The Whitechapel and Bow Railway (W&BR) was an underground railway in London, England, that is now entirely integrated into the London Underground system. The railway has its origins in a failed 1883 scheme to connect the sub-surface Metropolitan Railway (the Met) in the west with the above-ground London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR) in the east. The scheme was revived in 1897, this time with the District Railway (DR) as the western sub-surface partner. The short 2 mi line allowed the DR to access suburban traffic and relieved pressure on LTSR services.
The railway opened on 2 June 1902. Three new stations were opened with the line. The railway was built to accommodate steam trains, which were eliminated following the introduction of fourth-rail electrification in 1905. It was run by a joint committee until 1920 and then by the DR on behalf of the joint owners. The railway made it possible to run through trains from Ealing Broadway to Southend-on-Sea from 1910 to 1939. Ownership was fully transferred to the London Transport Executive in January 1950 as part of the Transport Act 1947 provisions. It now carries the London Underground District and Hammersmith & City lines.