Sydenham railway station (London)

Infobox London station
name = Sydenham


manager = Southern
zone = 3
locale = Sydenham
borough = London Borough of Lewisham
platforms = 2
railexits0405 = 1.586
railexits0506 = 1.544
railexits0607 = 2.14
railcode = SYD
start = 5 June 1839

Sydenham railway station serves Sydenham in the London Borough of Lewisham. The station is situated on Sydenham Road (A212). It has two platforms, each of which have shelters: four tracks run through the station. The station layout is unusual in that the two platforms do not face each other, but are staggered on either side of the foot bridge.

History

Sydenham station was originally a canal. Then it was bought by the London & Croydon Railway who drained it and was opened on 5 June 1839, and is the junction between the main line from London Bridge and Brighton main line and the “outer” South London Line.

There are, or have been, three other stations in the Sydenham area:
* Lower Sydenham on the Hayes line
* Upper Sydenham on the now closed Crystal Palace (High Level) line
* Sydenham Hill on the Victoria to Orpington line.

Services

The typical off-peak service is six trains an hour northbound to London Bridge (And on Sundays with two of four extended to Charing Cross) and six trains an hour southbound, of which two run to Sutton via West Croydon, two to Caterham via East Croydon and two London Victoria, via Crystal Palace. Peak time and Sunday services include trains to Tattenham Corner, Dorking and to Guildford.

Future

Sydenham will form part of the new southbound route of the London Overground that is due to open in Summer 2010.

In preparation for this extension Southern Railway installed three ticket barriers in July 2008. The congestion caused has become a matter of concern among many local people and the Mayor Sir Steve Bullock has said that the changes are "causing delays and inconvenience [on] a large scale" and "putting individuals who have mobility problems of any kind in a very difficult position.". [http://www.sydenham.org.uk/news_oystergate_3.html] , Sydenham.org, retrieved July 17, 2008.] Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.