Birkbeck station
Encyclopedia
Birkbeck station is a railway station and light rail
stop in the London Borough of Bromley
in the southern suburbs of London
. It is located on Elmers End Road (A214) and alongside Beckenham Crematorium.
in 1858, but was closed from 1860 to 1863 and again in 1915 until reopened in 1929 as part of the Southern Railway electrification scheme. A year later this new station was opened, to serve a growing suburban area, and named after the Birkbeck Freehold Lane Society, whose name derived from the Yorkshire philanthropist Dr Birkbeck. The tracks in the station are located well above street level; the buildings were damaged by fire in 1983. The two lines served are each single track, running together on the site of what was once a double track railway line. The northern railway line is served by a high level platform to the north of the track, whilst the southern light rail line is served by a low level platform to the south of the track. Each platform has its own access from the street, and the only access between the two platforms is via the street, with a fence between the two tracks to deter any attempt to cross the lines.
stop opened in 2000, with the rest of route 2 to the Croydon loop.
A proposed line alternative through Birkbeck station from Crystal Palace railway station
to Beckenham Junction was considered for conversion to a Tramlink
route but Transport for London
has dropped the plan on the grounds that the existing rail service is adequate.
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
stop in the London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
in the southern suburbs of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is located on Elmers End Road (A214) and alongside Beckenham Crematorium.
Network rail
The line and again through Birkbeck was opened as a double-track branch of the West End of London and Crystal Palace RailwayWest End of London and Crystal Palace Railway
The West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway was an early railway company in south London between Crystal Palace station and Wandsworth, which was opened in 1856. The line was extended in 1858 to a station at Battersea Wharf which was misleadingly named Pimlico...
in 1858, but was closed from 1860 to 1863 and again in 1915 until reopened in 1929 as part of the Southern Railway electrification scheme. A year later this new station was opened, to serve a growing suburban area, and named after the Birkbeck Freehold Lane Society, whose name derived from the Yorkshire philanthropist Dr Birkbeck. The tracks in the station are located well above street level; the buildings were damaged by fire in 1983. The two lines served are each single track, running together on the site of what was once a double track railway line. The northern railway line is served by a high level platform to the north of the track, whilst the southern light rail line is served by a low level platform to the south of the track. Each platform has its own access from the street, and the only access between the two platforms is via the street, with a fence between the two tracks to deter any attempt to cross the lines.
Tramlink
The one-platform TramlinkTramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
stop opened in 2000, with the rest of route 2 to the Croydon loop.
A proposed line alternative through Birkbeck station from Crystal Palace railway station
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...
to Beckenham Junction was considered for conversion to a Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
route but Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
has dropped the plan on the grounds that the existing rail service is adequate.