The London Underground, with its intricate network of stations, tunnels, and tracks, is truly a marvel. It boasts 11 lines that serve an impressive 272 stations across approximately 250 miles of track.
One notable journey on the Tube is the shortest across the entire network – the 250-metre trip between Covent Garden and Leicester Square on the Piccadilly line. Those who have travelled this route will attest to the brief time spent in the tunnel.
However, at the other end of the spectrum, there’s a journey spanning 34 miles that you can make without changing trains or disembarking. The longest continuous journey on the London Underground is from West Ruislip to Epping on the Central line.
This makes the Central line the longest in the system, stretching from Epping in Essex, through Central London and The City, all the way to West Ruislip in Hillingdon. With various branches, the total distance covered by the Central line is around 46 miles or 74km.
The journey from West Ruislip to Epping is 34 miles
(Image: Callum Marius)
The entire journey from West Ruislip to Epping takes roughly one hour and 25 minutes. The Central line also holds the distinction of being the second busiest Tube line, with 289 million journeys recorded between 2016 and 2017.
Trains from West Ruislip typically travel eastbound, terminating at either Epping or Hainault.
The Central line, which connects West Ruislip to Hainault via either Woodford or the loop through Newbury Park, and runs from Ealing Broadway to Epping or Hainault, is often the subject of Londoners’ frustration. In 2021, it was voted the worst Tube line on social media, with many agreeing it was a “no brainer” that it deserved the title.
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