East Croydon station

East Croydon
Main entrance and Tramlink stop
East Croydon Location of East Croydon in Greater London
Location	Croydon
Local authority	London Borough of Croydon
Managed by	GTR Southern TfL (tram platforms)
Owner	Network Rail Transport for London
Station code	ECR
DfT category	B
Number of platforms	6 plus 3 Tramlink platforms
Accessible	Yes [1][2]
Fare zone	5
Tramlink annual boardings and alightings
2009–10	4.001 million[3]
2010–11	4.380 million[4]
National Rail annual entry and exit
2008–09	20.581 million[5]
— interchange	6.371 million[5]
2009–10	19.881 million[5]
2010–11	20.100 million[5]
— interchange	7.113 million[5]
2011–12	20.551 million[5]
— interchange	6.317 million[5]
2012–13	20.965 million[5]
— interchange	6.526 million[5]
2013–14	21.797 million[5]
— interchange	6.906 million[5]
2014–15	22.766 million[5]
— interchange	7.516 million[5]
Railway companies
Original company	London & Brighton Railway
Pre-grouping	London, Brighton & South Coast Railway
Post-grouping	Southern Railway
Key dates
12 July 1841	Opened as "Croydon"
July 1846	Renamed "Croydon East"
1 May 1862	Renamed "East Croydon"
1898	Expanded to 6 platforms
1 June 1909	Renamed "East Croydon Main"
July 1924	Amalgamated with "East Croydon Local" to form "East Croydon"[6]
19 August 1992	New station building opened
14 May 2000	Tramlink stop opened
Other information
Lists of stations	DLR Underground National Rail Tramlink
External links	Departures Layout Facilities Buses
London Transport portal UK Railways portalCoordinates: 51°22′31″N 0°05′32″W / 51.3752°N 0.0923°W

East Croydon is a railway station and tram stop in Croydon and is in Travelcard Zone 5. It is 10.35 miles (16.56 km) south of London Bridge. It is the largest and busiest station in Croydon. It is one of the busiest non-terminal stations in London and it is also one of the busiest non-terminal through stations in the United Kingdom.^[7] 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.

A Tramlink tram stop is located immediately outside the main station entrance.

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

East Croydon Station on 28 June 1990 prior to rebuilding and refurbishment

On 12 July 1841 the London & Brighton Railway (L&BR) began passenger services through Croydon station (now East Croydon) on the Brighton Line from London Bridge to Haywards Heath.^[8] The station was designed by the architect David Mocatta, the second station in the town since the London and Croydon Railway (L&CR) had opened its Croydon station (now West Croydon) 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 two railways.^[9] 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 shortly renamed East Croydon and West Croydon to avoid confusion.

New Croydon

With the completion of the line to Victoria between 1860 and 1862, extra platforms were needed to provide a terminal for LB&SCR suburban services to and from the West End of London whilst 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.^[10]

The 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 to a new terminus at South Croydon, which provided the additional operating room.^[11]

Central Croydon

In 1864, the LB&SCR obtained authorisation to construct a 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long branch line into the town centre near Katharine Street, where Central Croydon station was built. The line opened in 1868 but enjoyed little success and closed in 1871, only to reopen in 1886 under pressure from the council before finally closing in 1890. It was demolished and replaced by the town hall.^[12]

1894/95 rebuilding

By the late 1880s the station was 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 Oxted. As a result, the station was rebuilt and the tracks remodelled during 1894/5. At the same time the suburban lines were extended from South Croydon to Coulsdon North, where they joined the new Quarry line.^[13] In 1897–98, East Croydon and New Croydon were merged into a single station with the three island platforms that remain. The two stations kept separate booking accounts until the formation of the Southern Railway.^[14]

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 Victorian predecessor.

Four steel ladder masts 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 café's open-air seating area and the approaches to the tram stop. 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 Rail had proposed a £20m project to revamp the station with an additional entrance and a short cut into the town centre.^[15] In September 2010, Croydon Council pledged £6m towards the revamp, ensuring that a bridge is included in the plans.^[15] The new bridge was officially opened in December 2013, providing pedestrian transfer between platforms as well as a new entrance at the northern end of the platforms and a more direct link to the town centre.^[16]

Services

Destinations

The station has frequent services on the London – Gatwick Airport – Brighton line, the Thameslink route from Brighton via London Bridge and St Pancras International to Bedford, and the London Bridge – Uckfield branch. East Croydon serves destinations mainly in East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Brighton & Hove, including Gatwick Airport, Horsham, Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Brighton, Reigate, Hastings, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Portsmouth, Tonbridge and many suburban stations in South London and Hertfordshire.

Trains include 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.

Former services

Services from London Bridge to Tunbridge Wells via Redhill were operated by Southeastern until December 2008, when they were transferred to Southern and curtailed at Tonbridge.

CrossCountry services stopped at East Croydon on the route to Brighton and Newcastle, withdrawn in December 2008.

Southern services to London Charing Cross were withdrawn in December 2009.

Up (northbound)

Station platforms 2 and 3 on 9 February 2011

Platform 1 serves fast up (northbound) trains to Victoria. Fast services to Bedford use platform 2. Fast and stopping services to London Bridge and some to Victoria use platform 4 (platform 2 for Thameslink). Platform 5 serves both directions, with trains to Milton Keynes and services north to London Bridge mainly from Uckfield (most use Platform 4).

In trains per hour:

• 11 to London Victoria:
  • 9 fast, calling at Clapham Junction only
  • 2 stopping, via Norbury
• 11 to London Bridge:
  • 3 fast
  • 2 semi-fast, calling at Norwood Junction only
  • 2 semi-fast, calling at Norwood Junction and New Cross Gate
  • 2 stopping, calling at all stations via Forest Hill
• 1 to Milton Keynes Central, via Kensington Olympia and Watford Junction
• 4 to Bedford (operated by Thameslink)

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 Oxted, 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:

View of platforms 3 and 2 in the evening on 27 April 2004

• 3 to Brighton:
  • 2 non-stop
  • 1 stopping
• 4 to Caterham
• 2 to Tattenham Corner
• 2 to East Grinstead
• 1 to Uckfield
• 1 to Portsmouth Harbour and Bognor Regis via Horsham
• 1 to Southampton Central and Bognor Regis via Horsham
• 1 to Ore and Littlehampton
• 1 to Littlehampton and Eastbourne
• 2 to Horsham
• 1 to Tonbridge
• 1 to Reigate

Operated by Thameslink:

• 4 to Brighton:
  • 2 semi-fast
  • 2 stopping
• 2 to Three Bridges

Facilities

Electronic information board and shops on the concourse on 27 April 2004

The main entrance is from George Street.^[17] Another entrance is next to the taxi rank on Billinton Hill just off Cherry Orchard Road, on the east side. There are several shops within the main building.

After the new bridge was opened in 2013 (see 2010 revamp plans, above) a further entrance became available with a walkway leading to the junction of Lansdowne Road and Dingwall Road.

The ticket office and the ticket machines usually become busy during peak hours. Disabled-accessible slopes to all platforms are provided and there is a footbridge connecting all platforms. There are three waiting rooms on the platforms with standard metal seats. There are refreshment stalls and vending machines in the seating areas on the platforms. Trolleys are available along with step-free access to buffets.^[18]

Oyster Pay as you go (PAYG) and contactless payments are accepted on journeys within London Travelcard zones.

There are electronic information displays showing departures to 80 stations.

Future

Station expansion

All three tracks of the trams in use at the East Croydon stop

A tram having just left East Croydon

Tramlink route 1 service in December 2008

Several plans for station expansion have been put forward; none of which were confirmed to be happening by January 2015.

As part of the Croydon Vision 2020 regeneration scheme, East Croydon is planned 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.^[19] Arrowcroft had proposed a £24 million expansion of the station with a new 'airport style' concourse above the tracks to the north of the 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 planned contribution of £1.1 million for station capacity improvements that could be quickly implemented and integrated into their planned 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 for approximately 93,000 sq m (1 million sq ft) of accommodation in a series of crystalline towers. Some 70% of the area is planned to be residential accommodation, with the remaining 30% mixed commercial use, including offices and retail. Critical to all proposals are improvements to transport interchange. No project has yet delivered the necessary funds for significant enhancements.

Renaming Proposal

In late 2014 plans were made to rename the station "Croydon Central".^[20]

Thameslink Programme

The Thameslink Programme (formerly Thameslink 2000) is a proposed £3.5 billion major project to expand the Thameslink network from 51 to 172 stations^[21] 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. If implemented, Thameslink services might 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 Southern and Thameslink trains to the north at Selhurst.

Transport connections

The Tramlink tram interchange outside the station on 27 April 2004

East Croydon is well served by both tram and bus, with a tram stop outside and a bus station close by. 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 station is the Tramlink stop, with services to Elmers End, Beckenham Junction, New Addington and Wimbledon. A major interchange, East Croydon has three tram platforms, two on an island, the other backing on to the station entrance. Following problems with the points in this area, in August 2006 they were fixed to route all eastbound trams into Platform 1, the concourse-side platform. The island platform can be used only by westbound trams and by trams terminating from the east.

Crime

In January 2006 the London Assembly issued statistics of crime in main-line railway stations outside Zone 1. East Croydon, Clapham Junction and Walthamstow Central were the worst affected. Both councils and railway companies were blamed.^[22]

References

1. "London and South East" (PDF). National Rail Enquiries. National Rail. September 2006. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 March 2009.
2. "Network Map". Southern. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
3. "Tram Stop Usage 2009-10 (FOI)" (XLS). Tramlink annual passenger performance 2009-2010. Transport for London. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
4. "Tramlink numbers 2010-2011" (PDF). Tramlink annual passenger performance 2010-2011. Transport for London. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
5. "Station usage estimates". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
6. Butt, R.V.J. (1995): The Directory of Railway Stations, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Sparkford, ISBN 1-85260-508-1, p. 87
7. "Estimates of station usage". Office of Rail Regulation. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
8. White, H.P. (1992). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Southern England V. 2 (Regional Railway History Series). Nairn, Scotland: David St John Thomas. p. 79. ISBN 0-946537-77-1.
9. Treby, Edward (March 1974). "The Central Croydon Branch". Railway World 35 (407): 106.
10. Turner, John Howard (1978). The London Brighton and South Coast Railway 2 Establishment and Growth. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-1198-8. p. 240-1
11. Turner (1978) p. 242
12. Treby, E., op. cit. p. 106
13. Turner, John Howard (1979). The London Brighton and South Coast Railway 3 Completion and Maturity. Batsford. p. 94. ISBN 0-7134-1389-1.
14. White, H.P., op. cit. p. 79
15. "£6m plan to refurbish station". Croydon Guardian (Newsquest Media Group). 15 September 2010. p. 2. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
16. Austen, Ian (6 December 2013). "PICTURES: Opening of new £20 million bridge at East Croydon station". croydonadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
17. Transport for London map of local bus stops in East Croydon published by TfL, 2007
18. "National Rail information on the station facilities" (Press release). Retrieved 8 December 2007.
19. Public inquiry website Persona Associates
20. Local Guardian Newspaper
21. "Good news for South London as £3.5BN Thameslink project clears major hurdle" (Press release). 18 October 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
22. Crime statistics East Croydon, Clapham Junction, Walthamstow BBC News

External links

• Train times and station information for East Croydon station from National Rail
• grid reference TQ2512230
• 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 Trams website