page_title: South Woodford tube station
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: South Woodford tube station / History
caption_attribution_description: Roundel on South Woodford station eastbound platform - note that the "George Lane" suffix was dropped in 1950.
context_page_description: South Woodford, originally George Lane, is a London Underground station in the suburb of South Woodford in East London. It is on the Epping branch of the Central line, between Snaresbrook and Woodford stations and is in Travelcard Zone 4.
context_section_description: The station opened on 22 August 1856 as part of the Eastern Counties Railway branch to Loughton which opened that day. Originally named George Lane, the station was renamed twice: South Woodford (George Lane) on 5 July 1937; and South Woodford on 14 December 1947. The station formed part of the Great Eastern Railway's system until that company amalgamated with other railways to create the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923. On 5 July 1937 the station was renamed "South Woodford (George Lane)".
  The station was subsequently transferred to form part of London Underground's Central line on 14 December 1947 when Central line services were extended from Leytonstone to Woodford. This formed a part of the long planned, and delayed, Eastern Extension of the Central line that was part of the London Passenger Transport Board's "New Works Programme" of 1935 - 1940. After transferring to London Underground the "(George Lane)" suffix fell out of use, though it remains on some roundel signs.
  During the planning of the Victoria line, route options included a continuation of the line from Walthamstow Central to Woodford or South Woodford stations. However, in 1961, the decision was taken to build only as far as Walthamstow Central.
caption: Roundel on the eastbound platform, showing the old suffix.
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