The Anonymous Widower

Before Crossrail 2 – Raynes Park

Raynes Park station will be an important station on Crossrail 2, as it will be the first station, after all the south western branches hsve joined together.

As this Google Map shows it is a station with an unusual layout.

Raynes Park Station

The South Western Main Line runs through the middle of the station and there are two London-bound platforms on the north side of the main line and one platform for trains going towards Guildford via Epsom and to the Crossrail 2 destination of Chessington South and another for those going down the South Western Main Line to Surbiton and then to the Crossrail 2 destinations of Twickenham, Shepperton and Hampton Court.

There has been nothing to indicate how many trains go to each branch, but I would assume it is four trains per hour to each terminus or twenty trains per hour in total. As Crossrail and Thameslink are both planned to handle 24 tph in each direction, then this should be within the capability of the line. Currently, there are just twelve trains per hour to and from Waterloo.

These pictures show more of the unusual layout of the station.

It does appear that Crossrail 2 has the capacity to handle more trains through Raynes Park, but there will have to be some rebuilding to make the station a friendly place fit all passengers and the staff that work there.

One problem that needs to be solved at Raynes Park, is what happens if a passenger comes towards London on one branch and then wants to go down another. The same problem exists on Crossrail, where say you are travelling between Canary Wharf and Gidea Park. As the Central London stations have island platforms, you just go to the most convenient station on the central tunnel, which in the example is Whitechapel, and walk across to get the first train on the required branch.

Raynes Park would be the ideal station for a change, as all branches come together here. So the pattern of lines and plstforms will probably need a substantial remodelling.

Or you could always go to Wimbledon, which is the next station towards Central London and change there.

July 23, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Before Crossrail 2, Crossrail 2, Raynes Park Station