Banstead railway station
Encyclopedia
Banstead railway station serves the one-time village, now extensive London suburb, of Banstead
in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead
in Surrey
. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern
, and is on the Epsom Downs
line, part of the Sutton & Mole Valley Line
services.
Banstead is situated just 100 metres beyond the boundary of Greater London
and since January 2006 has been included in Travelcard Zone 6
. The station lies some distance to the north-west of the High Street, on the edge of Banstead Downs.
, as part of the Epsom Downs branch line, on 22 May 1865. The branch was originally laid as double track because of the race traffic, and was electrified on 17 June 1928. In the 1940s the station's name was painted in large letters on the roof, in order to help as a navigation tool for pilots coming in to Croydon Airport
. Due to the destruction by fire of the Epsom Downs signal box in November 1981, the branch was singled for most of its length in October 1982, and trains stopping at Banstead now use only the Down platform, where there is a shelter, although the Up platform still exists.
, and back again, via Sutton, West Croydon
and Norbury
. After 7pm these services run via Crystal Palace
rather than Norbury. There is no service on Sundays
There is an electronic display showing arrivals and departures. A ticket machine was installed in October 2011 replacing a Permit to Travel machine and there are also 2 Oystercard readers
Banstead
Banstead is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in the county of Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It lies south of London, west of Croydon and of the county town of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt;...
in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead
Reigate and Banstead
Reigate and Banstead is a local government district with borough status in east Surrey England. It covers the towns of Reigate, Banstead, Redhill and Horley....
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
, and is on the Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is an area of chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey; in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the racecourse, the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 in oder that racehorses can be trained without interference. It is open to users such as ramblers,...
line, part of the Sutton & Mole Valley Line
Sutton & Mole Valley Line
The Sutton & Mole Valley Lines are a group of railway lines constructed between 1847 and 1868 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, the London and South Western Railway and the LBSCR-sponsored Horsham, Dorking and Leatherhead Railway.-Services:The scheduled services run along the Sutton...
services.
Banstead is situated just 100 metres beyond the boundary of Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
and since January 2006 has been included in Travelcard Zone 6
Travelcard Zone 6
Fare zone 6 is an outer zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services. The zone was created in January 1991; from May 1983 it had...
. The station lies some distance to the north-west of the High Street, on the edge of Banstead Downs.
Station buildings
The station was opened by the London, Brighton and South Coast RailwayLondon, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
, as part of the Epsom Downs branch line, on 22 May 1865. The branch was originally laid as double track because of the race traffic, and was electrified on 17 June 1928. In the 1940s the station's name was painted in large letters on the roof, in order to help as a navigation tool for pilots coming in to Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
. Due to the destruction by fire of the Epsom Downs signal box in November 1981, the branch was singled for most of its length in October 1982, and trains stopping at Banstead now use only the Down platform, where there is a shelter, although the Up platform still exists.
Train services
The typical off-peak service from the station is one train an hour, to London VictoriaVictoria station (London)
Victoria station, also known as London Victoria, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It is named after nearby Victoria Street and not Queen Victoria. It is the second busiest railway terminus in London after Waterloo, and includes an air terminal for passengers...
, and back again, via Sutton, West Croydon
West Croydon station
West Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
and Norbury
Norbury railway station
Norbury railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services and is in Travelcard Zone 3.Ticket barriers are in operation at this station.- Service :The typical off-peak train...
. After 7pm these services run via Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace railway station
Crystal Palace railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It is located in the Anerley area between the town centres of Crystal Palace and Penge...
rather than Norbury. There is no service on Sundays
There is an electronic display showing arrivals and departures. A ticket machine was installed in October 2011 replacing a Permit to Travel machine and there are also 2 Oystercard readers