Basildon railway station explained

Basildon
Symbol Location:gb
Symbol:rail
Borough:Basildon, Borough of Basildon
Country:England
Coordinates:51.5679°N 0.4566°W
Grid Name:Grid reference
Manager:c2c
Platforms:2
Code:BSO
Classification:DfT category C2
Original:British Rail
Opened:25 November 1974
Footnotes:Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Basildon railway station is on the London, Tilbury and Southend line, serving the town of Basildon, Essex. It is 24chain26chain down the main line from London Fenchurch Street and is situated between to the west and to the east. Its three-letter station code is BSO. The station and all its trains are currently operated by c2c.

History

The "Pitsea direct" line of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway was opened between East Horndon and Pitsea on 1 June 1888 and allowed trains between London and Southend to avoid the longer route via Tilbury, significantly reducing journey times. Laindon station opened with the new line in 1888 and Pitsea, originally opened in 1855, became a junction station.[1]

Basildon was designated a new town on 4 January 1949.[2] Laindon and Pitsea stations fell within the new town boundary, albeit on the periphery.[3] As was the case at other new towns, it took many years to deliver a railway station.[4] Basildon station was opened by British Rail on 25 November 1974.[5]

In September 2022, the down (towards Southend) platform was partially closed, preventing 12-carriage trains from calling at the station in that direction.[6]

Design

The station has two platforms, both located on the upper level.

The ticket hall houses a retail unit as well as self-service ticket machines. The ticket office has three serving positions.

Services

Basildon is served by c2c trains westbound to Fenchurch Street in the City of London and eastbound to Shoeburyness in eastern Essex.

As of the June 2024 timetable the typical Monday to Friday off-peak service is:[7]

Notes and References

  1. The History and Locomotives of the L. T. & S. R. . The Locomotive Magazine . 1898 . Locomotive Publishing Company . 2-5 . 3-4.
  2. Web site: Basildon . Town and Country Planning Association . 6 June 2024.
  3. Book: Barnett's Map of Basildon New Town Area . 1951 . G. I. Barnett.
  4. Book: Haywood . Russell . Railways, Urban Development and Town Planning in Britain: 1948–2008 . 28 November 2012 . Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. . 978-1-4094-8825-5 . 205 . en.
  5. Basildon History http://www.basildon.com/history/railway/railway.html
  6. News: England . Sophie . Trains with 12-carriages unable to stop at Basildon due to platform movement . 6 June 2024 . Echo . 20 September 2022 . en.
  7. Web site: c2c Train Times . c2c . 1 June 2024 . June 2024.