Social for Life
Epping Ongar Railway
Arts & Culture

Epping Ongar Railway

Ongar Station, Station Approach, Ongar CM5 9BN
🕐Seasonal weekends 10:30 - 17:00 (Check timetables)

About

The capital’s hidden heritage gateway, the Epping Ongar Railway is a remarkable preservation success story, operating on a former branch of the London Underground Central Line. Tracing a nostalgic route from the edge of ancient Epping Forest into the rolling Essex countryside, the line offers a unique escape from city life, where beautifully restored steam and diesel locomotives transform this former Tube line into a vibrant time capsule of the Great Eastern Railway's rural past.

Heritage

The London Gateway

The Epping Ongar Railway has a unique history as a former branch of the London Underground Central Line. Originally built in 1865 by the Great Eastern Railway, it served as a vital commuter link until 1994. After its closure by Transport for London, it was saved and reopened as a heritage line. Today, it preserves the authentic atmosphere of a late-Victorian country station at Ongar, offering a nostalgic escape from the city into the heart of the Essex countryside.

Infographic

    Infographic

    Location

    Ongar Station, Station Approach, Ongar CM5 9BN
    Get directions

    Epping Ongar Railway

    Technical Specifications

    Track Gauge
    1435mm
    Line Length
    6.5miles
    GER Opening
    1865AD
    Heritage Reopening
    2012AD
    Former Link
    London TubeCentral
    Main Station
    OngarOngar