Turnpike Lane tube station

Turnpike Lane

Turnpike Lane Location of Turnpike Lane in Greater London
Location	Turnpike Lane
Local authority	Haringey
Managed by	London Underground
Number of platforms	2
Fare zone	3
London Underground annual entry and exit
2007	9.765 million
2008	9.870 million
2009	9.619 million
19 September 1932	Opened
Lists of stations	DLR Underground National Rail Tramlink
London Transport portal

Turnpike Lane tube station is on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground, between Manor House and Wood Green, in Travelcard Zone 3.

It is in the London Borough of Haringey. Opened on 19 September 1932, it was the first Underground station in the Municipal Borough of Tottenham.

Like all stations on the Cockfosters extension, Turnpike Lane set new aesthetic standards not previously seen on the Underground. During the planning period for the extension to Cockfosters, alternate names for this station (North Harringay and Ducketts Green (Ducketts Common is located opposite)) were considered but rejected.

Architectural style

The station was designed by the architect Charles Holden and is a well-preserved example of the modernist house style of London Transport in the 1930s. It was listed at Grade II in 1994. The ticket hall is an enormous brick box, with two large ventilation towers, half-sunk into the surrounding ground. Its high walls contain segmented windows that allow natural light to shine far into the station. The effect in late afternoon light is akin to that in a cathedral transept. Two of the street entrances gave access to the tram routes to and from Alexandra Palace via tramway island exits into Turnpike Lane. These tram services were withdrawn in 1938 and replaced by buses, which continued to use the tram islands until 1968 when they were removed.

The sub-surface areas are tiled in biscuit coloured tiles lined with yellow friezes. The booking hall is 12 feet (3.7 metres) below street level. In common with Manor House and Wood Green, the station tunnels have a diameter of 23 feet (7 metres) and were designed for the greater volume of traffic expected. Bounds Green and Southgate have only 21 foot (6.4 metres) diameter platform tunnels. The construction of "suicide pits" between the rails was also innovative. These were built in connection with a system of passageways under the platforms to give access to the track.

The bus station at the back of the station complex was covered in 1968 as part of a "reshaping plan" of London bus services. The roof has since been removed as part of the rebuilding in the late 1990s.

Future

Turnpike Lane is currently being restored. Damaged tiles in the interior are being refurbished, and significant water damage caused over the years is being repaired.

In May 2013 it was announced that the station would be on the latest proposed route for Crossrail 2.

Popular culture

The station is mentioned in the song "Junkie Doll" by Mark Knopfler on his album Sailing to Philadelphia.

The station is mentioned in the song "Los Angeles Waltz" by Razorlight on their self-titled album "Razorlight" saying - "maybe I'll get right out of here, all the way back to Turnpike Lane".

Transport links

The following London bus routes serve the station: 29, 41, 67, 121, 123, 141, 144, 184, 217, 221, 230, 231, 232, 329, 444, W4, N29 and N91.

Gallery

• 

  Southwest entrance

• 

  Escalators to platforms

• 

  Westbound platform (south)

• 

  Eastbound platform (north)

External links

• Architectural history and photograph of Turnpike Lane in 1932 from the Royal Institute of British Architects

Preceding station		London Underground		Following station
Manor House towards Uxbridge or Heathrow Airport (Terminal 4 or Terminal 5)		Piccadilly line		Wood Green towards Cockfosters
		Future Development
Preceding station		Crossrail		Following station
Seven Sisters towards		Crossrail Line 2		Alexandra Palace Terminus