Elephant & Castle railway station
{{Short description|Railway station in London, England}}
{{About|the National Rail station|the London Underground station|Elephant & Castle tube station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox London station
| symbol = rail
| owner = Network Rail
| railcode = EPH
| dft_category = E
| name = Elephant & Castle
| image_name = Elephant & Castle railway stn entrance.JPG
| manager = Thameslink
| fare_zone = 1
| fare_zone_1 = 2
| locale = Newington
| borough = London Borough of Southwark
| years1 = 6 October 1862
| events1 = Temporary station opened
| years2 = February 1863
| events2 = Replaced with permanent structure
| platforms = 4
| railexits1920 = {{decrease}} 2.878
| railint1920 = {{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 0.274
| railexits2021 = {{decrease}} 0.667
| raillowint2021 = {{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 49,497
| railexits2122 = {{increase}} 1.316
| railint2122 = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 0.101
| railexits2223 = {{increase}} 1.681
| railint2223 = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 0.439
| railexits2324 = {{increase}} 1.880
| railint2324 = {{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 0.352
| coordinates = {{coord|51.4944|-0.0998|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = Central London
| label_position = left
| original = London, Chatham and Dover Railway
| interchange = Elephant & Castle {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}{{citation London station interchange January 2016}}
}}
{{Metropolitan Extensions RDT|collapse=1}}
{{Railways around South Bank RDT|collapse=1}}
Elephant & Castle railway station is a National Rail station in Newington, central London. Along with the London Underground station of the same name, it is located in the London Borough of Southwark and is in both Travelcard Zone 1 and 2. The station is managed by Thameslink, with services operated by both Thameslink and Southeastern. There is out-of-station interchange with the nearby Elephant & Castle tube station.
History
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway built the Metropolitan Extension north from Herne Hill and reached a temporary terminus at Elephant and Castle on 6 October 1862. The next station to the south was Camberwell that opened on the same day. The line was extended north to Blackfriars Bridge station on 1 June 1864.
=2021 fire=
File:Elephant and Castle station fire.jpg
On 28 June 2021, a fire broke out under the station.{{Cite news |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/elephant-and-castle-station-fire-london-b943021.html |title=London fire: Blaze breaks out at Elephant and Castle station as plume of smoke rises over capital's skyline |first1=Lily |last1=Wadell |first2=John |last2=Dunne |work=Evening Standard |location= London |date=28 June 2021 |accessdate=28 June 2021 }} The London Fire Brigade dispatched 15 fire engines. The fire is thought to be accidental and believed to have been caused by an electrical fault within a car in a spray booth{{Cite web |title=Railway arches alight - Elephant and Castle |url= https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2021/june/railway-arches-alight-elephant-and-castle/ |date=29 June 2021 |publisher= London Fire Brigade}} at T.R. Autos, a garage in the arches of the railway viaduct,{{Cite news |title=Six treated for injures after major fire near Elephant and Castle station in London |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/elephant-castle-fire-london-latest-b1874050.html |date=28 June 2021 |work=The Independent |location= London |first1=Chiara |last1=Giordano |first2=Zoe |last2=Tidman |first3=May |last3=Bulman}} then spread to the surrounding commercial units, six cars and a telephone box. Six people were treated for minor injuries at the scene and one person was taken to hospital.{{Cite tweet |title=We can confirm we treated six people at the scene in #ElephantandCastle and took one of them to hospital |publisher= London Ambulance Service |url= https://twitter.com/ldn_ambulance/status/1409538440774000641 |number=1409538440774000641 |user=Ldn_Ambulance |date=28 June 2021 |website=Twitter}}
The surface station was undamaged, but became engulfed in smoke. The station and railway line were closed, leading to the cancellation of several services. Some nearby residents were evacuated from their homes. Access to the underground tube station was restricted, with one entrance being briefly closed as a precaution.{{Cite tweet |title=Three commercial units underneath the railway arches are completely alight and four cars and a telephone box are also alight near #ElephantandCastle Railway Station. Road closures are in place and people are advised to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed |number=1409507279351779336 |user=LondonFire |authorlink=London Fire Brigade |date=28 June 2021 }} Many roads in the area were closed.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-57642027 |title=Elephant and Castle fire: Two hurt in huge blaze at railway arches |work=BBC News |date=28 June 2021 }}
Design
File:Elephant Station platforms 1 & 2.JPG
The station is located on a brick viaduct. It currently has one entrance on Elephant Road.{{Cite news |date=8 September 2020 |title=Elephant rail station: Thameslink urges passengers to prepare for shopping centre closure |url= http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/10389 |archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=1 October 2020 |website=London SE1}} There are four platforms, two being on the island between the lines. Three staircases provide the only access to the platforms, as there are no lifts or escalators.
=Elephant and Castle redevelopment=
An entrance directly connected to the upper level of the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre closed in September 2020, as part of the redevelopment of the area. A new entrance to the railway station will be built, connecting to the new town centre. Existing railway arches will be opened up, providing access for pedestrians to Elephant Park.{{Cite web |date=9 July 2015 |title=New Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre redevelopment plans on show |url= http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/8375 |url-status= live |access-date=1 October 2020 |website=London SE1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725194112/http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/8375 |archive-date=25 July 2015 }} Interchange with the Underground will also improve, with a direct route through the new town centre to a new Underground ticket hall.{{Cite web |date=14 October 2019 |title=Have your say on the Bakerloo line extension - Elephant & Castle Combined Station Entrance |url= https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tube/bakerloo-extension/user_uploads/elephant-station-entrance-factsheet-3.pdf |url-status= live |publisher=Transport for London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001114918/https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tube/bakerloo-extension/user_uploads/elephant-station-entrance-factsheet-3.pdf |archive-date=1 October 2021 }}{{Cite news |date=11 December 2018 |title=Elephant and Castle shopping centre demolition gets final approval |work=BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-46524339 |access-date=1 October 2020}} However, local press have criticised the omission of step-free access to the National Rail platforms.
Location
The station is not directly connected to the London Underground station, both entrances of which are some distance away. There is an out-of-station interchange facility with Elephant & Castle London Underground station.
Local bus connections are provided by bus stops at New Kent Road and Walworth Road. London Buses routes 1, 53, 63, 68, 168, 172, 188, 363, 415, 453, N1 and N63 stop near the station at New Kent Road. Routes 12, 35, 40, 68, 136, 148, 171, 176, 343, 468, P5 and night routes N68, N89, N171 and N343 stop near the station at Walworth Road.
There is also a coach stop at New Kent Road; National Express coaches towards Kent stop near the station.
Services
Off-peak, all services at Elephant & Castle are operated by Thameslink using {{brc|700}} EMUs.
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:{{NRtimes|December 2023|52, 179, 180, 195, 196, 197, 212}}
- 2 tph to London Blackfriars
- 4 tph to {{stnlnk|St Albans City}}
- 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Sutton|London}} (2 of these run via {{stnlnk|Mitcham Junction}} and 2 run via {{stn|Wimbledon}})
- 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Sevenoaks}} via {{stnlnk|Catford}}
During the peak hours, additional services between {{stnlnk|Orpington}}, {{stn|Kentish Town}} and {{stnlnk|Luton}} call at the station. In addition, the service to London Blackfriars is extended to and from {{stnlnk|Welwyn Garden City}} via {{stn|Finsbury Park}}.
In addition, a small number of Southeastern services call at the station during the peak hours. The station is served by a number of services between London Blackfriars and {{stn|Beckenham Junction}}, as well as a morning service to London Blackfriars from {{stnlnk|Crayford}}.
A small number of late evening Thameslink services are extended beyond St Albans City to {{stnlnk|Bedford}}. On Sundays, there are also direct services beyond St Albans City to {{stnlnk|Luton}}.
{{rail start}}
{{s-rail-national|rows1=4|rowsmid=2|previous=London Blackfriars|next=Loughborough Junction|toc=Thameslink|route={{smalldiv|Thameslink}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|hidemid=yes|previous=London Blackfriars|next=Denmark Hill|toc=Thameslink|route={{smalldiv|London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks via Catford and Otford]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|previous=London Blackfriars|next=Loughborough Junction|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|Chatham Main Line}}|notemid={{smalldiv|Peak Hours Only}}}}
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Elephant & Castle railway station}}
External links
{{stn art lnk|EPH}}
{{Transport in London}}
{{UK railway stations}}
{{TSGN and SE Stations|CityFlyer=y|CityMetro=y|Bromley South=y|Catford Loop=y|SN None=y}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elephant and Castle Railway Station}}
Category:Railway stations in the London Borough of Southwark
Category:DfT Category E stations
Category:Former London, Chatham and Dover Railway stations
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1862
Category:Railway stations served by Govia Thameslink Railway
Category:Railway stations served by Southeastern
Category:1862 establishments in England
Category:2020s fires in the United Kingdom