Woolwich Arsenal station
{{short description|Docklands Light Railway and National Rail station}}
{{about|the National Rail and DLR station|the Elizabeth line station|Woolwich railway station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox London station
| name = Woolwich Arsenal
| image_name = Woolwich Arsenal station MMB 04 376024.jpg
| manager = Southeastern
| fare_zone = 4
| locale = Woolwich
| borough = Royal Borough of Greenwich
| events1 = Opened
| years1 = 1 November 1849
| years2 = 12 January 2009|symbol=rail|symbol2=dlr
| events2 = DLR opened
| platforms = 4 (2 underground platforms served by DLR)
| coordinates = {{coord|51.490|0.069|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| railexits1920 = {{increase}} 4.387
| railexits2021 = {{decrease}} 1.530
| railexits2122 = {{increase}} 2.805
| railexits2223 = {{decrease}} 2.475
| railexits2324 = {{decrease}} 2.093
| railcode = WWA
| dft_category = C2
| access = yes
| access_note = [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf Tube Map]{{Cite web |url=http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php/station_information/station_information_featured_links/search |title=Southeastern: Access Guide |access-date=1 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124122449/http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php/station_information/station_information_featured_links/search |archive-date=24 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}
| interchange = Woolwich {{rail-interchange|london|elizabeth}}
| interchange_note = {{Citation London station interchange May 2022}}
}}
Woolwich Arsenal station is an interchange station in the heart of Woolwich in the Royal Borough of Greenwich for Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and National Rail services.
It has two parts; its raised, south-western part of the station is on the semi-slow, commuter service, corollary of the North Kent Line and also in its Dartford Loop services section between London and Dartford, run by Southeastern. Regular services beyond Dartford are to the Medway Towns, which start/finish in the opposite direction at Luton via the City of London, West Hampstead and St Albans. Its other part is the terminus of its own branch of the DLR, run by Transport for London.
The older part of the station, built in a modernist style, is located on a corner of General Gordon Square, a green town square. The newer part has entrances to Woolwich's subterranean end of the DLR, and faces the top of Powis Street, a long, semi-pedestrianised retail avenue. It is named after the area's Woolwich or Royal Arsenal, to distinguish the Arsenal site from the former Royal Dockyard, which before the 19th century was complemented with wharves and yards for large naval ships.Edward Hasted, 'Parishes: Woolwich', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 1 (Canterbury, 1797), pp. 441-454. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol1/pp441-454 [Retrieved 2 September 2018]. In zoning it is the furthest DLR station – in Travelcard Zone 4.
On the national network, it is {{convert|9|mi|32|chain|km|lk=in}} down from {{rws|London Charing Cross}}.
History
File:Frederick Alfred Croft.jpg to Inspector Frederick Croft, a railway police officer who lost his life saving a woman's life at the station in 1878.]]
The station opened in 1849, serving the North Kent Line from London to Gillingham. The station building was rebuilt in 1906 in a London brick form typical of southeast London. It was again rebuilt in 1992–93 to a modern design in steel and glass by the Architecture and Design Group of British Rail, under the leadership of Nick Derbyshire. It has a, clean, naturally-lit ellipsoid theme, contrasting with the earlier forms.
In 1973 a government report on the redevelopment of London's Docklands projected a greater form of the never-built "Fleet line" from Charing Cross via Fenchurch Street to Woolwich Arsenal and on towards Thamesmead, with a preceding stop at Silvertown. The Fleet line plans were shelved in favour of a route that became the western part of the Jubilee line, despite council (local government) approval, due to financial constraints.{{cite book | first=Mike |last=Horne |title=The Jubilee Line |year=2000 |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=1-85414-220-8 |pages=50–52}} By the start of the 1990s plans emerged in both levels of government and business forums for the Jubilee Line Extension to serve the south bank of the Thames twice on its way to Stratford. In the Royal Borough of Greenwich the line takes in a small area, North Greenwich (a peninsula).
Woolwich Arsenal was expanded in 2009, when Transport for London completed the construction of an extension of what was then termed the London City Airport branch of the Docklands Light Railway from King George V to Woolwich Arsenal. The official opening took place on 12 January that year.
In 2014, a petition was started and presented to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to rezone Woolwich Arsenal station from Zone 4 to Zone 3. However he ruled this out, stating it would cause losses of over a million pounds a year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11525638.Boris_Johnson_rejects_popular_petition_to_rezone_Woolwich_Arsenal_station/|title=Boris Johnson rejects popular petition to rezone Woolwich Arsenal station|website=News Shopper|date=9 October 2014 |access-date=2016-04-30}}
Accidents and incidents
- On 18 November 1948, a train – an electric multiple unit – crashed into the rear of another train, killing two people. It had departed from {{rws|Woolwich Dockyard}} against signals.{{cite book |last=Hall |first=Stanley |title=The Railway Detectives |year=1990 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=London |isbn=0-7110-1929-0 |page=108 }}
Design
File:Docklands Light Railway - Woolwich Arsenal station.jpg|alt=]]
The National Rail part of the station consists of two above-ground platforms. The up platform for London has a refreshment facility. The down platform serves trains going east, towards north Kent, via Plumstead, Abbey Wood and Slade Green.
The Docklands Light Railway part of the station is underground, and consists of two platforms in an island platform configuration. As Woolwich Arsenal is a terminus, both platforms serve an up line to Bank or Stratford International via London City Airport and Canning Town. Trains depart in an easterly direction because of the alignment beneath the River Thames.
{{clear left}}
Connections
A large number of London Buses routes serve the station.{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/woolwich-a4-140522.pdf|title=Buses from Woolwich|date=14 May 2022|website=TfL|access-date=14 May 2022}}
Crossrail station at the former Royal Arsenal base
{{Main|Woolwich railway station}}
In May 2022 an Elizabeth line station opened in north-east Woolwich, after a campaign to complement housing developments built on former public-sector land. Among the successful lobbyists for this extra station were those who developed the land, including Berkeley Homes. The station is about {{Convert|200|m}} north of Woolwich Arsenal station, on the north side of the A206 road.
Services
=National Rail=
National Rail services at Woolwich Arsenal are operated by Southeastern and Thameslink using {{brc|376}}, {{brc|465|n}}, {{brc|466|n}}, {{brc|700|n}} and {{brc|707|n}} EMUs.
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:{{NRtimes|June 2024|200, 201}}
- 4 tph to London Cannon Street (2 of these run via {{stn|Greenwich}} and 2 run via {{stn|Lewisham}})
- 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Luton}} via Greenwich
- 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Barnehurst}}, returning to London Cannon Street via {{stnlnk|Bexleyheath}} and Lewisham
- 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Dartford}}
- 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Rainham|Kent}} via {{stnlnk|Chatham|Kent}}
Additional services, including trains to and from London Cannon Street via {{stnlnk|Sidcup}} call at the station during the peak hours.
=DLR=
The typical off-peak DLR service in trains per hour from Woolwich Arsenal is:{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/dlr/timetable/dlr/|title=DLR train timetables|work=Transport for London|access-date=11 August 2023}}
- 6 tph to {{stn|Stratford International}}
- 6 tph to Bank
Additional services during the peak hours, increasing the service to up to 16 tph to and from the station, with up to 8 tph to Bank and Stratford International.
{{rail start}}
{{s-rail-national|rows2=2|previous=Charlton|next=Plumstead|toc=Thameslink|route={{smalldiv|North Kent Line}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide2=yes|previous=Woolwich Dockyard|next=Plumstead|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|North Kent Line}}}}
{{s-rail-next|title=DLR}}
{{rail line|previous=King George V
{{smalldiv|towards Bank or {{stn|Stratford International}}}}|route=Docklands Light Railway|col={{rcr|DLR}} }}
{{s-note|text=Abandoned Plans}}
{{s-rail|title=LUL}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Silvertown}}
{{smalldiv|towards Stanmore}}|route=Jubilee line
{{smalldiv|Phase 3 (1980)
Never constructed}}|col={{rcr|London Underground|Jubilee}} }}
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Woolwich Arsenal station}}
{{stn art lnk|WWA|SE186EU}}
{{Docklands Light Railway}}
{{Transport in London}}
{{TSGN and SE Stations|Abbey Wood=y|FCC None=y|SN None=y}}
{{Jubilee line navbox}}
{{Closed London Underground stations}}
Category:Docklands Light Railway stations in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Category:Railway stations in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Category:Former South Eastern Railway (UK) stations
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1849
Category:Railway stations served by Southeastern
Category:1849 establishments in England
Category:Railway stations located underground in the United Kingdom
Category:Unbuilt London Underground stations
Category:Proposed London Underground stations
Category:Railway stations served by Govia Thameslink Railway