Transferring from Piccadilly Line to District Line at Hammersmith: same platform?

[jamboree7123]

Although I've been there dozens of times, I suddenly can't remember whether the westbound Piccadilly Line shares the same platform as the westbound District Line at Hammersmith.

So I ask this simple question: If a person were to debark at Hammersmith from a westbound Piccadilly Line train and then want to transfer to a westbound District Line train (for the purposes of going to Ravenscourt Park and Stamford Brook, in case you're curious), does the District Line train simply pull up on the track on the other side of the same platform (which is how I remember it), or would one need to ascend the stairs and go over to a different platform altogether?

(I'm giving directions to someone who has never taken the Underground before, and would appreciate precise instructions.)

In my memory, the station layout is very simple: There are only two platforms, one for all westbound trains and the other for all eastbound trains, and each platform has tracks on both sides of the platform -- one side for District Line trains and the opposite side for Piccadilly Line trains going in the same direction. Correct?

 

[Mojo]

It’s not the same platform but it’s the same island.

 

[jamboree7123]

It’s not the same platform but it’s the same island.

That's basically what I mean -- there's an "island" (what I refer to as a "platform," though that may be inaccurate terminology) with tracks on either side of it.

 

[Railguy1]

At Hammersmith, cross platform interchange is available when continuing a journey in the same direction. So someone on a Heathrow/Uxbridge train can get off at Hammersmith and take a District Line to Richmond or Ealing Broadway without using the stairs or a lift.

Similar arrangements at Acton Town (for Ealing) and Barons Court. Similar arrangements for taking trains into Central London too at all three stations.

At Acton Town, Piccadilly Line trains will often use all 4 platforms whereas District Line trains will only use the outermost platforms. Acton Town to Richmond requires using stairs (Turnham Green) or lift (Hammersmith) and vice versa.

Cross platform interchange is also available at Earls Court for continuing journeys on another District Line in the same direction. Changes to the Piccadilly Line and or opposite direction on the District Line require stairs, lift or an elevator.

 

[Cambus731]

TFL always used to generally recommend changing at Barons Court instead of Hammersmith as it is a less busy station. Thats what I have done instead of making my change at Hammersmith.

 

[jamboree7123]

TFL always used to generally recommend changing at Barons Court instead of Hammersmith as it is a less busy station. Thats what I have done instead of making my change at Hammersmith.

interesting suggestion. Thanks!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Dec 2025 ==

At Hammersmith, cross platform interchange is available when continuing a journey in the same direction. So someone on a Heathrow/Uxbridge train can get off at Hammersmith and take a District Line to Richmond or Ealing Broadway without using the stairs or a lift.

Similar arrangements at Acton Town (for Ealing) and Barons Court. Similar arrangements for taking trains into Central London too at all three stations.

At Acton Town, Piccadilly Line trains will often use all 4 platforms whereas District Line trains will only use the outermost platforms. Acton Town to Richmond requires using stairs (Turnham Green) or lift (Hammersmith) and vice versa.

Cross platform interchange is also available at Earls Court for continuing journeys on another District Line in the same direction. Changes to the Piccadilly Line and or opposite direction on the District Line require stairs, lift or an elevator.

Very thorough! Though for this purpose the goal is just Stamford Brook, and the person tends to get overwhelmed and confused, so I'm just going it keep the directions as simple as possible. Thanks!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Dec 2025 ==

Earls' Court ... Barons Court

Has anyone ever explained why Earl's Court has an apostrophe, but the similarly named Barons Court does NOT have an apostrophe? And it seems that they both could be wrong, if they're referring to more than one Earl and Baron, in which case they should be Earls' Court and Barons' Court -- unless there is a single individual Earl and a single individual Baron after which each station is named. Every time I ride west on the Piccadilly Line this detail bothers me.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

TFL always used to generally recommend changing at Barons Court instead of Hammersmith as it is a less busy station. Thats what I have done instead of making my change at Hammersmith.

This is what I do, but we must be aware of the forthcoming works at Barons Court which for a prolonged period will close the platforms first in one direction and then later the other in turn.

 

[Dstock7080]

TFL always used to generally recommend changing at Barons Court instead of Hammersmith as it is a less busy station.

Which is odd as there is now step-free access for both Lines at Hammersmith, rather than the step up into Piccadilly trains at Barons Court

 

[THC]

Has anyone ever explained why Earl's Court has an apostrophe, but the similarly named Barons Court does NOT have an apostrophe? And it seems that they both could be wrong, if they're referring to more than one Earl and Baron, in which case they should be Earls' Court and Barons' Court -- unless there is a single individual Earl and a single individual Baron after which each station is named. Every time I ride west on the Piccadilly Line this detail bothers me.

Earl's Court was named for the Earl of Oxford, who owned some of the surrounding land. No such person or people inspired the name of Barons Court, so no apostrophe. It was apparently either named for Baronscourt estate in co. Tyrone, or after the home of Sir William Palliser, who developed the surrounding area.

THC

 

[contrex]

Has anyone ever explained why Earl's Court has an apostrophe, but the similarly named Barons Court does NOT have an apostrophe? And it seems that they both could be wrong, if they're referring to more than one Earl and Baron, in which case they should be Earls' Court and Barons' Court -- unless there is a single individual Earl and a single individual Baron after which each station is named. Every time I ride west on the Piccadilly Line this detail bothers me.

The Londonist observes that while Earl's Court station uses a singular possessive apostrophe, and the A-Z atlas uses them for Earl's Court Road and Earl's Court Gardens, street signs for both lack them. It says:

The now-closed exhibition centre lacks the mark. If you need a rule, use an apostrophe for the tube station and area name, but not for the streets and exhibition centre.

It further notes of 'Barons Court' that:

It's a made-up name — no baron ever controlled the land — so the lack of possessive apostrophe is satisfying.

There is a list of inconsistently apostrophised place and station names, including:

St James's Park, often written erroneously as St James' Park or merely St James Park, the correct form of St James's Park is clearly shown on any literature by the Royal Parks. Funnily enough, the tube station carries roundels showing two different variations.

Regarding that, I would note that when you use the formal, possibly old-fashioned possessive final apostrophe after a singular word ending in 's', e.g. Jesus' name, James' house, John Lewis' store, you pronounce them as if the alternative 's had been used (Jesuses, Jameses, John Lewises), so St James's Park and St James' Park are the same, and the Royal Parks are being somewhat stuffy. It's typography/orthography, not grammar.

In Bristol I have lived in St Pauls/St Paul's and now in St Werburghs/St Werburgh's, both inconsistently signed and named in the media and municipal output.

I decided for my own sanity to treat such variations as amusing examples of human variability. I draw the line at the greengrocer's apostrophe - I once got Bristol City Council to alter a sign announcing that some public toilets were closed on Sunday's.

Earl's Court Or Earls Court? A London Apostrophe Guide

Pesky punctuation probed.

londonist.com

 

[Cambus731]

Which is odd as there is now step-free access for both Lines at Hammersmith, rather than the step up into Piccadilly trains at Barons Court

Must admit I wasn’t aware of that. It is several years since I was last there

 

[rebmcr]

Must admit I wasn’t aware of that. It is several years since I was last there

4LM signalling required the Piccadilly and District to lose their track-sharing capability in the area, so along with points removal, the opportunity was used to raise the Piccadilly trackbed.

 

[Cambus731]

4LM signalling required the Piccadilly and District to lose their track-sharing capability in the area, so along with points removal, the opportunity was used to raise the Piccadilly trackbed.

How much of a step up is it?

 

[Dstock7080]

How much of a step up is it?

There isn’t a step now, previously was a step down

 

[Hadders]

Bear in mind that Barons COurt is about to undergo major refurbishment work closing in turn the Eastbound platforms then westbound for several months.

 

[NCT]

In British parlance a platform normally means a 'platform face' with the (usually) two faces on the same island described as two platforms. When describing cross-platform interchanges like at Hammersmith and Barons Court it helps to be precise with qualifiers - different platform faces on the same island. In countries like Poland and the Czech Republic they describe a whole island as 'a platform', and the individual platform faces are separated identified as 'tracks'.

 

[contrex]

In countries like Poland and the Czech Republic they describe a whole island as 'a platform'

In the UK it's OK to describe stations such as those on the Wimbledon and Sutton line (e.g. St Helier) as having an 'island platform'. Also Clapham Common.

 

[A60stock]

4LM signalling required the Piccadilly and District to lose their track-sharing capability in the area, so along with points removal, the opportunity was used to raise the Piccadilly trackbed.

District line trains have used the Piccadilly platforms at Hammersmith?!

 

[rebmcr]

District line trains have used the Piccadilly platforms at Hammersmith?!

The signalling & pointwork theoretically allowed it, not sure whether it ever happened in practice. But the 'compromise' rail height was maintained until the changes.

 

[contrex]

The signalling & pointwork theoretically allowed it, not sure whether it ever happened in practice. But the 'compromise' rail height was maintained until the changes.

See here from DD in 2008

Picadilly using District platforms at Hammersmith | District Dave's London Underground Site

Just recently I have seen a few E/B Picadilly line trains using the District Line E/B district platforms at Hammersmith. Last night, a Pic train arrived in platform 3 (pic) as usual, immediatel

districtdavesforum.co.uk

A number of reasons
1) Wrong Signal (WL106-rt1) Lowered in error (either due to an incorrect Train Description or a slip of the finger on the signal button

)at Acton Tn EBLL. To save the taking of a release (2 mins), if there are trains behind, the train can accept the signal and then cross over at Hammersmith.
2)Operating problem on the EBFL could mean that with the authority of the District Line Service Controller Level 2, that some trains could be diverted to run via the EBLL. Also, in some cases the District can request an all stations stopping Picc train, if they don't have any of their own!
3) Staff route knowledge. An Instructor Train Operator could request it for their trainee ;D

 

[Dstock7080]

The signalling & pointwork theoretically allowed it, not sure whether it ever happened in practice. But the 'compromise' rail height was maintained until the changes.

Certainly run eastbound from Ealing Common depot to Hammersmith a few times; operated an Ealing-Hammersmith shuttle (with S Stock); at least twice Barons Court-Acton Town pfm.2.
Bridge works at Ravenscourt Park required operating via the fast, probably early-90s.
All in passenger service, Acton and Earl’s Court (PG) drivers were trained on the fast line.

D Stock at Ravenscourt Park

Running via Westbound Fast Line due to points failure at Turnham Green

flic.kr

D Stock at Hammersmith

Running via Westbound Fast Line due to points failure at Turnham Green

flic.kr

D Stock at Hammersmith (D&P)

1990s strike day shuttles

flic.kr

 

[urbophile]

That's basically what I mean -- there's an "island" (what I refer to as a "platform," though that may be inaccurate terminology) with tracks on either side of it.

In British-speak, 'platform' is short for 'platform face'. So the equivalent of what in most other countries is referred to as "Track" (voie, binario etc depending on the language).

 

[contrex]

In British-speak, 'platform' is short for 'platform face'. So the equivalent of what in most other countries is referred to as "Track" (voie, binario etc depending on the language).

It is sometimes, but we also have stations with one or more 'island platforms' that have a track on each side, and, as you say, a 'face' on each side.