Eynsford railway station

Eynsford
General information
Location	Eynsford, District of Sevenoaks England
Grid reference	TQ535649
Managed by	Southeastern
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	EYN
Classification	DfT category E
Key dates
1 July 1862	Opened
6 January 1935	Electrified
May 1962	Closed (Goods)
Passengers
2019/20	0.179 million
2020/21	45,564
2021/22	0.105 million
2022/23	0.124 million
2023/24	0.143 million
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Eynsford railway station serves Eynsford in Kent, England. It is 20 miles 32 chains (32.8 km) down the line from London Victoria and is situated between Swanley and Shoreham. Train services are provided by Thameslink.

History

The Swanley to Sevenoaks Bat & Ball line was opened on 2 June 1862, by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, initially with just a single track. The station at Eynsford came into use the following month, with two platforms and a passing loop; the second track came in 1863.

The main station building is on the "down" side, two storeys high, with chimney stacks and arched window frames. On the "up" side is a shelter with an elaborate valance and sides for protection from the weather. The track was crossed at ground level until a lattice footbridge was built in about 1910. The signal cabin was positioned at the southern end of the "up" platform.

Eynsford's goods yard was positioned on the "down" side, to the south of the main building, and comprised a pair of sidings, one of which passed over a wagon turntable through the pitched-roof goods shed. The platforms were extended twice, first in 1894 and again in 1932 when they were lengthened at their southern ends, requiring the demolition of the signal box. This was replaced by a porch on the ground floor of the station building's platform side.

Electric services between Bickley and Sevenoaks were introduced on 6 January 1935, when the station lost its lattice footbridge to a prefabricated concrete replacement. Goods traffic ceased in May 1962 and the goods shed was demolished soon after.

Lullingstone Viaduct

Approximately 1 km to the north west lie the remains of Lullingstone, built but never opened, as the development it was intended to serve never materialised. All that remains are the platforms (still in situ) and the platform canopies which were reinstalled at Canterbury East station. Between the two, the line is taken over the River Darent by an impressive nine-arch red-brick viaduct.

Facilities

The station has a ticket office which is located in the substantial station building on the Ashford bound platform. This is open during the morning Monday-Friday only (06:10-12:50). At other times, the station is unstaffed and tickets must be purchased from the self-service ticket machine at the station entrance.

The station has covered seating areas as well as modern help points located on each of its platforms which are connected by a concrete footbridge.

There is also a small (free) car park and cycle rack at the entrance to the station.

The station has step-free access available to the Ashford bound platform although the London bound platform is only reachable by the stepped footbridge so is not accessible.

Services

All services at Eynsford are operated by Thameslink using Class 700 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:

• 2 tph to London Blackfriars via Catford
• 2 tph to Sevenoaks

During the peak hours, the service to London Blackfriars is extended to and from Welwyn Garden City via Finsbury Park.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Swanley		Thameslink Darent Valley Line		Shoreham
	Historical railways
Lullingstone Line open, station closed		Southern Railway Maidstone Line		Shoreham Line and station open

Connections

Go-Coach route 2 serves the station.

External links

• Train times and station information for Eynsford railway station from National Rail