Epsom Downs railway station
Encyclopedia
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, is operated by Southern
, and is part of the Sutton & Mole Valley Line
services.
via Sutton, West Croydon
and Norbury
. After 7pm these services run via Crystal Palace
rather than Norbury. There is no service on a sunday
for horse races, 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 the 1920s. Services were cut back repeatedly over subsequent decades. In 1972 the number of working platforms was reduced to four, and following the destruction by fire of the 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 about 300 metres short of the original one. The old station and platforms were demolished and the land in between given over to a major housing development.
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....
and Epsom and Ewell
Epsom and Ewell
Epsom and Ewell is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England, covering the town of Epsom and the village of Ewell. The borough was formed as an urban district in 1894, and was known as Epsom until 1934. It was made a municipal borough in 1937...
boroughs of 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...
with the railway to the north forming a continuation of the boundary.
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 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.
Services
The typical off-peak service from the station is one train per 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...
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 a sunday
History
With high levels of passengers travelling to EpsomEpsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
for horse races, 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
London, 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...
'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
Tattenham Corner railway station
Tattenham Corner railway station is in Surrey, in England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is the terminus of the Tattenham Corner Line. London-bound trains head south as far as Tadworth, then turn east and finally north....
much closer to the racecourse on 4 June 1901 (Derby Day
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
) traffic declined, helped in particular by the Royal Train
Royal Train
A royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...
changing its destination to Tattenham Corner in the 1920s. Services were cut back repeatedly over subsequent decades. In 1972 the number of working platforms was reduced to four, and following the destruction by fire of the 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 about 300 metres short of the original one. The old station and platforms were demolished and the land in between given over to a major housing development.