Epsom Downs railway station

Epsom Downs railway station is in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead [lower-alpha 1] in Surrey. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Southern. A terminus of its own branch line is grouped as part of the Sutton and Mole Valley lines. It is 18 miles 57 chains (30.11 km) down the line from London Bridge, measured via West Croydon.[3] In the past the station had nine platforms, but today only one is in use.

Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs
Location of Epsom Downs in Surrey
LocationEpsom Downs
Local authorityBorough of Reigate and Banstead
Managed bySouthern
Station codeEPD
DfT categoryF1
Number of platforms1
AccessibleYes[1]
Fare zone6
National Rail annual entry and exit
2014–15 89,074[2]
2015–16 0.112 million[2]
2016–17 90,840[2]
2017–18 87,940[2]
2018–19 0.110 million[2]
Key dates
22 May 1865original station opened
3 October 1982line singled
13 February 1989station resited
Other information
External links
WGS8451.323694°N 0.238917°W / 51.323694; -0.238917
 London transport portal

Epsom Downs is near Tattenham Corner station which is on the Tattenham Corner line, also served by Southern. Both are in Travelcard Zone 6.

History

With large numbers of passengers travelling to Epsom to visit the Epsom Downs Racecourse, 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 1925. Services were cut back repeatedly over subsequent decades. On 1 May 1972 the number of working platforms was reduced to two, and following the destruction by fire of Epsom Downs signal box in November 1981 almost the entire branch was reduced to single track operation on 3 October 1982.

On 13 February 1989 a new station was opened 21 chains (420 m) short of the original one.[4] The old station and platforms were demolished and the land in between given over to a major housing development. The replacement station was installed by British Rail under the Network SouthEast sector.

4EPB in Epsom Downs in 1984.

Services

Services at the station are operated using a mixture of Class 377 and Class 455 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service from the station is, as of May 2018:[5]

Epsom Downs, like all other stations on the line, has experienced a significant upgrade in services, in the recent years. Until, May 2018, the station was served by an hourly service to London Victoria, from Monday to Saturday, with no service on Sunday. However, since then, a half hourly service has been in operation 7 days a week.

Preceding station National Rail Following station
Banstead   Southern
Epsom Downs Branch		   Terminus
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References
  1. "Network Map". Southern. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. "Station usage estimates". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
  3. Yonge, John (November 2008) [1994]. Jacobs, Gerald (ed.). Railway Track Diagrams 5: Southern & TfL (3rd ed.). Bradford on Avon: Trackmaps. map 22. ISBN 978-0-9549866-4-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  4. "NFE Norwood Junction to Epsom Downs Line". Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/timetabling/electronic-national-rail-timetable/ (Timetable No. 172, May 2018)
  1. The station is immediately adjacent to the boundary of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell.
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