East London Railways – From Docklands to Crossrail

AUTHOR: Malcolm Batten PUBLISHER: Amberley Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4456-8071-2 PRICE: £13.49

WEB: www.amberley-books. com

IF YOU want to find somewhere to illustrate the transformation of Britain’s railways then look no further than East London. Fifty years ago they were in a state of decline, run down after years of underinvestment had left a creaking system serving poorly equipped stations using outof-date rolling stock. However, following privatisation in the mid-1990s things have changed – massively! The redevelopment of the former docks into Docklands led to the construction of the Docklands Light Railway in the late 1980s, and the rejuvenation of other lines. This massive investment continued and the addition of the Millennium Dome and the 2012 Olympic Games at Stratford added to the commitment in new lines and facilities.

Today much of the landscape is unrecognisable from only a few years ago and a network of modern lines with modern rolling stock now serves the area. This book tells the story well, ably supported by images old and new showing the transformation. For an ever-growing population, the capital’s rail network has continued to evolve, with Crossrail now set to open in a year or so, adding to the complex mix of routes serving the area. A fascinating read and worth including on the bookshelf. (MN)