View source for Crystal Palace railway station

{{Short description|National Rail station in London, England}}{{About|the open Low Level station|the disused High Level station|Crystal Palace (High Level) railway station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox London station
| name          = Crystal Palace
| symbol        = overground
| symbol2       = rail
| image_name    = Crystal Palace railway station from above.jpg
| caption       = Aerial view of the Crystal Palace railway station (2024)
| coordinates   = {{coord|51.4182|-0.0726|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| manager       = [[London Overground]]
| owner         = [[Network Rail]]
| fare_zone     = 3
| fare_zone_1   = 4
| locale        = [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]]
| borough       = [[London Borough of Bromley]]
| platforms     = 6
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| railcode      = CYP
| years1        = 10 June 1854
| events1       = Opened (Crystal Palace)
| years2        = 1856
| events2       = Through station
| years3        = 1 November 1898
| events3       = Renamed (Crystal Palace Low Level)
| years4        = 13 June 1955
| events4       = Renamed (Crystal Palace)
| access        = yes
| access_note   = &nbsp;(ramp required between train and platform) <ref name=NRE_CYP>{{cite web|title=Crystal Palace (CYP)|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/CYP/details.html|work=National Rail Enquiries website|publisher=National Rail|access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref>
| cyclepark     = Yes - external
| toilets       = Yes - behind gateline
| dft_category  = D
}}

'''Crystal Palace railway station''' is a [[Network Rail]] and [[London Overground]] station in the [[London Borough of Bromley]] in south [[London]]. It is located in the [[Anerley]] area between the town centres of [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]] and [[Penge]], {{convert|8|mi|56|chain|km}} from {{stn|London Victoria}}. It is one of two stations built to serve the site of the 1851 exhibition building, [[the Crystal Palace]], when it was moved from [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] to [[Sydenham, London|Sydenham]] Hill after 1851.

The station was opened on 10 June 1854 by the [[West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway]] (WEL&CPR) to take the crowds to the relocated Palace. It was formerly known as '''Crystal Palace (Low Level)''' to differentiate it from the nearby and now largely demolished [[Crystal Palace (High Level) railway station]].

The station serves [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]] trains running between [[London Bridge railway station|London Bridge]] and [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]] in addition to services terminating at [[Beckenham Junction railway station|Beckenham Junction]] and [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]]. Since 23 May 2010, the station has also been a terminus of the [[East London Line]] of the [[London Overground]]. This has been the catalyst for plans for a substantial redevelopment of the station.

==History==
[[File:Croydon, Norwood & Woodside RJD 53.jpg|thumb|left|A 1908 [[Railway Clearing House]] map of lines around the Crystal Palace railway station, as well as surrounding lines]]
From the outset trains were operated by the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]] (LBSCR). Initially the station was the terminus of a spur line from [[Sydenham railway station (London)|Sydenham]]. In 1856 the station was able to take through train services to [[Wandsworth Common railway station|Wandsworth]] via [[West Norwood railway station|West Norwood]] and [[Streatham Hill railway station|Streatham Hill]], following the completion of the 746&nbsp;yard (690&nbsp;m) Crystal Palace Tunnel. Although relatively short, the tunnel was regarded as a major engineering achievement as it was cut ''"through the same treacherous material [clay], through the hill on which the Crystal Palace stands, and immediately under one of the great water towers, a superincumbent weight of 2,200&nbsp;tons which taxed in its execution all the skill and workmanship of the eminent contractors."''<ref>Illustrated London News, 1 November 1856</ref>

In 1857, an eastward connection was made to {{Stnlnk|Norwood Junction}} (for the Brighton line to the south) and in 1858 the WEL&CPR was extended as far as [[Beckenham Junction station|Beckenham]]. From 1860 direct services were extended to [[London Victoria station|London Victoria]].

As originally constructed, the station contained three island platforms, arranged to provide two terminal [[bay platform]]s and two through lines with [[Spanish solution|platforms on either side]]. By the 1890s the central island had been removed and replaced by carriage sidings.<ref name=llr>{{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Alan|title=London's Local Railways|year=1983|publisher=David & Charles|location=Newton Abbot|isbn=0-7153-7479-6|pages=101–102}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mappalondon.com/london/south-east/crystal-palace.jpg |title=Library Map of London and its Suburbs, Edward Stanford |access-date=2018-05-23}}</ref>

The frontage of the station was rebuilt in 1875, and was described: "Although the Roman Catholic chapel room is no longer used the station still has a cathedral-like atmosphere as one passes from the period booking hall to the vault-like station and the stairs down to the original station area".<ref>''Railways of the Southern Region'' (PSL Field Guide, Geoffrey Body, 1984))</ref>

This is a description of the station trainshed roof above the staircases at the west end. Originally the whole length of the platforms beyond the bottom of the massive staircases was covered by an elegant dual bow-spring arch iron roof.  This was removed as a precautionary measure shortly after the collapse of the similar structure at [[Charing Cross railway station|Charing Cross]] in 1905.

[[File:Crystal Palace Railway Station (Southwest Face - 01).jpg|thumb|left|The external southwest face of the station]]

In 1905–08, Crystal Palace station was included in a proposal for an unusual new form of underground railway, the ''[[Edgware Road Tube schemes#Kearney High-Speed Tubes|Kearney High-Speed Tube]]'', devised by the Australian-born engineer [[Elfric Wells Chalmers Kearney]]. He envisaged the construction of a tunnel which would run from Crystal Palace to {{stnlnk|Cricklewood}} in north-west London, with a branch line terminating at [[Aldwych tube station|Strand]]. It was to be operated with an unusual [[monorail]] system patented by Kearney which would be powered by gravity, like a type of underground [[roller coaster]]. Kearney failed to attract support for his scheme and the line was never built.<ref name=losttube>{{cite book|last=Badsey-Ellis|first=Antony|title=London's lost tube schemes|year=2005|publisher=Capital Transport|location=Harrow|isbn=1-85414-293-3|pages=257–263}}</ref>

The line was [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] between [[Balham railway station|Balham]] and Crystal Palace on 12 May 1911, using the LBSCR overhead system, in time for the [[Festival of Empire]] coinciding with the coronation of [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]]. Electric trains from Victoria were advertised to complete the journey in fifteen minutes – a running time that has never been equalled.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

The station is built on the junction of two lines: the original station platforms lying on the [[Sydenham, London|Sydenham]] route, and the later platforms on the southern spur to [[Norwood Junction railway station|Norwood Junction]] and [[Beckenham Junction station|Beckenham Junction]].

Following the fire in 1936 which destroyed the Crystal Palace, passenger numbers fell and most services through the station were diverted to serve London-Croydon routes rather than running along the London Bridge-Victoria loop. The southern platforms became the busier pair and the entrance to the station was moved to the south side of the building in the 1980s. A glazed ticket hall, which echoed the profile of the Crystal Palace with its arched roof structure, was constructed at this time on the southern flank of the Victorian building.

The two outer [[bay platform]]s, which were used by terminating trains, were abandoned in the 1970s and the third rail was removed, although the track and [[Buffer stop|buffers]] were left in place. The southern bay was brought back into use in May 2010 as part of the [[East London Line]] development.

The original station was partially refurbished in 2002 by Railtrack at a cost of £4 million. This included a substantial amount of work on the roof of the building and refurbishment of office space on the top floor.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Station redevelopment for East London Line==
To accommodate the additional [[East London Line]] services, and to provide disabled access to all platforms of the station, substantial works were required at the station.  A planning application was submitted to [[Bromley Council]] in February 2009, for alterations to the Victorian booking hall building, removal of the current ticket office, removal of the pedestrian bridge over platforms 1 and 2 and new stairs to platform 1, but funding constraints meant that this work had not started before East London Line services started calling at the station in 2010.

[[London Overground]] trains terminate in either the southern (formerly disused) bay platform 3, or a new bay platform 5, part of the reinstated central platform which has been built over the site of the removed sidings, in the centre of the old station. The two through lines serve platform 4 (previously platform 3) and platform 6, the north side face of the new central island. The former platform 4 is no longer in public use, and while at the time of the East London Line service commencing it still had its platform furniture and information displays, these have since been removed.

Refurbishment work funded by Transport for London started in 2012.  The original Victorian booking hall was reopened on 24 September 2012<ref>[http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Crystal-Palace-train-station-restored-Victorian/story-17003519-detail/story.html Crystal Palace Train station restored] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227010255/http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Crystal-Palace-train-station-restored-Victorian/story-17003519-detail/story.html |date=27 December 2013 }} - This is Croydon 28 September 2012</ref> along with a new cafe in an adjacent part of the station building.   The 1980s booking hall addition was demolished in October 2012.

Three lifts have been installed to improve accessibility within the station.  These give access to all platforms - there are two levels below the refurbished Victorian ticket hall.  Refurbishment and improvement works were completed on 26 March 2013.<ref name=TfLCYPRefurb>{{cite web|title=Crystal Palace refurbishment complete|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/metro/27592.aspx|work=Transport for London website|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref>

Transport for London were also proposing to extend [[Tramlink]] from Harrington Road through Anerley to the [[bus station]] on Crystal Palace Parade.<ref name=TfLCroydonConsultation>{{cite web|title=Croydon Tramlink extension|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/trams/initiatives/tep/index.shtml|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316132415/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/trams/initiatives/tep/index.shtml|archive-date=16 March 2007}}</ref> However, Mayor [[Boris Johnson]] cancelled the £170 million project in November 2008.<ref name=BBCScrapsTramlink>{{cite news|title=TfL scraps projects and cuts jobs|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7712002.stm|access-date=3 September 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=6 November 2008}}</ref>

A new roof was built covering the four Northern platforms in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4390096 |title=Crystal Palace station |publisher=Geograph Britain and Ireland |date=2015-03-18 |access-date=2018-05-23}}</ref>

== Connections ==
[[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 157|157]], [[London Buses route 249|249]], [[London Buses route 358|358]], [[London Buses route 410|410]], [[London Buses route 432|432]] and night route [[London Buses route N3|N3]] serve the station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/crystal-palace-a4-290423.pdf|title=Buses from Crystal Palace|date=29 April 2023|website=TfL|access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref>

== Platforms ==
Platform 1 is used for northbound services to London Victoria via Streatham Hill and westbound services to London Bridge via Tulse Hill.

Platform 2 is used for southbound services to West Croydon (terminating at Norwood Junction in the evening) and Beckenham Junction.

Platform 3 is used for London Overground northbound services to Highbury & Islington via New Cross Gate.

Platform 4 is used for westbound services to London Victoria via Streatham Hill.

Platform 5 is mainly used for London Overground northbound services to Highbury & Islington via New Cross Gate.

Platform 6 is used for eastbound services to London Bridge via Forest Hill.

==Services==
[[File:CrystalPalaceStation.jpg|thumb|The 1980s booking office and station entrance, designed to imitate the central section of the Crystal Palace, was demolished in October 2012 following the reopening of the original Victorian entrance]] [[File:Unit 378149 at Crystal Palace.JPG|thumb|London Overground train at Crystal Palace]]

Services at Crystal Palace are operated by [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]] and [[London Overground]] using {{brc|377}} and {{brc|378|n}} [[Electric multiple unit|EMUs]].

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:<ref>{{NRtimes|May 2022|171, 177, 178}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/lo-timetable-ell-may-2022.pdf.pdf|title=London Overground Timetable: Highbury & Islington to New Cross, Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace and West Croydon|work=[[London Overground]]|access-date=3 August 2022}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

* 4 tph to {{stn|London Victoria}}
* 4 tph to {{stn|London Bridge}} (2 of these run via {{stnlnk|Tulse Hill}} and 2 run via {{stnlnk|Forest Hill}})
* 4 tph to {{stn|Highbury & Islington}} via {{stnlnk|Surrey Quays}}
* 2 tph to {{stn|West Croydon}}
* 2 tph to {{stn|Beckenham Junction}}

During the evenings, the services between London Victoria and West Croydon do not run and the services between London Bridge and Beckenham Junction are reduced to hourly.

On Sundays, the services between London Bridge and Beckenham Junction do not run.

{{adjacent stations|noclear=y
|system1=National Rail
|note-row1=
{{s-rail-national|rows1=3|previous=Gipsy Hill|next=Birkbeck|toc=Southern|route={{smalldiv|[[Crystal Palace Line]]}}|notemid={{smalldiv|Monday-Saturday only}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|rowsmid=2|previous=Gipsy Hill|next=Norwood Junction|toc=Southern|route={{smalldiv|[[Brighton Main Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|hidemid=yes|previous=Gipsy Hill|next=Sydenham|county2=London|toc=Southern|route={{smalldiv|[[Brighton Main Line]]}}}}
|system4=London Overground
|line4=East|type4=[[Crystal Palace Line]]|left4=Sydenham
}}

== See also ==
* [[Crystal Palace, London#Bus|Crystal Palace bus station]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030824224701/http://www.railcons.com/prnewoffice.shtml Opening Ceremony for Refurbished Offices 19 July 2002, The Railway Consultancy Ltd]
{{Stn art lnk|CYP|SE192AZ}}

{{commons category|Crystal Palace railway station}}
{{Transport in London}}
{{London Overground navbox|Serving=y|ELL=y}}
{{TSGN and SE Stations|Peckham Rye=y|Mole Valley=y|Outer South=y|FCC None=y|SE None=y}}
{{Tramlink}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crystal Palace Railway Station}}
[[Category:Crystal Palace, London]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:Former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1854|Crystal Palace (Low Level) railway station]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by London Overground]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Govia Thameslink Railway]]
[[Category:Glass buildings]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in England]]
[[Category:19th-century architecture in the United Kingdom]]