Kew Bridge railway station
Encyclopedia
Kew Bridge railway station is in the London Borough of Hounslow
, in west London
, and is in Travelcard Zone 3
. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains
.
The station, on the Hounslow Loop Line
, lies on the southern curve of the Kew Bridge railway triangle. It was opened in 1849 by the London and South Western Railway
(LSWR). The North & South Western Junction Railway opened its Kew station in 1853 (closed in 1866) on the western curve and in 1862 added on the eastern curve its Kew Bridge platforms (closed 1940) connected to the LSWR station. There are no passenger services on the eastern and western curves. Britain's largest cycle manufacturer, Brompton Bicycle
, is based behind the station, along the northeast edge of the railway triangle. Nearby attractions include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
, Kew Bridge Steam Museum
and the Musical Museum, Brentford
.
, is disused. The platforms are reached by a side walk-way. The building is rundown and gives the impression that the station is closed. A campaign in 2004 to have the station renovated came to nothing. The redevelopment of the nearby Lionel Road site may lead to some kind of overhaul of the station.
proposed that Crossrail
services from the east now intended to terminate at Paddington should run to Hounslow by a mix of existing line and new connections. None of this is supported by present Crossrail plans.
On Sundays there is one train per hour in each direction between Waterloo and via .
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
, in west 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...
, and is in Travelcard Zone 3
Travelcard Zone 3
Fare zone 3 is a 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 station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
.
The station, on the Hounslow Loop Line
Hounslow Loop Line
The Hounslow Loop Line is a railway line in southwest London which was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1850. It leaves the Waterloo to Reading Line at Barnes Junction and after some seven and a half miles rejoins it at a triangular junction between and...
, lies on the southern curve of the Kew Bridge railway triangle. It was opened in 1849 by the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(LSWR). The North & South Western Junction Railway opened its Kew station in 1853 (closed in 1866) on the western curve and in 1862 added on the eastern curve its Kew Bridge platforms (closed 1940) connected to the LSWR station. There are no passenger services on the eastern and western curves. Britain's largest cycle manufacturer, Brompton Bicycle
Brompton Bicycle
Brompton Bicycle is a manufacturer of folding bicycles based in Brentford, London.The Brompton folding bicycle and accessories are the company's core product, noted for its self-supporting compact size when stored. All available models of the folding bicycle are based on the same hinged bicycle...
, is based behind the station, along the northeast edge of the railway triangle. Nearby attractions include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, Kew Bridge Steam Museum
Kew Bridge Steam Museum
Kew Bridge Steam Museum houses a museum of water supply and a collection of water pumping steam engines. The museum is an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage...
and the Musical Museum, Brentford
Musical Museum, Brentford
The Musical Museum is a musical instrument museum located in Brentford, London Borough of Hounslow, a few minutes' walk from Kew Bridge railway station....
.
Overview
The Grade II listed main station building, designed by Sir William TiteWilliam Tite
Sir William Tite, CB was an English architect who served as President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He was particularly associated with various London buildings, with railway stations and cemetery projects....
, is disused. The platforms are reached by a side walk-way. The building is rundown and gives the impression that the station is closed. A campaign in 2004 to have the station renovated came to nothing. The redevelopment of the nearby Lionel Road site may lead to some kind of overhaul of the station.
Proposals
Hounslow CouncilLondon Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
proposed that Crossrail
Crossrail
Crossrail is a project to build a major new railway link under central London. The name refers to the first of two routes which are the responsibility of Crossrail Ltd. It is based on an entirely new east-west tunnel with a central section from to Liverpool Street station...
services from the east now intended to terminate at Paddington should run to Hounslow by a mix of existing line and new connections. None of this is supported by present Crossrail plans.
Service
The typical off-peak weekday service in trains per hour is- 6 to London WaterlooWaterloo stationWaterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
of which- 4 run direct via PutneyPutney railway stationPutney railway station is in Putney in the London Borough of Wandsworth, in south London, and is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 2 and Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains...
and - 2 run circuitously via BrentfordBrentford railway stationBrentford railway station, which between 1950 and 1980 was named Brentford Central, is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London. It is on the Hounslow Loop Line and in Travelcard Zone 4. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains...
- 4 run direct via Putney
- 2 to WeybridgeWeybridge railway stationWeybridge railway station serves Weybridge in the Elmbridge district of Surrey, England. It is located on the South Western Main Line operated by South West Trains, 19 miles from London Waterloo....
.
On Sundays there is one train per hour in each direction between Waterloo and via .
See also
- Kew BridgeKew BridgeKew Bridge is a bridge in London over the River Thames. The present bridge was designed by John Wolfe-Barry and opened in 1903 by King Edward VII. The bridge was givenGrade II listed structure protection in 1983.- Location :...
- KewKewKew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
- Royal Botanic Gardens, KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, KewThe Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
- Kew Gardens station (London)