View source for Lewisham station

{{short description|Docklands Light Railway and National Rail station in London, England}}
{{distinguish|Lewisham railway station, Sydney|Lewisham Road railway station}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox London station
| name          = Lewisham
| image_name    = Lewisham station MMB 08.jpg
| caption       = National Rail station
| manager       = [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]],
| manager1      = [[Docklands Light Railway]]
| fare_zone     = 2
| fare_zone_1   = 3
| locale        = [[Lewisham]]
| borough       = [[London Borough of Lewisham]]
| symbol        = DLR
| symbol2       = rail
| years1        = 30 July 1849
| events1       = First station opened
| years2        = 1 January 1857
| events2       = Present station opened as ''Lewisham Junction''
| years3        = 7 July 1929
| events3       = Renamed ''Lewisham''
| years4        = 20 November 1999
| events4       = DLR extension
| platforms     = 4 NR, 2 DLR
| coordinates   = {{coord|51.4653|-0.0133|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| railcode      = LEW
| dft_category  = C2
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| access        = yes
| access_note   = (DLR and 4 NR platforms) <ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf Tube Map]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php/routes_stations/stations/view|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529093731/http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php/routes_stations/stations/view|url-status=dead|title=Southeastern: Lewisham|archive-date=29 May 2009}}</ref>
}}

'''Lewisham''' is an [[interchange station]] in the area of [[Lewisham]], south-east [[London]], England. It provides [[Docklands Light Railway]] (DLR) and [[National Rail]] services. On the National Rail network, it lies {{convert|7|mi|61|chain|km|lk=in}} from {{stn|London Victoria}} and is operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]].<ref name=se>Southeastern -[http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/stations.php?crs=LEW Station facilities: Lewisham] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20070709171647/http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/stations.php?crs=LEW |date=9 July 2007}}</ref>

== History ==
===Opening and early years (1849–1922)===
The North Kent line opened on 30 July 1849 by the [[South Eastern Railway, UK|South Eastern Railway]] linking Strood with the [[London and Greenwich Railway]] route to London Bridge. The original station was located east of the Lewisham Road overbridge, with access off Lewisham Road.

With the opening of the [[Mid-Kent line]] on 1 January 1857, a new station was built to the west so both lines could be served.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jackson, Alan A |title=London's Local Railways |edition=2nd|year=1999|publisher=Capital Transport Publishing|location=Harrow Weald|page=47}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/component/search/?searchphrase=all&searchword=railwaysinbeckenham|title=Search|website=beckenhamhistory.co.uk}}</ref> For a period, Old Lewisham station was also kept open.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_Lewisham1857.pdf/documents/BoT_Lewisham1857.pdf |title=BoT Lewisham |publisher=railwaysarchive.co.uk |access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref>

In 1898, the South Eastern Railway and the London Chatham and Dover Railway agreed to work as one railway company under the name of the [[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]].

=== Southern Railway (1923–1947)===
Following the [[Railways Act 1921]] (also known as the Grouping Act), Lewisham became a [[Southern Railway (Great Britain)|Southern Railway]] station on 1 January 1923.

The [[Mid-Kent line]] was electrified with services commencing on 28 February 1926.

The [[North Kent Line]] was [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] with the (750 V DC third rail) system. Electrification was initially to Dartford (6 June 1926) and was extended to [[Gillingham, Medway|Gillingham]] by the Second World War.

In 1929, large-scale remodelling of the junction was undertaken to enable cross-London freight traffic to be routed via [[Nunhead railway station|Nunhead]] and [[Loughborough Junction railway station|Loughborough Junction]]. The new route utilised part of the former [[Greenwich Park branch]], which had closed in 1917, and included an [[overpass]].

The loop between Lewisham and the main line towards Hither Green, which had opened in 1929, was electrified on 16 July 1933, allowing Sidcup and Orpington local electric services to call.<ref name=Jackson17>{{cite book|author=Jackson, Alan A |title=London's Local Railways |edition=2nd|year=1999|publisher=Capital Transport Publishing|location=Harrow Weald, UK|page=17}}</ref>

The Nunhead line was electrified in summer 1935 and opened to electric traffic on 30 September 1935, with services from Bexleyheath and Sidcup to [[Blackfriars railway station|St Paul's]] (later renamed ''Blackfriars''). This service was cancelled during the [[Second World War]] as an economy measure, and recommenced on 12 August 1946.<ref name=Jackson17/>

===British Railways (1948–1994)===
[[File:Platform 1, Lewisham station - geograph.org.uk - 229248.jpg|thumb|Platform 1 at Lewisham station]]

After the Second World War and following nationalisation on 1 January 1948, the station fell under the auspices of [[British Rail]]ways' Southern Region.

As part of the London Bridge resignalling, a new loop line was opened with a reversible track down to the west (fast line) side of St Johns, which opened up on 1 April 1976.

Upon sectorisation in 1982, London & South East operated commuter services in the area; it was renamed [[Network SouthEast]] in 1986.<ref name="Thomas">{{cite Q|Q112224535 |author-link=David St John Thomas|first=David St John|last=Thomas |author2=Whitehouse, Patrick}}</ref>

===Franchise (1994–present day)===
[[File:Piano in Lewisham station.jpg|thumb|The piano on the station concourse]]

Following privatisation of British Rail on 1 April 1994, the infrastructure became the responsibility of [[Railtrack]]; operation of passenger services passed to [[Connex South Eastern]] on 13 October 1996.

On 22 November 1999, Deputy Prime Minister [[John Prescott]] opened the 4·2&nbsp;km Lewisham extension of the Docklands Light Railway, with trains running through to Bank.<ref>{{cite web|title=On 22 November Britain's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott opened the 4·2 km Lewisham extension of London's Docklands Light Railway|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/private-finance-brings-the-dlr-to-lewisham.html|work=Railway Gazette|access-date=27 March 2016}}</ref>

On 30 November 2005, the [[Department for Transport]] awarded [[Govia]] the Integrated Kent franchise. The services operated by South Eastern Trains transferred to [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] on 1 April 2006.

The loop line to St Johns was doubled in 2013.

There was formerly a bus terminus within the station, but this was relocated to Thurston Road as part of the [[Lewisham#Regeneration|Lewisham Gateway]] project.

===Accidents and incidents===
* 0n 28 June 1857, eleven passengers were killed in the [[1857 Lewisham rail crash]], when a train ran into the back of a stationary train.
* On 4 December 1957, the [[Lewisham rail crash]] occurred to the west of the station, in which there were 90 fatalities. A plaque at the station commemorates this incident.
* In the early morning hours of 24 January 2017, a [[GB Railfreight]] train travelling from Grain to Neasden [[Derailment|derailed]] at Lewisham. Although no railway workers or passengers were injured in the derailment, it caused widespread disruption across the Southeastern system, with numerous delays and cancellations for the day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/24/freight-train-derailment-south-east-london-causes-commuter-misery/ |title=Southeastern passengers face major delays after freight train derailment near Lewisham station |date=24 January 2017 |website=The Telegraph |location=London |author=Telegraph reporters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIbbfWMZnVY |title=Lewisham Derailment – 24 January, 2017 |author=Network Rail |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>
* On the evening of 2 March 2018, during [[2018 Great Britain and Ireland cold wave|exceptionally cold weather]], several trains were delayed close to the station and [[2018 Lewisham train strandings|passengers evacuated the train]] and went on to the tracks.<ref>BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43266245</ref>

==Layout==
[[File:Lewisham station Platform 3.jpg|thumb|Elaborate cast iron brackets]]

There are four platforms for main line trains: 
* 1 and 2 on the [[Mid-Kent line]], which is also used as a loop off the [[South Eastern Main Line]]
* 3 and 4 on the [[North Kent Line]].

The current station, which dates back to 1857, is constructed of yellow stock brick with stone dressing. Behind it survives, rather unusually, a wooden clapboard building. The facade is symmetrical, with three entrance doors and three windows.

The original doors, sash windows, skirting, tiling and banisters are present inside. The original corniced ceiling of the main hall is currently concealed by a lowered fake ceiling. Platform 3 has kept its original canopy, with its cast iron brackets that depict cherries. Some of the original chamfered wood and cast iron supports of the original canopy survive on platform 2.

The station has similarities with other listed stations built at around the same time, such as {{rws|Ladywell}}, {{rws|Blackheath}} and {{rws|Gravesend}} which have the same cast iron supporting brackets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2874/9465026135_21b0fd7110_h.jpg |title=Picture |publisher=c1.staticflickr.com |access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref>

Platforms 5 and 6 are served by DLR trains to [[Bank–Monument station|Bank]] and [[Stratford railway station|Stratford]]. The DLR station opened in 1999 following a southward extension from [[Island Gardens DLR station|Island Gardens]]. The original canopy over Platform 4 was demolished at some point after 1990.

The original canopy over the main entrance was demolished in 2009 at a cost of £790k<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/projects/nsip%20-%20project%20completion%20reports/southeastern%20railway/lewisham%20-%20november%202010.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614021402/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/projects/nsip%20-%20project%20completion%20reports/southeastern%20railway/lewisham%20-%20november%202010.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and replaced with a steel version.

[[File:Lewisham Station (2) - geograph.org.uk - 436678.jpg|thumb|Lewisham station entrance]]

From December 2009, the station was fitted with electric ticket gates, in line with the Government's new strategy to give all [[Greater London]] National Rail stations [[Oyster card]] accessibility and closing access to those who attempt to travel without tickets. This was controversial as it involved the closure of the gate on platform 4 and led to a petition signed by over 1,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11595822.petition-to-re-open-lewisham-station-gate-signed-by-1152/|title=Petition to re-open Lewisham station gate signed by 1,152|website=News Shopper}}</ref>

[[British Transport Police]] also maintains a neighbourhood policing presence at Lewisham.<ref name=SE>{{cite web|url=http://www.btp.police.uk/error404.htm?aspxerrorpath=/about_us/areas/london_south.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221232740/http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/areas/london_south.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Error|archive-date=21 December 2008|website=btp.police.uk}}</ref>

==Services==
{{L-HG railways RDT|collapse=yes}}

Lewisham is the southern [[terminal station|terminus]] of the DLR, the previous station being [[Elverson Road DLR station|Elverson Road]]. It is on the boundary of [[Travelcard Zone 2]] and [[Travelcard Zone 3|Zone 3]] and is a major transport hub, with many buses passing through or terminating here.

During infrastructure works on the [[Greenwich Line]], [[Thameslink]] services are normally diverted through Lewisham, giving it a temporary link to [[Luton station|Luton]] in the north and [[Rainham railway station (Kent)|Rainham]] in the east.

===National Rail===
[[National Rail]] services at Lewisham are operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] using {{brc|376}}, {{brc|465|n}}, {{brc|466|n}} and {{brc|707|n}} [[electric multiple units]].

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:<ref>{{NRtimes|December 2022|195, 199, 200, 203, 204}}</ref>

* 6 tph to [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]] (non-stop to {{stn|London Bridge}})
* 4 tph to [[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]] (all stations)
* 2 tph to {{stn|London Victoria}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Sevenoaks}} via {{stnlnk|Grove Park}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Hayes}} via {{stnlnk|Catford Bridge}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Dartford}} via {{stnlnk|Sidcup}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Slade Green}} via {{stnlnk|Bexleyheath}}, continuing to London Cannon Street via {{stn|Woolwich Arsenal}} and {{stn|Greenwich}}
* 2 tph to Dartford via Bexleyheath 
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Gravesend}} via Woolwich Arsenal

Additional trains serve the station during peak hours.

===Docklands Light Railway===
The typical off-peak service from Lewisham is 12 trains per hour to and from [[Bank and Monument stations|Bank]]. Additional services run to and from the station during peak hours, increasing the service to up to 22 trains per hour, with up to 8 trains per hour running to and from {{stn|Stratford}} instead of Bank.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/dlr/timetable/dlr/|title=DLR train timetables|work=[[Transport for London]]|access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>

{{rail start}}
{{s-rail-national|rows1=3|rows2=2|previous=London Bridge|next=Hither Green|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[Dartford Loop Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|hide2=yes|previous=London Bridge|next=Hither Green|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[South Eastern Main Line|Grove Park Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|previous=London Bridge|next=Ladywell|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[Mid-Kent line|Hayes Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|rows1=2|rows2=3|previous=St Johns|next=Blackheath|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[North Kent Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|hide2=yes|previous=St Johns|next=Blackheath|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[Bexleyheath Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide2=yes|previous=Nunhead|next=Blackheath|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[Greenwich Park Branch Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-next|title=DLR}}
{{rail line|previous=[[Elverson Road DLR station|Elverson Road]] <br/> {{smalldiv|''towards [[Bank and Monument stations|Bank]] or {{stn|Stratford}}''}}|route=[[Docklands Light Railway]]|col={{rcr|DLR}}}}
{{s-note|text=Future Development}}
{{s-rail|title=LUL}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|New Cross Gate}} <br/> {{smalldiv|''towards {{stn|Harrow & Wealdstone}}''}}|route=[[Bakerloo line]] <br/> {{smalldiv|Bakerloo line extension}}|col={{rcr|London Underground|Bakerloo}}}}
{{s-note|text=Abandoned Plans}}
{{s-rail|title=LUL}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|New Cross}} <br/> {{smalldiv|''towards [[Stanmore tube station|Stanmore]]''}}|route=[[Jubilee line]] <br/> {{smalldiv|Phase 3 (never constructed)}}|col={{rcr|London Underground|Jubilee}}}}
{{end}}

== Planned London Underground services ==
=== Fleet line service ===
In 1971 and 1972, parliamentary approval was given for construction of Phases 2 and 3 of the planned [[Fleet line]].<ref name=Horne36>{{cite book |last=Horne |first=Mike |title=The Jubilee Line |publisher=Capital Transport |year=2000 |page=36 |isbn=1-85414-220-8}}</ref> Phase 3 of the proposal would have extended the line from {{rws|Fenchurch Street}} to Lewisham, with new platforms constructed underground.<ref name=Horne36/> Further plans for Phase 4 of the extension considered the line taking over the mainline tracks on the [[Addiscombe Line|Addiscombe]] and [[Hayes Line|Hayes]] branch lines. Preliminary construction works were carried out elsewhere on the extension before the plan was postponed by lack of funds. Following a change of name to ''[[Jubilee line]]'', the first part of the line opened in 1979 but the remaining plans were not carried out. When the [[Jubilee Line Extension|Jubilee line was extended]] in 1999, a different route to Stratford was followed.

=== Bakerloo line service ===
TfL is currently considering extending the Bakerloo line to Lewisham. If progressed, the station would currently be expected to open in 2030.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tube/bakerloo-extension/|title=Bakerloo line extension - Transport for London - Citizen Space|website=consultations.tfl.gov.uk}}</ref>

In its draft Kent [[Route Utilisation Strategy]],<ref>[http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/kent/kent%20rus%20draft.pdf], Network Rail - Kent Route Utilisation Strategy: Draft for Consultation (April 2009) at paragraph 10.8.2 p. 172</ref> [[Network Rail]] mentions the possibility of extending the [[Bakerloo line]] from [[Elephant & Castle tube station|Elephant & Castle]] to Lewisham, and then taking over the Hayes branch line. Network Rail states that this would free up six paths per hour into central London and so increasing capacity on the [[South Eastern Main Line|Tonbridge main line]], which would also relieve the junctions around Lewisham.

==Connections==
[[Image:Lewisham.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The former bus station]]
[[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 21|21]], [[London Buses route 47|47]], [[London Buses route 75|75]], [[London Buses route 89|89]], [[London Buses route 129|129]], [[London Buses route 136|136]], [[London Buses route 178|178]], [[London Buses route 181|181]], [[London Buses route 185|185]], [[London Buses route 199|199]], [[London Buses route 208|208]], [[London Buses route 225|225]], [[London Buses route 261|261]], [[London Buses route 273|273]], [[London Buses route 284|284]], [[London Buses route 321|321]], [[London Buses route 380|380]], [[London Buses route 436|436]], [[London Buses route 484|484]], [[London Buses route P4|P4]], school route [[London Buses route 621|621]] and night routes [[London Buses route N21|N21]], [[London Buses route N89|N89]], [[London Buses route N136|N136]] and [[London Buses route N199|N199]] serve the station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/lewisham-a4-040223.pdf|title=Buses from Lewisham|date=4 February 2023|website=TfL|access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/lewisham-night-a4-010622.pdf|title=Night buses from Lewisham|date=June 2022|website=TfL|access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref>

Lewisham previously had an adjoining bus station for terminating routes. The station closed on 28 February 2014 for the major Lewisham Gateway redevelopment project.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewisham Gateway changes start today |url=https://se13ure.wordpress.com/2014/03/01/lewisham-gateway-changes-start-now/ |website=SE13URE |access-date=16 February 2020 |date=1 March 2014}}</ref>

{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lewisham station (London)}}
{{stn art lnk|LEW|SE137RY}}
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/dlr/3252.aspx Docklands Light Railway website - Lewisham station page]

{{Transport in London}}
{{UK railway stations}}
{{Docklands Light Railway}}
{{TSGN and SE Stations|Sidcup=y|Hayes=y|Elmstead=y|Bexleyheath=y|Abbey Wood=y|FCC None=y|SN None=y}}

[[Category:Docklands Light Railway stations in the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:DfT Category C2 stations]]
[[Category:Former South Eastern Railway (UK) stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1849]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Southeastern]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in England]]