South Croydon railway station

South Croydon
South Croydon Location of South Croydon in Greater London
Location	South Croydon
Local authority	London Borough of Croydon
Managed by	Southern
Station code	SCY
DfT category	D
Number of platforms	5 (2 in use; 3 at peak times)
Fare zone	5
National Rail annual entry and exit
2004–05	0.802 million[1]
2005–06	0.772 million[1]
2006–07	1.114 million[1]
2007–08	1.196 million[1]
2008–09	1.150 million[1]
2009–10	1.130 million[1]
2010–11	1.128 million[1]
2011–12	1.223 million[1]
2012–13	1.224 million[1]
2013–14	1.286 million[1]
2014–15	1.294 million[1]
Key dates
1 September 1865	Opened
Other information
Lists of stations	DLR Underground National Rail Tramlink
External links	Departures Layout Facilities Buses
London Transport portal UK Railways portalCoordinates: 51°21′46″N 0°05′37″W / 51.3629°N 0.0937°W

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

Originally South Croydon was a terminus next to the through lines of the Brighton Line but without any platforms on them, the end of a 1 mile (1.6 km) extension of the local lines from New Croydon, opened by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway on 1 September 1865. The aim was to provide more space for reversing local trains than could be afforded at busy New Croydon. The rapid growth of the town in this area may also have been a factor.^[2]

In 1894 the railway obtained authority to extend the local lines to Coulsdon, where they connected with the new Quarry line. The station was rebuilt as a through station with platform faces on all lines prior to the opening of the line in November 1899.^[3]

In 1947 a train crash about 550 yards (500 m) south of the station killed 32 people, the worst accident in the history of the Southern Railway.

On 1 August 2011, a landslide caused by a burst water main occurred approximately 200 yards (180 m) north of the station, blocking the railway for 24 hours.^[4][5]

Station platforms

Platforms

South Croydon has five platforms connected by a narrow subway.

The tracks through platforms 1 and 2 are used by services that do not call, for example fast Southern services from London Victoria to Brighton, Thameslink services and Gatwick Express. Platform 3 is used by up trains to London Bridge and London Victoria. Platform 4 is used by services that do not call, heading southbound, except some peak time services in both directions. Platform 5 is used by down trains to Caterham and other destinations.

Ticket gates became operational in April 2009.

Services

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:

• 2 to London Victoria via East Croydon and Norbury
• 2 to London Bridge via East Croydon and Forest Hill
• 4 to Caterham

At peak times services operate to other destinations, including East Grinstead, via Oxted, and Tattenham Corner.

Connections

London Buses route 64, 403, 412, 455, T33 and night route N64 serve the station.

References

1. "Station usage estimates". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
2. Turner, John Howard (1978). The London Brighton and South Coast Railway 2 Establishment and Growth. Batsford. p. 242. ISBN 0-7134-1198-8.
3. Turner, John Howard (1979). The London Brighton and South Coast Railway 3 Completion and Maturity. Batsford. pp. 114–5. ISBN 0-7134-1389-1.
4. "Gatwick Airport passengers hit by railway line flood". BBC News (London). 1 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
5. "Gatwick Airport rail disruption continues after flooding". BBC News (London). 2 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.

External links

• Train times and station information for South Croydon railway station from National Rail