Epsom Downs railway station

Epsom Downs National Rail
The station building, which now houses a day nursery
Epsom Downs is located in Surrey
Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs
Location of Epsom Downs in Surrey
LocationEpsom Downs
Local authorityBorough of Reigate and Banstead
Managed bySouthern
Station code(s)EPD
DfT categoryF1
Number of platforms1
AccessibleYes[1]
Fare zone6
National Rail annual entry and exit
2018–19Increase 0.110 million[2]
2019–20Increase 0.112 million[2]
2020–21Decrease 29,250[2]
2021–22Increase 67,982[2]
2022–23Increase 0.106 million[2]
Key dates
22 May 1865original station opened
3 October 1982line singled
13 February 1989station resited
Other information
External links
Coordinates51°19′25.3″N 0°14′20.1″W / 51.323694°N 0.238917°W / 51.323694; -0.238917
London transport portal

Epsom Downs railway station is in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead[a] in Surrey. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Southern. It is on the Epsom Downs line 18 miles 57 chains (18.71 miles, 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 remains.

Epsom Downs is near Tattenham Corner station which is on the Tattenham Corner line, also served by Southern. Both are in Travelcard Zone 6.

History

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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.[4] 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 on 3 October 1982.[5]

On 13 February 1989 a new station was opened 21 chains (420 m) short of the original one.[6] 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

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All services at Epsom Downs are operated by Southern using Class 377 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[7]

Prior to May 2018, the station was served by an hourly service on weekdays and Saturdays only, with no Sunday service. In May 2018, a half-hourly service was introduced on all days of the week.

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
SouthernTerminus

References

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  1. ^ "Network Map". Southern. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Estimates of station usage". 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. ^ Oppitz, Leslie (2002). Lost railways of Surrey. Reading: MRM. p. 131. ISBN 1-85306-771-7.
  5. ^ Marius, Callum (8 December 2021). "The peculiar Zone 6 railway station that 'looks like it's in somebody's back garden'". MyLondon. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  6. ^ "NFE Norwood Junction to Epsom Downs Line". Railway Codes. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  7. ^ Table 172 National Rail timetable, May 2022
  1. ^ The station is immediately adjacent to the boundary of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell.
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