Stratford

Live status — lines serving Stratford

Live departures from Stratford

Stratford was transformed from a workaday East End interchange into one of London's biggest transport hubs by the 2012 Olympics — and then transformed again by the arrival of the Elizabeth line a decade later. Today it is one of only a handful of stations served by five different rail networks: the Central and Jubilee Underground lines, the Elizabeth line, the Mildmay line (London Overground) and the DLR, on top of Greater Anglia and c2c mainline services. Directly attached is Westfield Stratford City, and a short walk away is the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

If Stratford is closed

• Going on the Central (west)? Walk or bus to Mile End for the same line plus District and Hammersmith & City.
• Going on the Jubilee? Walk to West Ham (District, Hammersmith & City, DLR, c2c) and change, or take the DLR to Canning Town for the Jubilee.
• Going on the Elizabeth line? Maryland and Forest Gate are Elizabeth line stops just east; Whitechapel is the next stop west.
• Going on the Mildmay (Overground)? Walk to Hackney Wick, one stop north, for the same line.
• Going on the DLR? Walk to Pudding Mill Lane or Bow Church for the same network.
• Mainline alternative — Greater Anglia and c2c services also call at Ilford and West Ham respectively.

About the station

Stratford has been a railway junction since 1839, when the Eastern Counties Railway opened its works here — for over a century it was better known for its railway sheds and engineering works than as a passenger hub. The DLR arrived in 1987, the Jubilee Line Extension in 1999, and the station's fortunes changed permanently when London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the adjacent Lower Lea Valley site. A £500 million rebuild between 2007 and 2011 transformed Stratford into a fully step-free, high-capacity interchange capable of moving hundreds of thousands of spectators a day.

The Stratford International extension of the DLR and the arrival of the Elizabeth line in 2022 completed the transformation. Today the station sits at the centre of one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe — Westfield Stratford City opened alongside it in 2011, and the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has since added the London Stadium (home to West Ham United), the London Aquatics Centre, and cultural institutions including Sadler's Wells East and V&A East.

Lines that serve Stratford

• Central line — west to Mile End, Bethnal Green, Liverpool Street, Bank and on to the West End; east to Leyton, Leytonstone, Epping and the Hainault loop.
• Jubilee line — the eastern terminus. West to Canning Town, Canary Wharf, London Bridge, Waterloo, Westminster and Stanmore.
• Elizabeth line — west to Whitechapel, Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Paddington and Heathrow/Reading; east continues to Maryland, Ilford, Romford and Shenfield.
• Mildmay line (London Overground) — the eastern terminus. South to Hackney Wick, Highbury & Islington and on to Richmond or Clapham Junction.
• DLR — south to Bow Church, Canary Wharf, Greenwich and Lewisham; also a branch to Stratford International.

Step-free access

Stratford has full step-free access from street to train on every line — a legacy of the 2012 Olympic rebuild, which was designed from the outset to move very large volumes of spectators including wheelchair users. Lifts connect the main concourse to every platform across all five networks. The Elizabeth line platforms, added in 2022, are level-boarding; the deep-tube Central and Jubilee lines have the standard small step and gap from platform to train.

See the full step-free Tube stations guide for what step-free actually covers and how stations differ.

Exits and what is nearby

• Station Street (main concourse) — the principal exit, closest to the bus station and Stratford town centre.
• Westfield Stratford City walkway — direct covered access into the shopping centre, no need to go outside.
• Stratford City Bridge — leads directly to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the London Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit.
• Cooks Road / The Stratford Centre — closest to the older Stratford Centre shopping precinct and the Theatre Royal Stratford East.
• International side (DLR/Javelin) — separate entrance for Stratford International platforms, a short walk from the main concourse.

A bit of history

Stratford's railway history began in 1839 with the Eastern Counties Railway, and for most of the 19th and 20th centuries it was defined by its enormous railway works rather than passenger traffic. The DLR extension arrived in 1987, followed by the Jubilee Line Extension in 1999 — part of a wave of Docklands-focused investment. Everything changed with London's successful 2012 Olympic bid: a £500 million station rebuild between 2007 and 2011 turned Stratford into one of the most modern, highest-capacity interchanges in the country, ready to move Games spectators in vast numbers.

Westfield Stratford City opened in September 2011, months before the Games, becoming (at the time) the largest urban shopping centre in Europe. The Elizabeth line arrived in May 2022, adding a sixth network to the complex and cementing Stratford's role as one of London's most significant transport hubs outside the historic core.

Common quirks

• Stratford and Stratford International are different stations. The DLR and Southeastern high-speed Javelin services use "Stratford International" — a separate platform group a short walk from the main Stratford concourse. Check which one you need.
• Westfield can absorb hours. If you're just passing through, the walkway signage clearly marks the direct route to avoid getting pulled into the mall.
• Event days are intense. London Stadium concerts and West Ham matchdays can bring tens of thousands through the station in a short window — build in extra time.
• The Central line here is fast but crowded at peak. Trains from Stratford westbound fill up quickly during the morning rush — the platform can feel like standing room only by 08:15.
• Five networks, one interchange. Because so many lines converge, signage takes a moment to learn on a first visit — colour-coded floor lines help navigate between platforms.

Frequently asked questions

Which lines serve Stratford?

The Central and Jubilee Underground lines, the Elizabeth line, the Mildmay line (London Overground) and the DLR — plus Greater Anglia and c2c mainline services.

Is Stratford step-free?

Yes. Full step-free access from street to train on every line, a legacy of the 2012 Olympic rebuild.

What zone is Stratford in?

Zone 2/3 — treated as Zone 3 for most Underground fares.

How do I get to Westfield Stratford City?

Directly connected via a covered walkway from the main concourse — a 2-minute walk, no need to go outside.

How do I get to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park?

A 5–10 minute walk via the Stratford City Bridge or through Westfield, following signs for the London Stadium and ArcelorMittal Orbit.

Lines serving this station

Guides