Hounslow East tube station

Hounslow East is a London Underground station in the London Borough of Hounslow. It stands on the Piccadilly line’s Heathrow branch, between Hounslow Central and Osterley stations. The station sits on Kingsley Road in fare zone four, twelve miles west of central London. The line opened in 1884 as a single-track branch to Hounslow Barracks. A later loop and shuttle service ran from Osterley to Hounslow Town before the present station opened in 1909. The old embankment carrying the first track is still visible east of the platforms. The station is worth the journey for its layered history and modern upgrades. In 1905 electric trains replaced steam on the branch, cutting journey times. In 1933 Piccadilly line trains reached Hounslow West, sharing the route until District line services ended in 1964. New buildings by Acanthus Lawrence and Wrightson Architects replaced the old ones between 2002 and 2003. Lifts now serve both platforms, and staff play classical music to deter anti-social behaviour. Trains run every few minutes to Heathrow and central London, with Night Tube on weekends. A visitor finds a clean, well-lit ticket hall with staff accommodation and interchange passages. Two platforms serve eastbound and westbound Piccadilly line trains. The green-roofed eastbound building stands out against the brick surroundings. Bus routes stop nearby, linking the station to Hounslow’s streets. The remaining embankment fragment east of the platforms marks the route of the first single track. The station is a quiet gateway to west London’s transport network.