Upminster station history as modern railway marks 200 years

When Upminster station first opened more than a century ago, there was hope the town would become a "place of residence for City men".

Much like Hornchurch, Upminster station began its development in the early 1880s, almost 50 years after Romford station opened.

A postcard view of Upminster station in c.1905, showing a train heading to Barking. Just visible to the right is the figure of a man running across the tracks (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The Essex Standard reported in October 1883 that "a large number of ladies and gentlemen" visited the town for the ceremony of "cutting the first turf of the new line" between Barking and Pitsea.

But it was not until May 1885 that the first trains started running to the station, passing first through Barking, Dagenham and Hornchurch.

The outside of Upminster station in 1906. The men in the photo are believed to be Upminster historian Thomas Lewis Wilson and station master Arthur Eaton (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The station formed part of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR), and the company's directors believed the advent of the railway would "lead to the development of Upminster as a place of residence for City men", according to the Essex Standard.

Extensions to the LTSR lines opened later, first between Upminster and Grays in 1892 and then between Upminster and Romford in 1893.

The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway was sold to Midland Railway in 1912, which later became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSR).

W.H. Smith at Upminster Station in 1914 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

In 1932, Upminster station underwent a refurbishment courtesy of LMSR - including a larger entrance and ticket hall, which was later modernised to include shop units.

READ MORE: Havering train stations captured in vintage photos

Prior to this, a 1914 photograph shows what a W.H. Smith stand at the station looked like.

Upminster station in the 1970s, with the Coal Office of T.A. & C Abraham Ltd on the left (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The opening of the larger ticket hall coincided with the extension of the Metropolitan District Railway to Upminster, later renamed the District line by London Transport.

In 2015, the Romford to Upminster line became part of the London Overground, which in turn became the Liberty Line in February 2024.

Today, Upminster is the easternmost on the London Underground network and the easternmost National Rail station in London.