West Drayton railway station
Encyclopedia
West Drayton railway station is a railway station serving West Drayton
, a western suburb of London
, England
. The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western
from to stations.
, and was opened on 4 June 1838 at the same time as the line. However the original station was located slightly to the west of the current station, and was relocated to its current position from 9 August 1884 when the branch to Staines
was opened. From 1 March 1883, the station was served by District Railway services running between and Windsor. The service was discontinued as uneconomic after 30 September 1885.
West Drayton was the junction station for both the Staines branch, and an earlier branch to that opened in 1856. The Uxbridge branch
closed to passengers in 1962, but part of the line was retained for freight traffic until 1979. The Staines branch closed to passengers in 1965, but the section of the line as far as Colnbrook
remains open to freight traffic, latterly for the delivery of materials for the construction of Heathrow Airport's new terminal 5.
From 1895 the station was named West Drayton and Yiewsley; it reverted to the original name West Drayton on 6 May 1974.
and immediately to the south of the Grand Union Canal
, in the London Borough of Hillingdon
.
The station has five platform faces. From south to north there is a platform on the down (away from London) fast line, an island platform with faces on the up fast line and the down relief (slow) line, and an island platform with faces on the up relief line and on a loop line to the north of the up relief originally used by trains on the two branch lines. The platforms on the fast lines see little use, other than when the slow lines are closed for maintenance. Access between the platforms is via steps and a pedestrian underpass. Stockley Park
is a large business estate located between Hayes and West Drayton, and is shown on the platform signage.
can be used for journeys originating or ending at West Drayton.
To learn more about West Drayton check the community website at http://www.ub7.org.
West Drayton
West Drayton is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon in the far west of London, England. Formerly part of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District of Middlesex, the district became part of Greater London in 1965....
, a western suburb of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
from to stations.
History
West Drayton station is on the original line of the Great Western RailwayGreat Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
, and was opened on 4 June 1838 at the same time as the line. However the original station was located slightly to the west of the current station, and was relocated to its current position from 9 August 1884 when the branch to Staines
Staines and West Drayton Railway
The Staines & West Drayton Railway is a former railway on the western edge of London, England. It was about 5½ miles long and ran roughly north-south along the River Colne. It opened from West Drayton on the Great Western Main Line to Colnbrook in 1884 and reached Staines the next year...
was opened. From 1 March 1883, the station was served by District Railway services running between and Windsor. The service was discontinued as uneconomic after 30 September 1885.
West Drayton was the junction station for both the Staines branch, and an earlier branch to that opened in 1856. The Uxbridge branch
Uxbridge branch
The Uxbridge Branch Line was a railway line between West Drayton and Uxbridge. The line branched from the Great Western Main Line at West Drayton and ran two miles north to Uxbridge Vine Street.- History :...
closed to passengers in 1962, but part of the line was retained for freight traffic until 1979. The Staines branch closed to passengers in 1965, but the section of the line as far as Colnbrook
Colnbrook
Colnbrook is a large village in the unitary authority of Slough, in Berkshire, England. It is situated southeast of central Slough, east of Windsor and west of central London....
remains open to freight traffic, latterly for the delivery of materials for the construction of Heathrow Airport's new terminal 5.
From 1895 the station was named West Drayton and Yiewsley; it reverted to the original name West Drayton on 6 May 1974.
Description
West Drayton station is situated to the north of the centre of West DraytonWest Drayton
West Drayton is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon in the far west of London, England. Formerly part of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District of Middlesex, the district became part of Greater London in 1965....
and immediately to the south of the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
, in the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
.
The station has five platform faces. From south to north there is a platform on the down (away from London) fast line, an island platform with faces on the up fast line and the down relief (slow) line, and an island platform with faces on the up relief line and on a loop line to the north of the up relief originally used by trains on the two branch lines. The platforms on the fast lines see little use, other than when the slow lines are closed for maintenance. Access between the platforms is via steps and a pedestrian underpass. Stockley Park
Stockley Park
Stockley Park is a business estate located between Hayes and West Drayton in the London Borough of Hillingdon.It is home to over 33 companies such as Apple Inc...
is a large business estate located between Hayes and West Drayton, and is shown on the platform signage.
Ticket facilities
As of October 2008, Oyster "pay as you go"Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
can be used for journeys originating or ending at West Drayton.
Services
West Drayton station is served by stopping services run by First Great Western between and as well as two trains per hour to Oxford. These services run seven days a week with 4 trains hourly — two from Reading and two from Oxford. Typical journey times are just over 20 minutes to Paddington, and just under 40 minutes to Reading.External links
- Train times and station information, from National RailNational RailNational 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...
To learn more about West Drayton check the community website at http://www.ub7.org.