The name "Commercial Road" had been proposed for the original Aldgate East station, which opened on 6 October 1884 as part of an eastern extension to the District Railway, some to the west of the current station, close to the Metropolitan Railway's Aldgate station. However, when the link to the Metropolitan Railway at Liverpool Street was built, the curve had to be particularly sharp owing to the location of Aldgate East station, at which the track needed to be straight.
Resited station
As part of the LondonPassenger Transport Board's 1935–1940 New Works Programme the triangular junction at Aldgate was enlarged, to allow for a much gentler curve and to ensure trains that were held on any leg of the triangle did not foul any signals or points elsewhere. The new Aldgate East platforms were sited almost immediately to the east of their predecessors, with one exit facing west toward the original location, and another at the eastern end of the new platforms. The new eastern exit was now close enough to the next station along the line, St Mary's, that this station could also be closed, reducing operational overheads and journey times, because the new Aldgate East had effectively replaced two earlier stations. The new station, which opened on 31 October 1938, was designed to be completely subterranean, providing a much-needed pedestrian underpass for the road above. However, in order to accommodate the space needed for this, and the platforms below, the existing track required lowering by more than. To achieve this task whilst still keeping the track open during the day, the bed underneath the track was excavated, and the track held up by a timber trestle framework. Then, once excavation was complete and the new station constructed around the site, an army of over 900 workmen lowered the whole track simultaneously in one night, using overhead hooks to suspend the track when necessary. The hooks.
Past proposals
A campaign was launched by a local councillor in a bid to change the name of the station to Brick Lanetube station by 2012, but this had no official support and was not successful. The same councillor has also campaigned to have Shoreditch High Street railway station renamed "Banglatown".
The station today
The station has no surface buildings. Ticket barriers control access to all platforms. District and Hammersmith & City line trains running into Aldgate East along two sides of the triangle pass through the site of the earlier station, most of which has been obliterated by the current junction alignment, although the extensive width and height and irregular shape of the tunnel can be observed. Since the station was built completely under a widened road, and was built after concrete had started to be used as a construction material, the platforms have a particularly high headroom. This—combined with the late-1930s style of tiling, typical of the stations of the then London Passenger Transport Board—gives the platform area of the station a particularly airy and welcoming appearance, unusual on the Underground at the time of construction. The tiling contains relief tiles, showing devices pertinent to London Transport and the area it served; these were designed by Harold Stabler and made by the Poole Pottery.
Station improvements
The station was Metronet's first refurbished station, refurbished in ‘heritage’ style. Work actually began at platform level earlier in 2007. On 9 March 2007 it was noted that every other platform bullseye and its associated blue enamel “Way Out” plate below had been removed on both platforms, marking the end of the only sub-surface ‘New Works’ station. By 14 March all the roundels had been removed and temporary signs substituted. The north-east entrance was also closed from 10 March 2007 until 2009. As of 23 May 2007, the tiling was removed on the eastbound platform and the walls were rough cemented but the tiles remained on the westbound one, although it only took a few days. The new framework for lighting and cabling had been installed.
Services and connections
District line
This is the general off-peak frequency. During peak times trains also operate to Wimbledon. During off-peak times, 3 trains per hour from Wimbledon terminate at Barking.
