History of the District line History of the District line The history of the District line started in 1864 when the Metropolitan District Railway was created to create an underground 'inner circle' connecting London's railway termini. The first part of the line opened using Metropolitan Railway gas-lit wooden carriages hauled by steam locomotives. The District introduced its own trains in 1871 and was soon extended westwards through Earl's Court to Fulham, Richmond, Ealing and Hounslow. After completing the 'inner circle' and reaching Whitechapel in 1884, it was extended to Upminster in East London in 1902. To finance electrification at the beginning of the 20th century,
West Croydon to Wimbledon Line West Croydon to Wimbledon Line The West Croydon to Wimbledon Line was a railway line in south London. It was built by the Wimbledon and Croydon Railway (W&CR) over part of the trackbed of the Surrey Iron Railway. It opened on 22 October 1855 connecting the South West Main Line of the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) to the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). National Rail services ceased and the line eventually shut down in 1997 for it to be changed over into a new route for the Tramlink network which eventually rolled into passenger service in