The Anonymous Widower

Before Crossrail 2 – Epsom

I knew that Epsom station had been given a new building, but this modern creation surprised me.

This Google Map from a couple of years ago, shows the layout of the tracks and platforms.

Epsom Station

The bridge over Waterloo Road certainly needs rebuilding for Crossrail 2 and the platforms will have to be lengthened. Will two terminal and two through platforms be enough for this busy station?

It may not be for everywhere and everybody’s taste, but plenty of stations could be improved by modern developments such as this, especially if in some places they use the space over the railway. Read  this news item in the Epsom Guardian, which describes the opening celebration, which says the following about the development.

The £20m development, which has revamped the station’s ticket hall, facade, car park, waiting shelters, toilets and cycle storage, was carried out by Network Rail and developer Kier, in partnership with Solum Regeneration.

Its new shops, hotel and apartments, which include some affordable housing units, have funded the development.  

So it looks like Epsom got functional modern station building, with an impressive list of facilities, at a very affordable cost.

The provision of a low-cost chain hotel in the development, is being seen increasingly often. Two London stations I use regularly; Dalston Junction and Walthamstow Central, have both had similar hotels to Epsom built in the last few years.

The developers, Solum Regeneration are a partnership between Network Rail and Kier. The latter is the fourth largest construction company in the UK.

The company seems to be associated with several station redevelopments.

If you read the news page on the Solum Regeneration web site, you’ll find developments at Christchurch, Guildford, Haywards Heath Redhill, Twickenham and Walthamstow Central.

If you read some of the comments in local papers on these developments, the locals are do object, often to the height of developments. But you have to ask, if they would prefer a run-down station with no facilities, which costs a fortune to run and just puts up the price of rail tickets.

I do wonder how many of the objectors, live comfortably in large houses and never use the train.

I wonder too what reaction some of Underground stations designed by Charles Holden, that we laud today as magnificent, got in the 1930s.

Some of his creations like Oakwood, Cockfosters and Turnpike Lane look incredibly stark even today and some can be rather draughty places. But these were practical buildings for a purpose and we are now generally proud of them.

We probably won’t give Listed status to stations like Dalston Junction, Epsom and Walthamstow Central, but as we use them, we’ll say that this is a lot better than it was and speeds me on my journey. We mustn’t forget that stations are functional buildings and they must be pleasant places to pass through and of course work.

Property development is one way to pay for a nice new station and if we don’t like it, we should make sure the Council looks after our interests.

July 22, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Before Crossrail 2, Crossrail 2, Development, Epsom Station