South Croydon railway station


South Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line, measured from.
The station is operated by Southern, and the station is served by both Southern and Thameslink services.

History

Originally South Croydon was a terminus next to the through lines of the Brighton Line but without any platforms on them, the end of a extension of the local lines from New Croydon, opened by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway on 1 September 1865. The aim was to provide more space for reversing local trains than could be afforded at busy New Croydon. The rapid growth of the town in this area may also have been a factor.
In 1894 the railway obtained authority to extend the local lines to Coulsdon, where they connected with the new Quarry line. The station was rebuilt as a through station with platform faces on all lines prior to the opening of the line in November 1899.
In 1947 a train crash about south of the station killed 32 people, the worst accident in the history of the Southern Railway.
On 1 August 2011, a landslide caused by a burst water main occurred approximately north of the station, blocking the railway for 24 hours.

Platforms

South Croydon has five platforms connected by a narrow subway.
The tracks through platforms 1 and 2 are used by services that do not call, for example fast Southern services from London Victoria to Brighton, Thameslink services and Gatwick Express. Platform 3 is used by up trains to London Bridge and London Victoria. Platform 4 is used by services that do not call, heading southbound, except some peak time services in both directions.
Platform 5 is used by down trains to Caterham and other destinations.
Ticket gates became operational in April 2009.

Services

Off-peak, all services at South Croydon are opetated by Southern. The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:
During the peak hours, additional services between London Victoria and also call at the station. Additional Thameslink services between and East Grinstead also call during the peak periods.
On Sundays, the services is reduced to 2 tph and runs between Caterham/Tattenham Corner and London Bridge via Forest Hill.

Connections

London Buses route 64, 403, 412, 433 and 455 serve the station.