Eltham railway station
{{Short description|National Rail station in London, England}}
{{About|the railway station in the United Kingdom|the railway station in Australia|Eltham railway station, Melbourne}}
{{distinguish|Elham railway station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox London station
| name = Eltham
| symbol = rail
| image_name = Eltham railway station, Greater London.jpg
| manager = Southeastern
| fare_zone = 4
| locale = Eltham
| borough = Royal Borough of Greenwich
| events1 = Opened
| years1 = 17 March 1985
| platforms = 2
| railcode = ELW
| dft_category = C2
| railexits1920 = {{decrease}} 2.090
| railexits2021 = {{decrease}} 0.578
| railexits2122 = {{increase}} 1.297
| railexits2223 = {{increase}} 1.463
| railexits2324 = {{increase}} 1.622
| access = yes
| access_note = {{citation step free south east rail}}
| coordinates = {{coord|51.4555|0.0515|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
}}
Eltham railway station is in the Well Hall area of Eltham, South East London, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is {{convert|10|mi|68|chain|km|lk=in}} measured from {{stn|London Victoria}}. It is in Travelcard Zone 4.
The station is operated by Southeastern. The station has two platforms: platform 1 for services to Central London and platform 2 for Dartford and Barnehurst.
History
Before 1985, there were two railway stations in Eltham on the Bexleyheath line.
Eltham Well Hall (originally just 'Well Hall'), which opened on 1 May 1895, was about {{convert|220|yd|m}} to the west of the present-day station on the other side of Well Hall Road.{{cite web |last=Glasspool |first=David |title=Eltham Park |url=http://www.kentrail.org.uk/Eltham%20Park.htm |access-date = 30 July 2007 }} It was one of five stations with wooden buildings and was constructed on the west side of the main road,Extract from 1898 6inch to the mile OS map. Mottingham, Eltham High Street and new (1895) Bexleyheath Line Railway. (map [:File:Eltham_map_1898.jpg]) In 1932 the Well Hall buildings were rebuilt.
Eltham Park station, which opened 1 May 1908, was about {{convert|500|yd|m}} further east of the current station with its main entrance adjacent to the London-bound platform, and footpaths to Westmount Road and Glenesk Road. An additional footpath linking the country-bound platform with Westmount Road was available at peak times.
Both stations were closed and replaced by the current station which was opened by British Rail on 17 March 1985 when a new section of the A2, the Rochester Way Relief Road, had opened. A bus station that was built on a raft above the A2 was opened at the same time.
The platforms and buildings of the abandoned Eltham Park station still exist, but there is no trace of Eltham Well Hall station, the site of which is west of the A208 Well Hall Road where the A2 motorway passes under the concrete railway bridge after coming out of a short tunnel beneath Eltham station.
Accidents
On 11 June 1972, a train derailed near Eltham Well Hall station, when the driver went round a sharp curve too fast. The driver and five passengers were killed, plus 126 people injured; an investigation revealed the driver was drunk.{{Cite web|url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=134|title=Accident at Eltham Well Hall on 11th June 1972 :: The Railways Archive}}{{cite book | last=Ministry of Transport |author2=Col J.R.H. Robertson | year=1973 | title=Railway accident : Report on the Derailment that occurred on 11 June 1972 at Eltham (Well Hall) Station in the Southern Region, British Railways | publisher= HMSO | isbn=0-11-550303-X | url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoE_Eltham1972.pdf}}
Location
The station is located on Well Hall Road, {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} from Eltham High Street.
Buses
Eltham station is served by several Transport for London bus routes, the 132, 161, 162, 233, 286 and 314 in the adjoining Eltham bus station. These buses carry passengers from the station to Bexley, Bromley, Blackfen, Chislehurst, Greenwich, Mottingham, New Addington, New Eltham, Sidcup, Swanley and Woolwich.
Services
All services at Eltham are operated by Southeastern using {{brc|376}}, {{brc|465|n}}, {{brc|466|n}} and {{brc|707|n}} EMUs.
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:{{NRtimes|May 2023|200}}
- 2 tph to {{stn|London Victoria}}
- 1 tph to London Charing Cross
- 2 tph to London Cannon Street
- 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Slade Green}}, continuing to London Cannon Street via {{stn|Woolwich Arsenal}} and {{stn|Greenwich}}
- 3 tph to {{stnlnk|Dartford}}
During the peak hours, the service between London Charing Cross and Dartford is increased to 2 tph in each direction.
{{rail start}}
{{s-rail-national|previous=Kidbrooke|next=Falconwood|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|Bexleyheath Line}}}}
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Eltham railway station}}
{{stn art lnk|ELW|SE91SA}}
- {{cite web|url= http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoE_Eltham1972.pdf?PHPSESSID=35e2aaed90f0e75a588a4d8b3bda861d |title=Report on the Derailment that occurred on 11 June 1972 at Eltham (Well Hall) Station }} {{small|(1.28 MB)}}
- [http://www.kentrail.org.uk/Eltham%20Park.htm Kent Rail article on Eltham Park station]
{{Transport in London}}
{{UK railway stations}}
{{TSGN and SE Stations|FCC None=y|SN None=y|Bexleyheath=y}}
{{London bus and coach stations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eltham Railway Station}}
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1895
Category:Railway stations in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Category:Railway stations opened by British Rail
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1985
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1985