East Croydon station
Encyclopedia
East Croydon station is a railway station and tram stop in Croydon
, 10.35 miles (16.56 km) south of London Bridge
in Travelcard Zone 5. It is the largest and busiest station in Croydon and the busiest in London outside Travelcard Zone 1
in terms of the number of passengers entering and exiting. It is one of three railway stations in the London Borough of Croydon
with Croydon in their name, the others being West Croydon and South Croydon
. Along with Kensington Olympia, East Croydon was until 13 December 2008 one of two stations in the London area to be served by CrossCountry
.
On 12 July 1841 the London & Brighton Railway (L&BR) began its passenger services through its 'Croydon' station on the Brighton Line
from London Bridge as far as Haywards Heath
. The new station was designed by the architect David Mocatta
. This was the second station in the town since the London and Croydon Railway
(L&CR) had opened its 'Croydon' own station in June 1839.
After 1842, the station was jointly administered by the L&BR and the South Eastern Railway
(SER), which shared the Brighton main line
as far as Redhill
. Fares from Croydon to London were common to the station's joint users. In 1846 The L&BR and the L&CR amalgamated to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
(LB&SCR), and the two stations were renamed 'East Croydon' and 'West Croydon' to avoid confusion.
whilst their London Bridge trains continued to use the existing lines. The new platforms adjoined 'East Croydon' but were treated by the LB&SCR as a separate station named "New Croydon", with its own ticket office, and which ran exclusively LBSCR services. This device enabled the railway to avoid breaking an agreement with the SER, whilst offering cheaper fares than the SER from the original station.
The original terminal platforms at 'New Croydon' proved difficult to operate as there was limited space for locomotives to run round their trains. As a result, in 1863, the LB&SCR obtained Parliamentary authority to build a one-mile (1.6 km) extension of their suburban lines to a new terminal station at South Croydon
, which provided the additional operating space necessary .
was built. The new line opened in 1868 but enjoyed little success and closed in 1871, only to reopen in 1886 under pressure from the Town Council before finally closing in 1890. 'Croydon Central' was subsequently demolished and replaced by the new Town Hall
.
. As a result the station was entirely rebuilt and the tracks remodelled during 1894/5. At the time the extension of the suburban lines was continued from 'South Croydon' to Coulsdon
, where they joined the new “Quarry line”. In 1897-98, 'East Croydon' and 'New Croydon' stations were merged into a single station with the three island platform
s that remain. Nevertheless the two stations kept separate booking accounts until 1924.
predecessor.
Four steel ladder mast
s anchor the glass box and the whole gives the impression of a suspension bridge that stretches into the distance. External canopies
cover the entrances, a cafe's open-air seating area and the approaches to the tram station. 440 m² of glass were used in the roof and 800 m² for the wall glazing. The architects were Alan Brookes Associates and the structural engineers YRM Anthony Hunt Associates.
had proposed a £20m project to revamp the station with an additional entrance and a short cut into the town centre. In September 2010, Croydon Council pledge £6m towards the revamp, ensuring that a bridge is included in the plans.
route from Gatwick via London Bridge and St Pancras International
to Bedford, and the London Bridge - Uckfield
branch, recently re-equipped with new Class 171 DMUs
. It has electronic information displays showing next departures to some 80 stations.
All services except those to and from Uckfield are operated by 750 V DC third rail EMUs
. East Croydon serves destinations mainly in East Sussex
, West Sussex
, Surrey
and Brighton & Hove
, including Gatwick Airport, Horsham
, Caterham
, Tattenham Corner
, Brighton
, Hastings
, Eastbourne
, Bognor Regis
, Portsmouth
, Tonbridge
and many suburban stations in South London
and Hertfordshire
. It is one of the busiest commuter stations in Greater London.
Trains include First Capital Connect
Thameslink
services to Brighton, Redhill
, Bedford, Luton
and London Luton Airport
, which means that the station has direct services to two airports. They also serve stations in or near the City of London
, including St Pancras International
, Farringdon
, City Thameslink and London Blackfriars
.
via Redhill
were operated by Southeastern
until December 2008, when they were transferred to Southern
.
CrossCountry services stopped at East Croydon on the route to Brighton which was withdrawn in December 2008.
There also used to be a half-hourly service to London Charing Cross operated by Southern
, however, this was withdrawn after December 2009 when there were changes to the Southeastern timetables, meaning that these trains could not be fitted in any more.
and services north to London Bridge mainly from Uckfield (most use Platform 4).
Operated by First Capital Connect:
, East Grinstead
and Uckfield. (Gatwick Express services pass through platforms 2 and 3 going southwards).
There are 27 train departures per hour off-peak during the week.
Operated by Southern
:
Operated by First Capital Connect:
The main entrance is from George Street, to the concourse. There are several shops here, such as WHSmith, Costa Coffee
, Burger King
and Upper Crust
. Another entrance is next to the taxi rank on Billinton Hill just off Cherry Orchard Road
, on the east side.
The ticket office usually becomes busy during peak hours as well as the ticket machines. Disabled-accessible slopes to all platforms are provided and there is a subway connecting all platforms. There are three waiting rooms on the platforms under a roof with plenty of standard metal seats. There are refreshment stalls and vending machines in the seating areas on the platforms. Trolleys are also available along with step-free access to all buffets.
East Croydon is one of the few stations to provide comfortable leather sofas for passengers, in the waiting room on platforms 3 and 4. They are often used by passengers from London Gatwick Airport between 2am and 4am who change at East Croydon to access Clapham Junction railway station
but are required to wait for approximately 40 minutes for a connecting service from platform 4, if they miss the hourly direct service.
There are three cash machines/ATMs
opposite the west entrance.
regeneration scheme, East Croydon is to be expanded to both the west and the east. Work has been planned on the west side for some time, to increase station capacity, made more urgent by likely additional traffic from the planned Croydon Gateway
nearby. A proposal by Arrowcroft, which included the 12,500-seat Croydon Arena was rejected in August 2008. Arrowcroft had proposed a £24 million expansion of the station with a new 'airport style' concourse above the tracks to the north of the current station. Arrowcroft had agreed to contribute £500,000 to the build costs to offset the impact of their proposed Arena. The source of the remaining £23.5 million was not identified, and Network Rail had not committed this expenditure in its capital plans.
The alternative scheme called Ruskin Square, by the owners of the site Stanhope Schroders, includes a contribution of £1.1 million for station capacity improvements that could be quickly implemented and integrated into their scheme for a new urban park, a rebuilt Warehouse Theatre
, a doctors' surgery, housing (50% "affordable") and modern offices on the Croydon Gateway site.
To the east, towards Cherry Orchard Road
, the proposed towers result in an extension to the station. The architect is Make with the client Menta, engineer Knight Frank and GL Hearn. Originally this project was planned to start in 2009, but this has been put back to 2019 with the planned completion date in 2023. The mixed-use scheme is to total approximately 93,000 sq m (1 million sq ft) of modern accommodation in a series of crystalline towers. Of the total area, some 70% is planned to be residential accommodation, with the remaining 30% being of mixed commercial use, including offices and retail. Critical to all proposals around East Croydon station are improvements to transport interchange. No project has yet delivered the necessary funds for significant enhancements.
(formerly known as Thameslink 2000), is a £3.5 billion major project to expand the Thameslink network
from 51 to 172 stations
spreading northwards to Bedford, Peterborough
, Cambridge
and King's Lynn
and southwards to Guildford
, Eastbourne, Horsham, Hove
to Littlehampton, East Grinstead, Ashford
and Dartford
. The project includes the lengthening of platforms, station remodelling, new railway infrastructure (e.g. viaducts) and additional rolling stock. When implemented, First Capital Connect services would call more often at the station and other stations in the Croydon area, including Purley and Norwood Junction.
and First Capital Connect
trains to the north at Selhurst.
East Croydon is well served by both tram and bus, with a tram station outside and a bus station close by. From the bus station London Bus services reach Central London
, Purley Way
, Bromley
, Lewisham
and places to the south. Route X26
, the longest London bus route, runs to Heathrow Airport via Sutton and Kingston.
Immediately outside the front of the station is the Tramlink
stop, with services to Elmers End
, Beckenham Junction
, New Addington
and Wimbledon
. A major interchange on Tramlink, East Croydon has three tram platforms, two on an island, the other backing on to the main-line station concourse. Following problems with the points in this area, in August 2006 the points were fixed to route all eastbound trams into Platform 1, the concourse-side platform. The island platform can only be used by westbound trams and by trams terminating from the east.
issued statistics of crime in main-line railway stations outside Zone 1. East Croydon, Clapham Junction and Walthamstow Central were the worst in terms of total number of crimes, as would be expected for the busiest stations. (A figure comparing crimes per 1000 passengers would be more meaningful).
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, 10.35 miles (16.56 km) south of London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
in Travelcard Zone 5. It is the largest and busiest station in Croydon and the busiest in London outside Travelcard Zone 1
Travelcard Zone 1
Fare zone 1 is the central zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services. For most tickets, travel through the zone is charged...
in terms of the number of passengers entering and exiting. It is one of three railway stations 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...
with Croydon in their name, the others being West Croydon and South Croydon
South Croydon railway station
South Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern.-History:...
. Along with Kensington Olympia, East Croydon was until 13 December 2008 one of two stations in the London area to be served by CrossCountry
CrossCountry
CrossCountry is the brand name of XC Trains Ltd., a British train operating company owned by Arriva...
.
History
The population of Croydon increased 14-fold (from 16,700 to 233,000) between the opening of the station in 1841 and 1921. As a result the station has been enlarged and rebuilt on several occasions.Opening
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
from London Bridge as far as Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath railway station
Haywards Heath railway station serves Haywards Heath in West Sussex, England. It is on the Brighton Main Line and Thameslink north of Brighton, and train services are primarily provided by Southern and First Capital Connect...
. The new station was designed by the architect David Mocatta
David Mocatta
David Mocatta was a British architect and a member of the Anglo-Jewish Mocatta family.-Biography:Mocatta studied in London from 1821 to 1827 under Sir John Soane and travelled in Italy...
. This was the second station in the town since the London and Croydon Railway
London and Croydon Railway
The London and Croydon Railway was an early railway which operated between London and Croydon in England. It was opened in 1839 and in July 1846 it merged with other railways to form a part of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway ....
(L&CR) had opened its 'Croydon' own station in June 1839.
After 1842, the station was jointly administered by the L&BR and the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
(SER), which shared the Brighton main line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
as far as Redhill
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
. Fares from Croydon to London were common to the station's joint users. In 1846 The L&BR and the L&CR amalgamated to form the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
(LB&SCR), and the two stations were renamed 'East Croydon' and 'West Croydon' to avoid confusion.
New Croydon
With the completion of the lines to Victoria station between 1860 and 1862, extra platforms were needed to provide a terminal for the LB&SCR suburban services to and from the West End of LondonWest End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
whilst their London Bridge trains continued to use the existing lines. The new platforms adjoined 'East Croydon' but were treated by the LB&SCR as a separate station named "New Croydon", with its own ticket office, and which ran exclusively LBSCR services. This device enabled the railway to avoid breaking an agreement with the SER, whilst offering cheaper fares than the SER from the original station.
The original terminal platforms at 'New Croydon' proved difficult to operate as there was limited space for locomotives to run round their trains. As a result, in 1863, the LB&SCR obtained Parliamentary authority to build a one-mile (1.6 km) extension of their suburban lines to a new terminal station at South Croydon
South Croydon railway station
South Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern.-History:...
, which provided the additional operating space necessary .
Croydon Central
In 1864, the LB&SCR obtained authorisation to construct a ½-mile long branch line into the heart of the town centre near Katharine Street, where Croydon Central stationCroydon Central railway station
Croydon Central station was a railway station in Croydon, Surrey, now in South London, England. It was a largely unsuccessful venture by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway to bring trains closer to the centre of Croydon, as East Croydon station was deemed too far from the busy town...
was built. The new line opened in 1868 but enjoyed little success and closed in 1871, only to reopen in 1886 under pressure from the Town Council before finally closing in 1890. 'Croydon Central' was subsequently demolished and replaced by the new Town Hall
Croydon Clocktower
Croydon Clocktower on Katharine Street in Croydon is an arts centre in London, England. It contains the Museum of Croydon, the Riesco Gallery with a collection of Chinese pottery and ceramics, the David Lean Cinema, the Braithwaite Hall used for concerts and conferences, and a café and bar...
.
1894/95 rebuilding
By the late 1880s the station was once again congested due to the growth of traffic on the main lines, the expansion of the suburban network in South London and the new line from Croydon to OxtedOxted
Oxted is a commuter town in Surrey, England at the foot of the North Downs, north of East Grinstead and south-east of Croydon.- History :The town lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Tandridge hundred....
. As a result the station was entirely rebuilt and the tracks remodelled during 1894/5. At the time the extension of the suburban lines was continued from 'South Croydon' to Coulsdon
Coulsdon
Coulsdon is a town on the southernmost boundary of the London Borough of Croydon. It is surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt of the Farthing Down, Coulsdon Common and Kenley Common...
, where they joined the new “Quarry line”. In 1897-98, 'East Croydon' and 'New Croydon' stations were merged into a single station with the three island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
s that remain. Nevertheless the two stations kept separate booking accounts until 1924.
1992 rebuilding
The present station building opened on 19 August 1992. It consists of a large steel and glass frame suspended from a lightweight steel structure that straddles the track and platforms to a much greater extent than was possible with its VictorianVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
predecessor.
Four steel ladder mast
Mast radiator
A mast radiator is a radio mast or tower in which the whole structure itself functions as an antenna. This design is commonly used for transmitting antennas operating at low frequencies, in the VLF, LF and MF ranges, in particular those used for AM broadcasting. The metal mast is electrically...
s anchor the glass box and the whole gives the impression of a suspension bridge that stretches into the distance. External canopies
Canopy (building)
A canopy is an overhead roof or else a structure over which a fabric or metal covering is attached, able to provide shade or shelter. A canopy can also be a tent, generally without a floor....
cover the entrances, a cafe's open-air seating area and the approaches to the tram station. 440 m² of glass were used in the roof and 800 m² for the wall glazing. The architects were Alan Brookes Associates and the structural engineers YRM Anthony Hunt Associates.
2010 revamp plans
It was announced in 2010 that Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
had proposed a £20m project to revamp the station with an additional entrance and a short cut into the town centre. In September 2010, Croydon Council pledge £6m towards the revamp, ensuring that a bridge is included in the plans.
Destinations
The station has frequent services on the London - Gatwick Airport - Brighton line, the First Capital ConnectFirst Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
route from Gatwick via London Bridge and St Pancras International
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
to Bedford, and the London Bridge - Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
branch, recently re-equipped with new Class 171 DMUs
British Rail Class 171
The Class 171 Turbostar is a type of diesel multiple unit built by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England which is identical to the Class 170, except for the replacement of the BSI coupler with a Dellner coupler...
. It has electronic information displays showing next departures to some 80 stations.
All services except those to and from Uckfield are operated by 750 V DC third rail EMUs
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
. East Croydon serves destinations mainly in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, 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...
, Surrey
Surrey
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 Brighton & Hove
Brighton & Hove
Brighton and Hove is a unitary authority area and city on the south coast of England. It is England's most populous seaside resort.In 1997 Brighton and Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove, which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium...
, including Gatwick Airport, Horsham
Horsham
Horsham is a market town with a population of 55,657 on the upper reaches of the River Arun in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester...
, Caterham
Caterham
Caterham is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is geographically divided into two sections: Caterham on the Hill and Caterham Valley - the main town centre. The town lies close to the A22, a few miles south of Croydon, in a valley cut into the dip slope of the North Downs...
, Tattenham Corner
Tattenham Corner
Tattenham Corner is a small town in Surrey, UK, located inside the M25 motorway thus being part of the London commuter belt. It is home to the Epsom Downs Racecourse. The location is to the west of the A240, with the M25 approximately five miles to the south...
, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
and many suburban stations in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
and Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. It is one of the busiest commuter stations in Greater London.
Trains include First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
Thameslink
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
services to Brighton, Redhill
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
, Bedford, Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
and London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is an international airport located east of the town centre in the Borough of Luton in Bedfordshire, England and is north of Central London. The airport is from Junction 10a of the M1 motorway...
, which means that the station has direct services to two airports. They also serve stations in or near the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, including St Pancras International
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
, Farringdon
Farringdon station
Farringdon station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Clerkenwell, just north of the City of London in the London Borough of Islington...
, City Thameslink and London Blackfriars
Blackfriars station
Blackfriars station, also known as London Blackfriars, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the City of London, England. Its platforms will eventually span the River Thames a short distance downstream from Blackfriars Bridge. The current entrance is located on the...
.
Former services
Services from London Bridge to Tunbridge WellsTunbridge Wells railway station
Tunbridge Wells railway station serves Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. The station and all trains serving it are currently operated by Southeastern. It is located directly on the double-tracked electrified Hastings Line....
via Redhill
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
were operated by Southeastern
Southeastern (train operating company)
London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
until December 2008, when they were transferred to Southern
Southern (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...
.
CrossCountry services stopped at East Croydon on the route to Brighton which was withdrawn in December 2008.
There also used to be a half-hourly service to London Charing Cross operated by Southern
Southern (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...
, however, this was withdrawn after December 2009 when there were changes to the Southeastern timetables, meaning that these trains could not be fitted in any more.
Up (northbound)
Platform 1 serves fast up (northbound) trains, to London Victoria. Fast services to Bedford use platform 2. Fast and Stopping services to London Bridge and some to London Victoria use platform 4. Platform 5 both directions, has trains terminating from Milton KeynesMilton Keynes Central railway station
Milton Keynes Central railway station serves Central Milton Keynes and the surrounding area of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The station is located on the West Coast Main Line between the stations of Bletchley and Wolverton, both of which are also within Milton Keynes. The station is served by...
and services north to London Bridge mainly from Uckfield (most use Platform 4).
- 9 fast to London Victoria, calling at 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....
only - 2 stopping to London Victoria via 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...
- 7 to London Bridge:
- 1 fast
- 4 semi-fast, calling at 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:...
only - 2 calling at all stations via Sydenham
- 1 to Milton Keynes Central via Kensington Olympia and Watford JunctionWatford Junction railway stationOn 23 January 1975, an express train from Manchester to Euston derailed just south of Watford Junction after striking some stillages that had fallen on to the track. It then collided with a sleeper service from Euston to Glasgow. The driver of the Manchester train was killed, and eight passengers...
Operated by First Capital Connect:
- 4 to Bedford
Down (southbound)
Platforms 2 and 3 are used for the fast down (southbound) services, to Brighton and the Sussex Coast. Stopping services use platform 5 (both directions, normally used off-peak for trains terminating). Platform 6 is served by stopping services to Caterham and Tattenham Corner, and by services to OxtedOxted railway station
Oxted railway station is a relatively busy interchange station and terminus located in Surrey, in the South East region of England. At present, all train services are provided by Southern. The station is the busiest suburban station on the Oxted Line and is a terminus for some services on the...
, East Grinstead
East Grinstead railway station
East Grinstead railway station serves the town of East Grinstead in West Sussex. The station was formerly divided into two levels: the higher level platforms serving the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line, whilst the lower level platforms received services from the Oxted Line 49 km ...
and Uckfield. (Gatwick Express services pass through platforms 2 and 3 going southwards).
There are 27 train departures per hour off-peak during the week.
Operated by Southern
Southern (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...
:
- 2 to Brighton (non-stop)
- 1 to Brighton (stopping)
- 4 to CaterhamCaterham railway stationCaterham railway station serves the town of Caterham in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England.The station is the southern terminus of the Caterham Line, which branches from the London to Brighton main line at Purley...
- 2 to Tattenham CornerTattenham Corner railway stationTattenham Corner railway station is in Surrey, in England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is the terminus of the Tattenham Corner Line. London-bound trains head south as far as Tadworth, then turn east and finally north....
- 2 to East Grinstead via Oxted
- 1 to Uckfield via Oxted
- 2 to Bognor RegisBognor Regis railway stationBognor Regis railway station is in the town of Bognor Regis, in the English county of West Sussex, England. It is approximately 65 miles south of London Victoria. The station and the trains serving it are operated by Southern railway company...
via Crawley, portion for Portsmouth HarbourPortsmouth Harbour railway stationPortsmouth Harbour railway station is a railway station in Portsmouth, England. It is situated beside Gunwharf Quays in the city's harbour, and is an important transport terminal, with a bus interchange and ferry services to Gosport and the Isle of Wight. The station currently has four platforms:...
or Southampton CentralSouthampton Central railway stationSouthampton Central railway station is a main line railway station serving the city of Southampton in Hampshire, southern England. It is on the Wessex Main Line, the South Western Main Line and the West Coastway Line...
detached at Horsham - 1 to Portsmouth Harbour via Crawley
- 1 to Southampton Central via Crawley
- 2 to LittlehamptonLittlehampton railway stationLittlehampton railway station is in Littlehampton in the county of West Sussex. The station and the trains serving it are operated by Southern....
via Worthing, portion for EastbourneEastbourne railway stationEastbourne railway station serves Eastbourne in East Sussex, England. It is on the East Coastway Line, and train services are provided by Southern. It is one of two railway stations in the town, the other being Hampden Park Station...
or HastingsHastings railway stationHastings railway station is in Hastings in East Sussex, England. It is situated on the Hastings Line to Tunbridge Wells, the East Coastway Line to Brighton and the Marshlink Line to Ashford International....
detached at Haywards Heath - 1 to Eastbourne
- 1 to Hastings via Eastbourne
- 2 to HorshamHorsham railway stationHorsham railway station serves the town of Horsham in West Sussex, England. It is on the Arun Valley Line 61 km south of London Victoria and the Sutton & Mole Valley Lines, and train services are provided by Southern...
- 1 to TonbridgeTonbridge railway stationTonbridge railway station is a station serving the town of Tonbridge in Kent, England. It is a junction between two important commuter routes; the South Eastern Main Line serving Ashford, Ramsgate and Dover and the Hastings Main Line serving Tunbridge Wells and Hastings, as well as a branch to...
- 1 to ReigateReigate railway stationReigate railway station is in Surrey, England. On the North Downs Line, the station is managed by Southern, which provides an hourly service to London Bridge via Redhill...
- 1 to South Croydon
Operated by First Capital Connect:
- 2 to Brighton (semi-fast)
- 2 to Brighton (stopping)
Facilities
Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is a British coffeehouse company founded in 1971 by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa, as a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. Since 1995 it has been a subsidiary of Whitbread, since when the company has grown to over...
, Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
and Upper Crust
Upper Crust
Upper Crust is an international chain of baguette restaurants concentrated along commuter routes, their outlets are commonplace in stations and terminals. Branches are also present in some Universities in the UK, including City University, London. There are also branches at the central railway...
. Another entrance is next to the taxi rank on Billinton Hill just off Cherry Orchard Road
Cherry Orchard Road
Cherry Orchard Road is a road and planned building development in East Croydon, London. The street is part of the longer A222 road for all of its length...
, on the east side.
The ticket office usually becomes busy during peak hours as well as the ticket machines. Disabled-accessible slopes to all platforms are provided and there is a subway connecting all platforms. There are three waiting rooms on the platforms under a roof with plenty of standard metal seats. There are refreshment stalls and vending machines in the seating areas on the platforms. Trolleys are also available along with step-free access to all buffets.
East Croydon is one of the few stations to provide comfortable leather sofas for passengers, in the waiting room on platforms 3 and 4. They are often used by passengers from London Gatwick Airport between 2am and 4am who change at East Croydon to access Clapham Junction railway station
Clapham Junction railway station
Clapham 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....
but are required to wait for approximately 40 minutes for a connecting service from platform 4, if they miss the hourly direct service.
There are three cash machines/ATMs
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
opposite the west entrance.
Station expansion
As part of the Croydon Vision 2020Croydon Vision 2020
Croydon Vision 2020 is a regeneration programme by the London Borough of Croydon for the centre of Croydon in South London. The original study was carried out in 1999 by EDAW and is being taken forward through the Local Development Framework process...
regeneration scheme, East Croydon is to be expanded to both the west and the east. Work has been planned on the west side for some time, to increase station capacity, made more urgent by likely additional traffic from the planned Croydon Gateway
Croydon Gateway
Ruskin Square is the name given to a project to redevelop a block of land between East Croydon railway station and the existing town centre of Croydon in South London. It is part of the major Croydon Vision 2020 regeneration scheme...
nearby. A proposal by Arrowcroft, which included the 12,500-seat Croydon Arena was rejected in August 2008. Arrowcroft had proposed a £24 million expansion of the station with a new 'airport style' concourse above the tracks to the north of the current station. Arrowcroft had agreed to contribute £500,000 to the build costs to offset the impact of their proposed Arena. The source of the remaining £23.5 million was not identified, and Network Rail had not committed this expenditure in its capital plans.
The alternative scheme called Ruskin Square, by the owners of the site Stanhope Schroders, includes a contribution of £1.1 million for station capacity improvements that could be quickly implemented and integrated into their scheme for a new urban park, a rebuilt Warehouse Theatre
Warehouse Theatre
The Warehouse Theatre is a professional producing theatre with one hundred seats in the centre of the London Borough of Croydon, south London, England based in an oak-beamed former cement Victorian warehouse...
, a doctors' surgery, housing (50% "affordable") and modern offices on the Croydon Gateway site.
To the east, towards Cherry Orchard Road
Cherry Orchard Road
Cherry Orchard Road is a road and planned building development in East Croydon, London. The street is part of the longer A222 road for all of its length...
, the proposed towers result in an extension to the station. The architect is Make with the client Menta, engineer Knight Frank and GL Hearn. Originally this project was planned to start in 2009, but this has been put back to 2019 with the planned completion date in 2023. The mixed-use scheme is to total approximately 93,000 sq m (1 million sq ft) of modern accommodation in a series of crystalline towers. Of the total area, some 70% is planned to be residential accommodation, with the remaining 30% being of mixed commercial use, including offices and retail. Critical to all proposals around East Croydon station are improvements to transport interchange. No project has yet delivered the necessary funds for significant enhancements.
Oyster Card
Oyster Pay as you go (PAYG) has been valid for travel at East Croydon station since 2 January 2010.Thameslink Programme
The Thameslink ProgrammeThameslink Programme
The Thameslink Programme, originally Thameslink 2000, is a £6 billion project in south-east England to upgrade and expand the Thameslink rail network to provide new and longer trains between a wider range of stations to the north and to the south of London without requiring passengers to change...
(formerly known as Thameslink 2000), is a £3.5 billion major project to expand the Thameslink network
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
from 51 to 172 stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
spreading northwards to Bedford, Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
and southwards to Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Eastbourne, Horsham, Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
to Littlehampton, East Grinstead, Ashford
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
and Dartford
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, east south-east of central London....
. The project includes the lengthening of platforms, station remodelling, new railway infrastructure (e.g. viaducts) and additional rolling stock. When implemented, First Capital Connect services would call more often at the station and other stations in the Croydon area, including Purley and Norwood Junction.
Selhurst Depot
There is a large railway depot for 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 First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
trains to the north at Selhurst.
Transport Connections
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
, Purley Way
Purley Way
Purley Way is a section of the A23 trunk road in the London Borough of Croydon, in the areas of Purley, Waddon and West Croydon, and has given its name to the out-of-town shopping area alongside it with a catchment area covering most of South London. It was designed as a bypass for Croydon and was...
, Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
and places to the south. Route 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:...
, the longest London bus route, runs to Heathrow Airport via Sutton and Kingston.
Immediately outside the front of the station is the Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
stop, with services to Elmers End
Elmers End
Elmers End is a place in London Borough of Bromley, England. It has a large green space which is the centre of a gyratory. Very close to the combined railway station and Tramlink terminus bearing its name is the old sewage farm. The remains of this industrial site can still be seen...
, Beckenham Junction
Beckenham Junction station
Beckenham Junction is a railway station and a tram terminus in Beckenham, south east London. It is in the London Borough of Bromley and Travelcard Zone 4, 8.6 miles from London Victoria....
, New Addington
New Addington
New Addington is an area on the edge of South London in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a large local authority estate surrounded by open countryside, woodland and golf courses. The Prime Meridian crosses the eastern edge of New Addington...
and Wimbledon
Wimbledon station
Wimbledon station is a National Rail, London Underground, and Tramlink station located in Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton, and is the only London station that provides an interchange between rail, Underground, and Tramlink services...
. A major interchange on Tramlink, East Croydon has three tram platforms, two on an island, the other backing on to the main-line station concourse. Following problems with the points in this area, in August 2006 the points were fixed to route all eastbound trams into Platform 1, the concourse-side platform. The island platform can only be used by westbound trams and by trams terminating from the east.
Crime
In January 2006 the London AssemblyLondon Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
issued statistics of crime in main-line railway stations outside Zone 1. East Croydon, Clapham Junction and Walthamstow Central were the worst in terms of total number of crimes, as would be expected for the busiest stations. (A figure comparing crimes per 1000 passengers would be more meaningful).
Transport links
London bus routes 64, 119, 194, 197, 198, 250, 312, 367, 410, 466, T33 and night route N64, N68 and N109 pass the station and route 75, 154, 166, 403, 407, 412 and other route 917 7mins walk to the station.External links
- BBC News article on Croydon's trams
- BBC News article on East Croydon's position in the top 10 stations
- East Croydon tram stop on The TramsTramlinkTramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
website