Epsom Downs railway station

Epsom Downs National Rail
Epsom Downs
Location of Epsom Downs in Surrey
Location Epsom Downs
Local authority Borough of Reigate and Banstead
Managed by Southern
Station code EPD
DfT category F1
Number of platforms 1
Accessible Yes[1]
Fare zone 6
National Rail annual entry and exit
2012–13 Increase 83,370[2]
2013–14 Increase 86,994[2]
2014–15 Increase 89,074[2]
2015–16 Increase 0.112 million[2]
2016–17 Decrease 90,840[2]
Key dates
22 May 1865 original station opened
1982 line singled
13 February 1989 station resited
Other information
Lists of stations
External links
WGS84 51°19′25.3″N 0°14′20.1″W / 51.323694°N 0.238917°W / 51.323694; -0.238917Coordinates: 51°19′25.3″N 0°14′20.1″W / 51.323694°N 0.238917°W / 51.323694; -0.238917
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UK Railways portal

Epsom Downs railway station is a railway station located on the boundary of the Reigate and Banstead and Epsom and Ewell boroughs of Surrey, with the railway to the north forming a continuation of the boundary.

The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Southern, although a terminus of its own branch line is grouped as part of the Sutton & Mole Valley Lines. It is 18 miles 57 chains (30.11 km) down the line from London Bridge, measured via West Croydon.[3] In the past the station had nine platforms, but today only one is in use.

Epsom Downs is also served by nearby Tattenham Corner station, which is on the Tattenham Corner Line, also served by Southern. Both stations are located in Travelcard Zone 6.

History

With large numbers of passengers travelling to Epsom to visit the Epsom Downs Racecourse, it became clear that a station near the course was needed. Attempts to build one immediately next to it were strongly opposed by the Epsom Grandstand Association and eventually land was purchased half a mile from the course. Designed by David J. Field, the original station was opened on 22 May 1865 on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway's extension from Sutton. The line had double track and a nine-platform station with a large building.

With the opening of Tattenham Corner railway station, much closer to the racecourse, on 4 June 1901 (Derby Day), traffic declined, helped in particular by the Royal Train changing its destination to Tattenham Corner in 1925. Services were cut back repeatedly over subsequent decades. On 1 May 1972 the number of working platforms was reduced to two, and following the destruction by fire of Epsom Downs signal box in November 1981 almost the entire branch was reduced to single track operation in October 1982.

On 13 February 1989 a new station was opened 21 chains (420 m) short of the original one.[4] The old station and platforms were demolished and the land in between given over to a major housing development. The replacement station was installed by British Rail under the Network SouthEast sector.

4EPB in Epsom Downs in 1984.

Services

Services at the station are operated using a mixture of Class 377 and Class 455 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service (Monday to Saturday) from the station is:[5]

Sunday Service:

Preceding station National Rail Following station
Banstead   Southern
Epsom Downs Branch		   Terminus

References

  1. ↑ "Network Map". Southern. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Station usage estimates". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
  3. ↑ Yonge, John (November 2008) [1994]. Jacobs, Gerald, ed. Railway Track Diagrams 5: Southern & TfL (3rd ed.). Bradford on Avon: Trackmaps. map 22. ISBN 978-0-9549866-4-3.
  4. ↑ "NFE Norwood Junction to Epsom Downs Line". Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. ↑ https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable/ (Timetable No. 172, May 2018)
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