Barking's Transport Heritage

Barking's transport heritage has many interesting stories to tell from the earliest boats and horse drawn vehicles to the dynamic introduction of the railways and short-lived but dramatic tales of trams in Barking, in the early twentieth century. In more recent years there has been an interesting return to waterways and electricity as forms of local transportation, as they are seen as cleaner, greener and more sustainable than many alternatives.

Barking Station's Booking Hall is Grade II listed with historic England! It is currently enjoying a makeover funded by C2C and the Railway Heritage Fund who are restoring the heritage features of this impressive building from 1961- the third version of Barking Station. The railways had first entered (and exited) Barking with the London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway, in 1854 - which is another interesting story from Barking's heritage!

We also celebrate the invention of the bicycle which in its hey day of the mid-twentieth century was the chosen transport for many local workers. Bikes never went away, but local councils are now encouraging cycling as a key form of transport, in urban areas, after many decades of dominance by motor vehicles. You can read more about the history of transport in Barking here!