The Hackney Stations Link
The councillor involved in transport has replied that Network Rail and Transport for London are actively pursuing plans for a possible pedestrian link between the two Hackney stations, similar to that, that existed before the Second World War, with the aim of completion in 2014. They included this old photograph, taken in 1928.
The amount of steel in the bridge was probably the reason it was taken down. After all there was a war on!
This could be the same bridge today.
The Bridge Taking The West Anglia Main Line Over The Overground
The track layout is slightly different and there is no trace of the footbridge. Judging by the modern-looking support at the right, it could have been rebuilt.
More On Connecting Hackney Downs And Central Stations
The reason I went to the Hackney Records Office was to see if I could find any trace of the track level walkway between Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations. I have talked about this before.
I didn’t find any pictures, but I did find a 1934 Ordnance Survey map showing the footpaths and two sets of steps to climb or descend from one level to the other. So it seemed that the link wasn’t some large piece of engineering, but a simple walkway alongside both tracks.
I’m no expert, so whether it could be easily reinstated, I wouldn’t know! But it might be possible to make it a London version of the High Line, as proposed here by the Londonist.
But unlike the High Line it would also have a proper transport purpose in connecting the North London line to the Lea Valley lines towards Tottenham, Walthamstowe, Enfield and Cheshunt.
The Anonymous Widower 