The London Tube station hidden on the map for years because of who used it | History | News
The London Underground map, which covers areas and neighbourhoods, didn’t always look like it does now. There was no station in his design for almost twenty years: Kensington (Olympia).
This rail and tube station in West London’s Zone 2 is currently served by the London Overground and District line. All Overground services are entirely within Zone 2, providing a useful shortcut to avoiding Zone 1. But back in 1940, this station had a completely different function. Originally opened as Kensington station in 1844, the station was so unpopular that it closed in December of the same year.
The station returned with new services, including the Metropolitan line, in 1862 and was renamed Kensington Addison Road in 1868. However, during World War II the Metropolitan line was bombed, resulting in the closure of West London stations on the line. But that wasn’t the end of Kensington station. In fact, the station was in an ideal location.
Not only did it have a rail connection to the whole of London, it was also close to the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander, led by Dwight D Eisenhower.
It became his preferred travel destination when he traveled to Wales in 1944 in preparation for the Normandy landings. In 1946 the station was renamed Kensington (Olympia) and began transporting workers from the nearby Post Office Savings Bank.
The station’s existence was kept secret by the Post Office Savings Bank due to the National Secrets Act and was not officially announced until 1958.
That year, a permanent platform was given to Kensington (Olympia) and a District line service to Earl’s Court.
Following its renovation, the station introduced more regular programming, added a community garden and was renovated. However, train services at Kensington (Olympia) are still infrequent, making it one of London’s only part-time stations.
