway, before the stairs, and not on the South West Trains platform or you’ll get overcharged. Check with station staff if you’re unsure.)
What To See Near Each Station
While the Waterloo & City Line is mostly used by commuters it is a really great way for visitors to connect two parts of town that you might not think of seeing on the same day.
Waterloo brings you to the South Bank so you can stroll along the pedestrianized riverside walkway for a fabulous free day out. You can start from the London Eye (also the London Aquarium and London Dungeon in County Hall), then the South bank Center which often has free events including a weekend food market just behind, watch the skateboarders, stop for a bite to eat at Gabriel’s Wharf, shop at the OXO Tower and visit Tate Modern – the nation’s free contemporary art gallery in a former power station.
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