History
With high levels of passengers travelling to Epsom for horse races, it became clear that a station near the course was needed. Attempts to build one immediately next to it were strongly opposed by the Epsom Grandstand Association and eventually land was purchased half a mile from the course. Designed by David J.Field, the original station was opened on 22 May 1865 on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway's extension from Sutton. The line had double track and a nine-platform station with a large building.
With the opening of Tattenham Corner railway station much closer to the racecourse on 4 June 1901 (Derby Day) traffic declined, helped in particular by the Royal Train changing its destination to Tattenham Corner in the 1920s. Services were cut back repeatedly over subsequent decades. In 1972 the number of working platforms was reduced to four, and following the destruction by fire of the Epsom Downs signal box in November 1981 almost the entire branch was reduced to single track operation in October 1982.
On 13 February 1989 a new station was opened about 300 metres short of the original one. The old station and platforms were demolished and the land in between given over to a major housing development.
Read more about this topic: Epsom Downs Railway Station
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