Blackheath railway station

LocationBlackheathLocal authorityLondon Borough of LewishamManaged bySoutheasternStation codeBKHDfT categoryC2Number of platforms2AccessibleYesFare zone3National Rail annual entry and exit2018–19 3.274 million^[1]– interchange  27,300^[1]2019–20 3.216 million^[1]– interchange  15,312^[1]2020–21 0.767 million^[1]– interchange  6,163^[1]2021–22 1.833 million^[1]– interchange  12,920^[1]2022–23 2.070 million^[1]– interchange  4,047^[1]Key dates30 July 1849OpenedListed statusListed featureBlackheath Railway StationListing gradeIIEntry number1358479^[2]Added to list12 March 1973Other informationExternal links

• Departures
• Layout
• Facilities
• Buses

Coordinates51°27′57″N 0°00′32″E / 51.4658°N 0.0089°E / 51.4658; 0.0089 London transport portal

Blackheath railway station is Grade II-listed and is in the south-centre of Blackheath, a village in southeast London. In traditional terms the area immediately south-west of the station around Lee Terrace and Lee Park is part of Lee;^[3] a status challenged by the station's naming, buildings such as the Blackheath Halls and the development of Blackheath Park to the south east. It is 8 miles 52 chains (13.9 km) measured from London Victoria.

The tracks run through the village and are crossed by a road overbridge on which the station buildings stand.

Station

Much of the original station, dating back at track level to 1849 and at ticket office level to 1879, still remains today. It was built using London bricks to a design by George Smith (who also built Greenwich station). At the "country" end of the platforms the lines branch off to the North Kent and Bexleyheath lines. The former passes through the one mile long (1.6 km) Blackheath Tunnel immediately after the junction; the latter through the shorter Kidbrooke Tunnel after a short cutting.

Blackheath's station has two platforms which are partially covered with a weather canopy. Glass and metal waiting shelters were erected on the London ends of both platforms in April 2018. The upside platform has a disused platform face (bay platform) facing towards London, which was used in the past by commuter trains terminating here. Unusually, the track in the bay platform still remains in situ, although it is now heavily overgrown and otherwise obstructed. The area to the north, now a car park, was originally an area of railway sidings, where the commuter trains were stabled when out of service.

The bay platform used to come into its own when a circus was taking place on Blackheath. Many of the animals would arrive in railway box vans. The circus would then proceed through Blackheath Village on to the heath.

The station cannot be relied upon as a way of reaching Blackheath during the traditional free fireworks display in November, as it is normally closed early on that day for safety reasons. Conversely, in April, on the Sunday of the London Marathon, it is crucial in enabling athletes and their supporters to reach the starting line, as on that day bus services across the heath are usually suspended as the roads are closed.

Blackheath Halls, run by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and The Conservatoire are approximately 100m south of the station.

Collision in Blackheath Tunnel

On 16 December 1864, six wagons from a ballast train travelling from Charlton became detached from the rear of the train and were run into by an express passenger train from Maidstone, wrecking the train. Five platelayers in the wagons were killed in the collision and many passengers were injured. A sixth platelayer and the passenger train's fireman died from their injuries later.^[4][5][6]

Services

All services at Blackheath are operated by Southeastern using Class 376, 465, 466 and 707 EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:^[7]

• 2 tph to London Victoria
• 1 tph to London Charing Cross
• 4 tph to London Cannon Street
• 2 tph to Slade Green via Bexleyheath, continuing to London Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal and Greenwich
• 3 tph to Dartford via Bexleyheath
• 2 tph to Gravesend via Woolwich Arsenal

During the peak hours, the service between London Charing Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath is increased to 2 tph.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Lewisham		Southeastern North Kent Line		Charlton
		Southeastern Bexleyheath Line		Kidbrooke

Facilities

There is an adjacent car park to the north of the station (with 205 spaces) and another nearby off Blackheath Grove. Both are managed by the local authority. Charges apply 365 days a year at all times.

Connections

London Buses routes 54, 89, 108, 202 and night route N89 serve the station.

References

External links

Companies and
organisations

Transport for London (TfL)	London Underground Night Tube Bakerloo Central Circle District Hammersmith & City Jubilee Metropolitan Northern Piccadilly Victoria Waterloo & City London Rail Docklands Light Railway Elizabeth line Tramlink London Overground North London East London South London West London Gospel Oak to Barking Lea Valley Romford–Upminster Watford DC London Buses East London Transit Superloop Night buses Other Coach station Cycle hire Dial-a-Ride IFS Cloud Cable Car London River Services London Streets Source London Taxi and Private Hire office
Bus operators	Arriva Herts & Essex Arriva London Arriva Southern Counties Go-Ahead London Blue Triangle Docklands Buses London Central London General Metrobus Metroline RATP Dev Transit London London Sovereign London Transit London United Stagecoach London East London Selkent Thameside Transport UK London Bus Uno
River operators	Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Thames River Services Westminster Passenger Services Association
Train operators	Arriva Rail London Avanti West Coast c2c Caledonian Sleeper Chiltern Railways East Midlands Railway Eurostar Govia Thameslink Railway Gatwick Express Great Northern Southern Thameslink Grand Central Great Western Railway Greater Anglia Stansted Express Heathrow Express Hull Trains MTR Elizabeth line London North Eastern Railway London Northwestern Railway Lumo South Western Railway Southeastern
Other	Global Infrastructure Partners Heathrow Airport Holdings Port of London Authority

Airports

Within London	City Heathrow London Heliport Military: Northolt Private: Biggin Hill
Outside London	Gatwick Luton Southend Stansted

Major stations

Central area	Baker Street Bank-Monument Blackfriars Bond Street Cannon Street Charing Cross City Thameslink Earl's Court Elephant & Castle Euston Farringdon Fenchurch Street Green Park King's Cross Liverpool Street London Bridge Marylebone Moorgate Oxford Circus Paddington St Pancras International Tottenham Court Road Vauxhall Victoria Waterloo Waterloo East Westminster
Other	Barking Bromley South Canary Wharf Clapham Junction Ealing Broadway East Croydon Finsbury Park Heathrow stations Highbury & Islington Lewisham London City Airport Richmond Stratford Surbiton Sutton Upminster West Ham West Hampstead stations Whitechapel Willesden Junction Wimbledon

Roads

Motorways	M1 M4 M11 M25 London Orbital Former: M41 (West Cross Route) A40(M) (Westway) A102(M) (East Cross Route)
Ring roads	London Inner Ring Road North Circular Road South Circular Road
Charging	Congestion charge Low emission zone Ultra Low Emission Zone

TicketingOtherFormer BR sectors