West Croydon station
Encyclopedia
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
and Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
services, as well as London Buses
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
. It is in the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
and Travelcard Zone 5. The East London line
East London Line
The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
, part of London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
, has been extended to the station, with services in operation from 23 May 2010.
Facilities
The entrance to West Croydon railway station is on London Road, a short distance from the town's main shopping area. There are ticket barriers protecting the platforms. Trains run to London Victoria, and Sutton, and from there to west SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and parts of West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
.
A short distance from the railway station entrance is Station Road, where West Croydon bus station and tram stop are located. The tram stop is next to but inaccessible from the rail platforms and there are long-term plans as part of an overall development to have better connections between the two. All three Tramlink routes use West Croydon, which is on the unidirectional loop around central Croydon.
The bus station is a hub for London Buses
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
services, including the X26
London Buses route X26
London Buses route X26 is a Transport for London contracted bus route from Heathrow Airport to West Croydon. The service is currently contracted to Metrobus.The route is the longest London Buses route in London.-History:...
bus to Heathrow Airport and services to Surrey.
As of December 2009, station remodelling work and track laying has been completed as part of the southern extension of the East London Line
East London Line
The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
, for which West Croydon is the terminus. The space occupied by former bay platform 2 (out of use since the Wimbledon service was withdrawn in 1997 and largely supplanted by Tramlink since 2000) has been utilised to extend platform 3, the through London-bound platform. Bay platform 1 has been retained.
History
From 1809 to 1836 the site of the station was the terminal basin of the Croydon CanalCroydon Canal
The Croydon Canal ran from Croydon, via Forest Hill, to the Grand Surrey Canal at New Cross in south London, England. It opened in 1809, and closed in 1836, making it the first canal to be formally abandoned by an Act of Parliament.-History:...
. The canal was drained and became part of the route of the London & Croydon Railway, opening on 5 June 1839. In 1845 the L&C inaugurated down the atmospheric system of propulsion
Atmospheric railway
An atmospheric railway uses air pressure to provide power for propulsion. In one plan a pneumatic tube is laid between the rails, with a piston running in it suspended from the train through a sealable slot in the top of the tube. Alternatively, the whole tunnel may be the pneumatic tube with the...
; it worked for about a year but was not successful. The station was originally named Croydon; in April 1851, it became West Croydon.
The canal basin was served by a short private branch from the terminus of the Surrey Iron Railway
Surrey Iron Railway
The Surrey Iron Railway was a horse drawn plateway whose width approximated to a standard gauge railway that linked the former Surrey towns of Wandsworth and Croydon via Mitcham...
(SIR) at Pitlake. From 1855 the station was the terminus of the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line, which followed much of the route of the SIR. This line closed after the last trains on 31 May 1997, to be replaced by Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
. Platform 2, the terminal bay for the Wimbledon line, was trackless until 2008. Very little remains of this platform apart little section at the western end as now most of it is filled in to extend platform 3 to allow trains to stop closer to the stairs that lead down the platforms 1,2 and 3.
A sad event occurred here in 1912 when the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer who achieved such success that he was once called the "African Mahler".-Early life and education:...
(1875–1912), resident of Croydon, collapsed from overwork and pneumonia, dying a few days later.
During the 1930s the station undertook major alterations and reconstruction. A new ticket office was built fronting on to London Road. The original station buildings, ticket office and entrance in Station Road were closed and are still standing today converted to a shop.
Services
Trains are provided by SouthernSouthern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
and London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
. West Croydon is Croydon's second station, used mainly by suburban trains: the main station is East Croydon, served by express trains to London and the South Coast and suburban trains.
The Monday-Saturday off-peak service includes (but is not limited to) the following trains per hour:
- 6 to London Victoria:
- 4 via SelhurstSelhurst railway stationSelhurst railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London from Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services , and is in Travelcard Zone 4.- History :The Balham Hill and East Croydon line was constructed by the London Brighton...
, Thornton HeathThornton Heath railway stationThornton Heath railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. It is on the Brighton main line between East Croydon and London Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services...
, NorburyNorbury railway stationNorbury railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services and is in Travelcard Zone 3.Ticket barriers are in operation at this station.- Service :The typical off-peak train...
, Streatham CommonStreatham Common railway stationStreatham Common railway station is in Streatham in south London miles from Victoria, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.The station is managed by Southern who also operate trains from the station...
, BalhamBalham stationBalham station consists of two adjacent stations located in the Balham area of south London, England...
, Wandsworth CommonWandsworth Common railway stationWandsworth Common railway station is in the London Borough of Wandsworth in south London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 3.-History:...
, Clapham JunctionClapham Junction railway stationClapham Junction railway station is near St John's Hill in the south-west of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Although it is in Battersea, the area around the station is commonly identified as Clapham Junction....
and Battersea ParkBattersea Park railway stationBattersea Park is a suburban railway station in the London Borough of Wandsworth, formerly known as York Road. It is situated at the junction of the South London Line and the Brighton Main Line between Victoria and...
, taking 22 minutes. - 2 via Norwood JunctionNorwood Junction railway stationNorwood Junction railway station is in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 4.The station is managed by London Overground and trains operated by Southern and London Overground .-History:...
, Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace railway stationCrystal Palace railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It is located in the Anerley area between the town centres of Crystal Palace and Penge...
, Gipsy HillGipsy Hill railway stationGipsy Hill railway station is in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London. It is situated on the outer route of the South London Line. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 3....
, West NorwoodWest Norwood railway stationWest Norwood railway station is in the London Borough of Lambeth in West Norwood, south London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 3. Services from Platform 1 go to London Victoria and London Bridge via Tulse Hill...
, Streatham HillStreatham Hill railway stationStreatham Hill railway station is one of three stations serving the suburb of Streatham, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The wooden station building at street level faces the busy Streatham High Road at the junction with Leigham Court Road...
, Balham, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Junction and Battersea Park, taking 31 minutes.
- 4 via Selhurst
- 2 to via Selhurst, Thornton Heath, Norbury, Streatham Common, StreathamStreatham railway stationStreatham railway station is a station in central Streatham in south London. It is off Streatham High Road, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.Services are provided by First Capital Connect and Southern. First Capital Connect services go north to Luton and Bedford via Blackfriars, the City and St Pancras,...
, Tulse HillTulse Hill railway stationTulse Hill railway station is in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, between railway bridges over the A205, South Circular Road and the A215, Norwood Road...
, North DulwichNorth Dulwich railway stationNorth Dulwich railway station is in the London Borough of Southwark in Dulwich, south London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 2 and Travelcard Zone 3 .The Grade II listed railway station was designed in a hybrid Romanesque...
, East DulwichEast Dulwich railway stationEast Dulwich railway station is in the London Borough of Southwark in East Dulwich, south London. The station, and the trains which serve it are operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 2. It is now inside the Oyster PAYG scheme and is not part of the planned extension to the London...
, Peckham RyePeckham Rye railway stationPeckham Rye railway station is a station on Rye Lane in the centre of the shopping district of Peckham in South London. It opened on 1 December 1865 for LC&DR trains and on 13 August 1886 for LB&SCR trains...
, Queens Road PeckhamQueens Road Peckham railway stationQueens Road Peckham railway station is in the London Borough of Southwark and also serves the area to the east of Peckham, in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is on the Inner South London Line between and , and trains also go to Croydon via various routes and beyond...
and South BermondseySouth Bermondsey railway station- External links :...
, taking 40 minutes, Monday to Friday only.
- 4 to via Norwood Junction, , , Sydenham, , , , , , , , , , , , , , and , change at Norwood Junction for London Bridge via New Cross Gate.
- 4 to Sutton (Surrey) via WaddonWaddon railway stationWaddon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern. It is in Travelcard Zone 5....
, WallingtonWallington railway stationWallington railway station is in the London Borough of Sutton in south London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern, and is in Travelcard Zone 5....
and Carshalton BeechesCarshalton Beeches railway stationCarshalton Beeches railway station is in south Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton in south London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern, and is in Travelcard Zone 5.- Services :...
, taking 18 minutes.
- 1 to Epsom DownsEpsom Downs railway stationEpsom Downs railway station is a railway station located on the boundary of the Reigate and Banstead and Epsom and Ewell boroughs of Surrey with the railway to the north forming a continuation of the boundary....
via Waddon, Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton (Surrey), Belmont and BansteadBanstead railway stationBanstead railway station serves the one-time village, now extensive London suburb, of Banstead in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead in Surrey...
, taking 37 minutes.
- 1 to EpsomEpsom railway stationEpsom railway station is the main railway station for Epsom in the county of Surrey. It is located off Waterloo Road, near to the High Street....
via Waddon, Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton (Surrey), CheamCheam railway stationCheam railway station serves Cheam in the London Borough of Sutton. It is located on the Sutton & Mole Valley Lines section from Sutton to Epsom with trains to London Victoria and London Bridge both via Mitcham Junction and West Croydon.-History:...
and Ewell EastEwell East railway stationEwell East is a railway station in Ewell, Surrey. It has two platforms, one for services to Sutton, West Croydon and London, the other for services to Epsom. The ticket office and main entrance is on the London-bound side, accessed from Cheam Road...
, taking 33 minutes.
- At peak times there are trains from London Bridge that go via Sydenham and Sutton to go on to either DorkingDorking railway stationDorking railway station is one of three railway stations that serve the town of Dorking in Surrey, England. The station is within walking distance of Dorking Deepdene station and interchange on a through ticket is permitted...
or GuildfordGuildford (Surrey) railway stationGuildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo....
Transport links
London bus routes 60, 64, 109, 154, 157, 166, 194, 198, 250, 264, 289, 367, 403, 405, 407, 410, 412, 455, T33, or St. Michael's Road for bus routes 50, 75, 468, X26 (Express services), 917 (Mobility services) and night routes N64 ,N68 And N109.External links
- West Croydon tram stop on The Trams website
- Transport for London information on the East London line extension