Birkbeck station
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox London station
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 Template:Convert measured from Template:Stn. 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,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> to serve a growing suburban area, and named after the Birkbeck Freehold Land Society, whose name derived from the Yorkshire philanthropist George Birkbeck.<ref>"The Railways of Beckenham", Andrew Hajducki, 2011Template:Page needed</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.
Tramlink
The one-platform Tramlink stop opened in 2000. This platform is used for both services which run to Beckenham Junction and Wimbledon.
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.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>Template:Citation needed
Services
National Rail
All National Rail services at Birkbeck are operated by Southern using Template:Brc EMUs.
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:<ref>Template:NRtimes</ref>
- 2 tph to Template:Stn via Template:Stnlnk
- 2 tph to Template:Stn
During the evenings (after approximately 20:00), the service is reduced to hourly in each direction.
No National Rail services call at the station on Sundays.
London Trams
Tram services at Birkbeck are operated by Tramlink. The tram stop is served by trams every 10 minutes between Template:Stn and Template:Stn via Croydon. This is reduced to a tram every 15 minutes on Saturday early mornings and evenings, and on Sundays.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Services are operated using Bombardier CR4000 and Stadler Variobahn Trams.
Template:Rail start Template:S-rail-national Template:S-rail Template:Rail line Template:End
Connections
The stop is served by London Buses routes 354 and 356 which provide connections to Beckenham, Bromley, Elmers End, Penge and Sydenham.Template:Citation needed
Free interchange for journeys made within an hour is available between bus services and between buses and trams is available at Birkbeck as part of Transport for London's Hopper Fare.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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Main line looking west
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Tramlink looking east
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Main line platform sign
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Tramlink platform sign
References
External links
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- Birkbeck tram Stop – Timetables and live departures at Transport for London
Template:Transport in London Template:Tramlink Template:TSGN and SE Stations