Merton Park railway station
Encyclopedia
Merton Park railway station was a railway station in Merton
, Surrey (now southwest London), serving both the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line and the Tooting, Merton and Wimbledon Railway. Closed in 1997, part of the site now serves as a tram stop on the New Addington to Wimbledon line of the Tramlink
network.
The station opened as part of the newly constructed Tooting, Merton and Wimbledon Railway on 1 October 1868 at the junction with the preexisting West Croydon to Wimbledon Line. Initially named Lower Merton, it was renamed Merton Park on 1 September 1887.
Two platforms served the new line via Merton Abbey
to Tooting Junction station
with a third entering service on 1 November 1870 to serve the single track West Croydon to Wimbledon Line.
The Tooting platforms were suspended from use between 1 January 1917 and 27 August 1923 as a war-time cost saving measure, eventually closing permanently on 3 March 1929 when the line was closed to passengers;. Continuing in use for freight services through to the mid 1970's, the track was eventually lifted and most of the platforms fenced off. Limited passenger access was maintained, however, as it was necessary to cross both platforms and the intervening trackbed to reach platform 3 and the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line. Initially, a wooden walkway was laid across the trackbed, eventually replaced with a raised earth walkway.
Access to the station buildings was via the single entrance on Rutlish Road, a public footpath running alongside the line from (now demolished) signal box at the Kingston Road level crossing providing an alternative route for pedestrians.
Merton Park station continued to serve the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line until its withdrawal from service on 31 May 1997 for conversion into part of the Tramlink
system (Route 3 – New Addington to Wimbledon). Merton Park tram stop
now overlaps the site of the original station, the tram lines occupying the site of the trackbed and platform of the old line.
The original station building has been converted into a private house, forming part of a small housing development covering some of the original station site.
Part of the nearby long public footbridge (crossing both lines to provide access to playing fields from Dorset Road) is now located at Corfe Castle station
on the Swanage Railway
following its removal on closure of the Croydon line.
Merton Park
Merton Park is a place in the London Borough of Merton. It is a quiet and leafy suburb situated between Wimbledon, Morden, South Wimbledon and Wimbledon Chase. It is 7.3 miles south-west of Charing Cross...
, Surrey (now southwest London), serving both the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line and the Tooting, Merton and Wimbledon Railway. Closed in 1997, part of the site now serves as a tram stop on the New Addington to Wimbledon line of the Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
network.
History
Two platforms served the new line via Merton Abbey
Merton Abbey railway station
Merton Abbey railway station was a railway station in Merton on the Tooting, Merton and Wimbledon Railway. It was opened in 1868, became part of the Southern Railway in 1923...
to Tooting Junction station
Tooting Junction station
Tooting Junction railway station was a station in Tooting on the Merton branch of that railway. It was opened in 1868. It also served one line from Wimbledon into Central London....
with a third entering service on 1 November 1870 to serve the single track West Croydon to Wimbledon Line.
The Tooting platforms were suspended from use between 1 January 1917 and 27 August 1923 as a war-time cost saving measure, eventually closing permanently on 3 March 1929 when the line was closed to passengers;. Continuing in use for freight services through to the mid 1970's, the track was eventually lifted and most of the platforms fenced off. Limited passenger access was maintained, however, as it was necessary to cross both platforms and the intervening trackbed to reach platform 3 and the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line. Initially, a wooden walkway was laid across the trackbed, eventually replaced with a raised earth walkway.
Access to the station buildings was via the single entrance on Rutlish Road, a public footpath running alongside the line from (now demolished) signal box at the Kingston Road level crossing providing an alternative route for pedestrians.
Merton Park station continued to serve the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line until its withdrawal from service on 31 May 1997 for conversion into part of the Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
system (Route 3 – New Addington to Wimbledon). Merton Park tram stop
Merton Park tram stop
Merton Park tram stop is a halt on the Tramlink service in the London Borough of Merton.It overlaps part of the site of the former Merton Park railway station which was served by passenger trains on the West Croydon to Wimbledon Line until 1997, and by trains via Tooting Junction on the Merton...
now overlaps the site of the original station, the tram lines occupying the site of the trackbed and platform of the old line.
The original station building has been converted into a private house, forming part of a small housing development covering some of the original station site.
Part of the nearby long public footbridge (crossing both lines to provide access to playing fields from Dorset Road) is now located at Corfe Castle station
Corfe Castle railway station
Corfe Castle railway station is a railway station located in the village of Corfe Castle, in the English county of Dorset. Originally an intermediate station on the London and South Western Railway branch line from Wareham to Swanage, the line and station were closed by British Rail in 1972...
on the Swanage Railway
Swanage Railway
The Swanage Railway is a long heritage railway in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. The railway follows the route of the Purbeck branch line between Norden railway station, Corfe Castle railway station, Harman's Cross railway station, Herston Halt railway station and Swanage...
following its removal on closure of the Croydon line.