East Croydon station

Infobox London station
name = East Croydon


caption = Main entrance along with Tramlink stop
manager = Southern
zone = 5
locale = Croydon
borough = London Borough of Croydon
platforms = 6 (+3 for Tramlink) [ [http://www.croydon-tramlink.co.uk/pictures/driver/croydon.shtml East Croydon tram stop and Croydon Loop] "The Unofficial Tramlink Site"]
railexits0405 = 14.739
railexits0506 = 15.398
railexits0607 = 19.517
railcode = ECR
years = 12 July 1841
events = Opened as "Croydon"
years1 = February 1850
events1 = Renamed "Croydon East"
years2 = 1 May 1862
events2 = Renamed "East Croydon"
years3 = 1 June 1909
events3 = Renamed "East Croydon Main"
years4 = July 1924 [Butt, R.V.J. (1995). "The Directory of Railway Stations", Patrick Stephens Ltd, Sparkford, ISBN 1-85260-508-1, p. 87.]
events4 = Amalgamated with "East Croydon Local" to form "East Croydon"
years5 = 19 August 1992
events5 = New station building opened
years6 = 14 May 2000
events6 = Tramlink stop opened
years7 = 2011
events7 = New airport style platforms due to open "(proposed)"

East Croydon station is a railway station and tram stop in Croydon, 9.3 miles (15 km) south of Charing Cross in Travelcard Zone 5. East Croydon is the largest and busiest station in Croydon and the third busiest in London outside of Travelcard Zone 1. 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 is the only station in the London area to be served by CrossCountry

History

Opening

"Croydon" station was opened on 12 July 1841 by the London & Brighton Railway (L&BR) with the inauguration of passenger services on what eventually became the present Brighton Main Line from Norwood as far as Haywards Heath. [Cite book | author=White, H.P. | authorlink= | coauthors= | title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Southern England V. 2 (Regional Railway History Series) | date=1992 | publisher=David St John Thomas | location=Nairn, Scotland | isbn=0-946537-77-1 | pages=p. 79] The station was jointly administered by the L&BR (which became the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) in 1846) with the South Eastern Railway (SER); fares to London from Croydon were common to the station's joint users. [ cite journal|title=The Central Croydon Branch|journal=Railway World|date=March 1974|first=Edward|last=Treby|volume=35|issue=407|pages=106 |url=|format=|accessdate=2008-07-11 ] With the opening of the LBSCR's line to London Victoria in 1860, extra platforms were provided which were treated by the LBSCR as forming part of a separate station named "New Croydon". The SER was excluded from this station which ran exclusively LBSCR services to London at fares cheaper than those which the SER could offer from the original station. [White, H.P., op. cit. p. 79.]

In 1864, the LBSCR obtained authorisation to construct a ½-mile long branch line into the heart of the town centre near Katharine Street where Croydon Central station 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. The station was subsequently demolished and replaced by the new Town Hall. [Treby, E., op. cit. p. 106.] In 1897-98, East Croydon and New Croydon stations were merged into a single station equipped with the three island platforms which remain to this day. Even so, the two stations kept separate booking accounts until 1924. [White, H.P., op. cit. p. 79.]

1992 rebuilding

The present East Croydon 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 cafes 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.

Services

Destinations

The station is well served, with frequent services on the London - Gatwick Airport - Brighton line, the First Capital Connect route from Gatwick via London Bridge and St Pancras International to Bedford, and the London Bridge - Uckfield branch, recently overhauled with new Class 171 DMUs. It is well provided with electronic information displays, showing next departures to some 80 named stations.All services, except Cross Country and Uckfield services, are provided by 750 V DC third rail EMUs. East Croydon serves destinations mainly in the South of England. East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Brighton & Hove are the counties which are usually served. Destinations include Gatwick Airport, Horsham, Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Brighton, Hastings, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Portsmouth and the royal town of Tunbridge Wells, as well as many suburban stations in South London and Hertfordshire. It is one of the busiest commuter stations in Greater London. On weekdays and Saturdays there is a stopping train to Manchester via Reading and Birmingham.

Trains from East Croydon also include First Capital Connect services on the Thameslink line. Services go to Bedford, Brighton, Redhill, Luton and London Luton Airport which makes the station serve two airports. Also the stations in the City of London can be served from the station, these include St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink and London Blackfriars. Charing Cross is served by East Croydon on Sundays and early morning, late evening trains.

Almost all passenger services from East Croydon are operated by Southern. It operates local and suburban services on the Brighton Main Line, express services to London Victoria and London Bridge, and local services in the South East region. These routes are collectively known as the South Central network.

There are also some off-peak services to on the Redhill to Tonbridge Line to Tunbridge Wells, calling at many rural stations, which are operated by Southeastern but will be transferred to Southern in 2009. Both Southeastern and Southern are both owned by Govia.

Up (northbound)

Platforms 1 and 2 serve fast up (northbound) trains, to London Bridge, London Victoria and Bedford. Stopping services to London Bridge use platforms 4, as well as occasional fast trains towards the London terminus and 5 (both directions, normally used off-peak for trains terminating there). There are 43 train departures per hour going north off-peak during the week.

Typical off-peak service in trains per hour, operated by Southern:

*8 fast to London Victoria (calling only at Clapham Junction)
*2 stopping to Victoria (via Thornton Heath)
*7 to London Bridge:
**1 fast to London Bridge
**1 semi-fast to London Bridge (via Norwood Junction only)
**2 stopping (via Forest Hill)
**2 stopping (via Crystal Palace and Tulse Hill)
*2 to Charing Cross
*1 to Watford Junction

Operated by Southeastern:
*1 to London Bridge (via Norwood Junction only)

Operated by First Capital Connect:
*4 to Bedford

Operated By Crosscountry
*2 per day to Manchester Piccadilly

Down (southbound)

Platform 3 (and sometimes platform 2 as well) is 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 there). Platform 6 is served by stopping services to Caterham and Tattenham Corner, and by services to Oxted, East Grinstead and Uckfield.

There are 37 train departures per hour off-peak during the week.

Operated by Southern:
*2 to Brighton (fast)
*1 to Brighton (semi-fast)
*4 to Caterham
*2 to Smitham
*2 to Tattenham Corner
*2 to East Grinstead
*1 to Uckfield
*2 to Bognor Regis (via Crawley, divides with the Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton Central service at Horsham).
*1 to Portsmouth Harbour via Crawley
*1 to Southampton Central via Crawley
*2 to Littlehampton (via Worthing, divides with the Eastbourne or Hastings service at Haywards Heath)
*1 to Eastbourne (via Lewes)
*1 to Hastings (via Eastbourne)
*1 to Horsham

Operated by Southeastern:
*1 to Tunbridge Wells

Operated by First Capital Connect:
*2 semi-fast to Brighton (via Haywards Heath)
*2 stopping to Brighton (via Three Bridges)

Facilities

The main entrance to the station is from George Street, into the main concourse of the station. [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/eastcroydon-10273.pdf Transport for London map of local bus stops in East Croydon] published by Tfl, 2007.] There are numerous shops here which include, but are not limited to, WHSmith, Costa Coffee, Burger King and Upper Crust. There are also different refreshment shops and vending machines in the seating areas on the platforms.

Another entrance to the station is next to the taxi rank on Billinton Hill just off of Cherry Orchard Road. The ticket office usually becomes busy during peak hours as well as the ticket machines. A disabled-accessible slope to all platforms is provided and there is a subway between all platforms further along the station. There are three waiting rooms on the platforms under a roof with plenty of standard metal seats. Trolleys are also available along with step-free access to all buffets. [cite press release |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/ECR.html#Station_Facilities|title=National Rail information on the station facilities| date= |accessdate=2007-12-07]

Future

tation expansion

As part of the Croydon Vision 2020 re-generation scheme East Croydon station is to be expanded both ways. Towards the west there have been plans to increase capacity at East Croydon Station have existed for some time. Urgency has been added to this by the pressure that development plans for the Croydon Gateway site adjacent to the station. A proposal by Arrowcroft, which included a 12,500 seat arena, Croydon Arena, was rejected in August 2008 [http://www.persona.uk.com/croydongateway/index.htm (public inquiry website)] . Arrowcroft had proposed a £24 million expansion of the station with a new 'airport style' station concourse flying above the tracks to the north of the current station. Arrowcroft had agreed to contribute £500,000 to the build costs to ameliorate the impact of their proposed Arena. 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 be 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.

In the east towards Cherry Orchard Road, the proposed towers would also result in an extension to the station. The architect would be "Make" with the client "Menta", engineer "Knight Frank" and "GL Hearn". Originally this project would have started in 2009 but after many delays the construction start date has been put back to 2019 with the completion date in 2023. The mixed-use scheme will total approximately 93,000 sq m (1 million sq ft) of new, state-of-art accommodation, designed as a series of stunning, crystalline towers. Of the total area, some 70% will 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

Pay-as-you-go Oyster Card can not be used at the station at the moment even though there are ticket barriers which could be upgraded. [ [http://www.southernrailway.com/news.php Oyster Card to come to the Southern network] ] Southern and sister company Southeastern were criticized in January 2007 for not wishing to introduce Oyster Pay As You Go on their London routes, stating that it was not financially viable. Southern and other London train operators have now agreed to introduce Oyster following financial support being offered by Ken Livingstone, the (former) Mayor of London.

Thameslink Programme

The Thameslink Programme (formerly known as Thameslink 2000), is a £3.5 billion major project to expand the Thameslink network from 51 to 172 stations [cite press release |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2413&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=8 |title=Good news for South London as £3.5BN Thameslink project clears major hurdle | date=2006-10-18 |accessdate=2007-04-12] 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. viaduct) 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 depot for Southern and First Capital Connect trains, located just to the north of the station. Units serviced there include classes 171, 319, 377, and 455 plus numerous departmental units and Class 9 shunters. Selhurst Depot is the first train depot, going south, on the Brighton Main Line London Bridge branch; there is another depot, Balham Depot, on the Victoria Branch.

Transport Connections

East Croydon is well served by both tram and bus, with a tram station outside and a bus station close by. At the bus station there are a large number of London Bus services that reach Central London, Purley Way, Bromley, Lewisham and a number of other civic centres in the South. London Buses route X26, the longest London bus route in London, provides services to Heathrow Airport via Richmond and Sutton.

Immediately outside the front is the Tramlink stop, with services to Elmers End, Beckenham Junction, New Addington and Wimbledon, and a bus station. A major interchange on Tramlink, East Croydon has three 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. Thus the island platform can only be approached from the east, by westbound trams or terminating eastbound trams.

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 in terms of total number of crimes. This statistic should be viewed in context however, since these are among the busiest overground stations outside Zone 1; a figure comparing crimes per 1000 passengers would be more meaningful. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4661136.stm Crime statistics East Croydon, Clapham Junction, Walthamstow (BBC News)] ]

Gallery

External links

*gbmapping|TQ2512230
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1765604.stm BBC News article on Croydon's trams]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6927406.stm BBC News article on East Croydon's position in the top 10 stations]
* [http://www.thetrams.co.uk/stops.php?section=croydon&stop=East+Croydon East Croydon tram stop] on The Trams website

References