Birkbeck station

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Birkbeck Tramlink National Rail
Birkbeck stn mainline look east2.JPG
Station in 2008
Birkbeck is located in Greater London
Birkbeck
Birkbeck
Location of Birkbeck in Greater London
LocationAnerley
Local authorityLondon Borough of Bromley
Managed bySouthern
Station codeBIK
DfT categoryF2
Number of platforms1 (main line)
1 (Tramlink)
Fare zone4
Tramlink annual boardings and alightings
2009–100.186 million[1]
2010–110.186 million[2]
National Rail annual entry and exit
2016–17Decrease 82,662[3]
2017–18Increase 0.108 million[3]
2018–19Increase 0.137 million[3]
2019–20Increase 0.148 million[3]
2020–21Decrease 33,850[3]
Railway companies
Original companySouthern Railway
Post-groupingSouthern Railway
Key dates
1858Line opens
1915Line closes
3 March 1929line reopens
2 March 1930Opening of station
1983station reduced to single platform
2000Tramlink starts
Other information
External links
WGS8451°24′14″N 0°03′24″W / 51.4039°N 0.0568°W / 51.4039; -0.0568Coordinates: 51°24′14″N 0°03′24″W / 51.4039°N 0.0568°W / 51.4039; -0.0568
Underground sign at Westminster.jpg London transport portal

Birkbeck is a railway station and light rail stop in the London Borough of Bromley in the southern suburbs of London. On the rail network it is 10 miles 26 chains (16.6 km) measured from London Victoria. It is located on Elmers End Road (A214) and alongside Beckenham Crematorium.

History and layout[]

National Rail[]

The line through Birkbeck was opened as a double-track branch of the West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway 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, on 2 March 1930, a new station was opened,[4] to serve a growing suburban area, and named after the Birkbeck Freehold Land Society, whose name derived from the Yorkshire philanthropist George Birkbeck.[5] In 1983 the line between Beckenham Junction and Bromley Junction was reduced to single track and the former up line and up platform was abandoned. The track was subsequently removed and the station building demolished.[6]

The tracks in the station are located well above street level; the National Rail buildings were damaged by fire in 1983.

When the Croydon Tramlink was constructed a single line through the station was laid using the trackbed of the former BR up line and the former BR up platform was rebuilt. The National Rail line is served by a high level platform to the north of the track, whilst the Croydon Tramlink 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.

Birkbeck Station in 1961

Tramlink[]

The one-platform Tramlink stop opened in 2000.

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.[7]

Platforms[]

National Rail[]

There is a single track for National Rail meaning there is only one platform used for National Rail(Southern)services. This platform is used for both Southern services which run to Beckenham Junction and London Bridge. Trains come around every 20mins and don't run on Sundays.

Trams[]

There is also a single track for trams which also means there is only one platform used for Tramlink services. This platform is used for both services which run to Beckenham Junction and Wimbledon. Trams run everyday(including Sundays).

Services[]

National Rail[]

All National Rail services at Birkbeck are operated by Southern using Class 455 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[8]

No National Rail services call at the station on Sundays.

London Trams[]

London Trams also operate tram services at Birkbeck. Trams call approximately every 10 minutes Monday-Saturday and every 15 minutes on Sundays between Beckenham Junction and Wimbledon via Croydon Town Centre.[9]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Southern
Crystal Palace line
Monday-Saturday only
Beckenham Junction
Preceding tram stop   Tramlink no-text roundel.svg Tramlink   Following tram stop
towards Wimbledon
Tramlink
Wimbledon to Beckenham Junction

Gallery[]

  • Main line looking west

  • Tramlink looking east

  • Main line platform sign

  • Tramlink platform sign

References[]

  1. ^ "Tram Stop Usage 2009-10 (FOI)" (XLS). Tramlink annual passenger performance 2009-2010. Transport for London. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Tramlink numbers 2010-2011" (PDF). Tramlink annual passenger performance 2010-2011. Transport for London. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Estimates of station usage". Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation. Please note: Some methodology may vary year on year.
  4. ^ Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 34. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  5. ^ "The Railways of Beckenham", Andrew Hajducki, 2011[page needed]
  6. ^ Pedantic of Purley (9 February 2017). "The Lonely Life of Birkbeck: South London's Bellwether Station". London Reconnections. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Transport for London – Croydon Tramlink Extension Brochure" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Table 173 National Rail timetable, May 2020
  9. ^ "Tram Timetables". Transport for London. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

External links[]

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