East Croydon is one of the busiest train station outside central London. Last year almost 20 million passengers entered or exited it for rail travel. Those who use it frequently will know that it operates reasonably well outside of peak hours, with regular and fast connections to central London. However, most people would agree it struggles at peak times, with too few entrances and exits, too few ticket booths and a mass of people who make the main hall difficult to navigate easily, made worse by the proximity of the busy tram interchange directly outside. It is not a welcoming station, with few and limited facilities; it is difficult to stop and take in information boards, unpleasant to wait for a friend, almost impossible to use with a young family.
The staircase opens onto a very generous, uninterrupted public space which will be surrounded by new bars, restaurants, cafes and independent shops, together with further recreational facilities in the new four star boutique style hotel. It will provide all the everyday amenities which the current station entrance either lacks or provides inadequately, making the journey to and from work more pleasant, exciting and fulfilling. It also provides a comfortable and stylish place to meet friends, wait for passengers or do a little interesting shopping, making what is currently an unused wasteland a desirable new vibrant urban space and a long-awaited smarter “front door” for the residents of Addiscombe.
The new station entrance looks amazing. I live in Cherry Orchard and the place does have a quaint almost village feels about it but coming home from London through the station entrance that’s already there is horrible, especially down Billington Hill. It would be brilliant to have an entrance just for Addiscombe residents and one that looks so good. I don’t mean to sound arrogant but I hate it when friends come to my house and the first thing they see of my area is East Croydon station. If only the new station gets the go ahead Addiscombe would have a great sense of its own identity, a much nicer area than central Croydon
You are quite right, the new station would give Addiscombe its own sense of identity. Just as it says in the post, the new station could act as the “front door” for Addiscombe so you and your friends could use it as a smarter and more upbeat entrance from the train station.
Thanks for your comments.
Support
“East Croydon is one of the busiest train station outside central London.”
The correct way to say this would be “East Croydon is one of the busiest railway stations outside central London.
Henry
Really don’t know how the world would keep on turning without help like yours. Will leave the original text unedited just so others can see the enormity of the error.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact Residents For Regeneration.