Southend Central
National Rail
General information
LocationSouthend-on-Sea, City of Southend-on-Sea
England
Grid referenceTQ881855
Managed byc2c
Platforms4
Other information
Station codeSOC
ClassificationDfT category C1
History
Opened1856
Passengers
2019/20Decrease 2.782 million
2020/21Decrease 0.906 million
 Interchange Steady 2,874
2021/22Increase 1.782 million
 Interchange Increase 4,940
2022/23Increase 2.041 million
 Interchange Decrease 2,481
2023/24Increase 2.044 million
 Interchange Decrease 1,491
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Southend Central railway station is on the London, Tilbury and Southend line and is one of two primary stations serving the city of Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The city's other main station is called Southend Victoria which is the terminus of a branch line off the Great Eastern Main Line. Southend Central is 35 miles 55 chains (57.43 km) down the line from London Fenchurch Street via Basildon and it is situated between Westcliff and Southend East stations. Its three-letter station code is SOC. The station and all trains serving it are currently operated by c2c.

History

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It was opened as Southend in 1856 by the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway and was the eastern terminus of the line until 1888, after which the line was later extended to Shoeburyness.

The name was changed to Southend-on-Sea (Central) in 1946 and the station took its current name of Southend Central in 1969.[1]

The Whitechapel and Bow Railway, opened in 1902, permitted through trains to operate from the District Railway on to the LTSR. This was initially used for inner suburban District Railway trains that did not go beyond Upminster.[2] In 1909 and 1910 trial joint through services were run from Ealing Broadway to Southend, changing from electric District to steam LTSR locomotives en route. This became a regular timetable in 1911, with a limited number of those daily trains extended to Shoeburyness. The service ended on 11 September 1939.[3]

Description

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Southend Central has four platforms:

  • Platform 1 is a bay platform; trains may terminate at this formerly disused platform if platform 4 is not available for use or when engineering works are taking place between Southend Central and Shoeburyness; it has an operational length for 12-coach trains.[4]
  • Platform 2 is typically for eastbound services to Shoeburyness; it has an operational length for 12-coach trains.[4]
  • Platform 3 is typically for westbound services to London Fenchurch Street via Basildon; it has an operational length for 14-coach trains.[4]
  • Platform 4 is a bay platform typically for westbound services to London Fenchurch Street via either Ockendon or Rainham; it has an operational length for 12-coach trains.[4]

In 1922 there were two other bay platforms and carriage sidings to the south of platform 4 and a goods shed and goods sidings to the north of platform 1.[5] The bay platforms (5 and 6) were extant in 1981 although the track had been lifted.[6] The area was subsequently redeveloped as a car park.

Facilities at the station include a partially sheltered bicycle storage rack and a car park.[7] The ticket office has two serving positions, one of which is fully accessible, and uses the Tribute ticket issuing system.

Following the successful refurbishment of Benfleet railway station, c2c implemented a similar project at Southend Central. The work cost £460,000 and was jointly funded by c2c and Southend Borough Council. It involved the complete refurbishment of the ticket office and toilets and the construction of a new forecourt on the north side of the station (leading to platform 2) opposite the University of Essex Southend campus, with new steps and handrails on both sides of the canopy, and a new glass roof and lighting over the bicycle parking area. It was completed in 2007[8] after around four weeks of work.

There was formerly a through siding, provided with overhead line electrification, to the north of the down (Shoeburyness-bound) line between Southend Central and Southend East. This was still in use in 1969.[9]

Services

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As of the June 2024 timetable the typical Monday to Friday off-peak service is:[10]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Kay 2014, p. 309.
  2. ^ Horne 2019.
  3. ^ Kay 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Brailsford, Martyn (2016). Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern. Frome: Trackmaps. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-9549866-8-1.
  5. ^ 25" to the mile Ordnance Survey map of Southend, 1922.
  6. ^ "Image Southend Central 1981". 28 February 1981.
  7. ^ c2c. "c2c Online - Southend Central station". Retrieved 19 July 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ c2c (20 June 2007). "c2c Online - A smarter station for the people of Southend". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Route training manual: London, Tilbury & Southend Lines, British Rail Eastern Region (November 1969). Published by Great Eastern Railways Society (2003)
  10. ^ "c2c Train Times" (PDF). c2c. June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.

Sources

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  • Horne, Mike A. C. (2019). London's District Railway: A History of the Metropolitan District Railway Company. Twentieth Century. Volume two. Capital Transport Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85414-430-0.
  • Kay, Peter (2010). The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway: A History of the Company and Line. 1912-1939, the Midland and LMS years. vol. 3. Wivenhoe: Peter Kay. ISBN 978-1-899890-43-9.
  • Kay, Peter (2014). The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway: A History of the Company and Line. 1939-1959. Peter Kay. ISBN 978-1-899890-47-7.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Southend Central railway station.
Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Westcliff   c2c
London, Tilbury and Southend line 		  Southend East
Former services
Westcliff   District—LMS through service
London, Tilbury and Southend line 		  Southend East

51°32′14″N 0°42′42″E / 51.53722°N 0.71167°E / 51.53722; 0.71167

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