History
The Metropolitan Railway (Harrow and Uxbridge Railway) constructed the line between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge and commenced services on 4 July 1904 with, initially, Ruislip being the only intermediate stop. At first, services were operated by steam trains, but track electrification was completed in the subsequent months and electric trains began operating on 1 January 1905. The formation was made wide enough at Ruislip to enable another pair of tracks to be constructed as passing loops or additional platform roads. Neither has ever occurred.
On 1 March 1910, an extension of the District Line from South Harrow to connect with the Metropolitan Railway at Rayners Lane was opened enabling District Line trains to serve stations between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge from that date. On 23 October 1933, District Line services were replaced by Piccadilly Line trains.
The station's eastbound (Central London) platform is accessible. Wheelchair users who wish to travel in the Uxbridge direction must travel to Sudbury Town or Northwick Park and change direction there; when coming from Central London, they must continue until Hillingdon to change direction.
It is possible to reverse trains from west to east at Ruislip. Trains must detrain in the westbound platform and then continue for approximately half a mile to a siding. When leaving the siding, the train must come back the way it came and enters the eastbound platform by means of a crossover. Unfortunately, while this manoeuvre is carried out, both the westbound and eastbound services are held up. Therefore, this manoeuvre is usually only done by some peak-hour Piccadilly line trains due to the inconvenience it causes. There was formerly a crossover to the east of the station enabling trains to leave the westbound platform in an easterly direction, and a goods yard to the north of the line.
Read more about this topic: Ruislip Tube Station
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