Birkbeck Station - Network Rail

Network Rail

The line through Birkbeck was opened as a double-track branch of the West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway in 1858, but was closed from 1860 to 1863 and again in 1915 until reopened in 1929 as part of the Southern Railway electrification scheme. A year later, on 2 March 1930, a new station was opened, to serve a growing suburban area, and named after the Birkbeck Freehold Lane Society, whose name derived from the Yorkshire philanthropist Dr Birkbeck.

The tracks in the station are located well above street level; the buildings were damaged by fire in 1983.

The southern track (formerly towards London) was split and converted to a light rail line towards Harrington Road tramlink stop. The double track from Crystal Palace now merges slightly before reaching the tramlink line into a single track towards Beckenham Junction. The railway line is served by a high level platform to the north of the track, whilst the light rail line is served by a low level platform to the south of the track. Each platform has its own access from the street, and the only access between the two platforms is via the street, with a fence between the two tracks to deter any attempt to cross the lines.