| Wokingham | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Place | Wokingham |
| Local authority | Wokingham |
| Grid reference | SU805686 |
| Operations | |
| Station code | WKM |
| Managed by | South West Trains |
| Number of platforms | 2 |
| Live arrivals/departures and station information from National Rail Enquiries |
|
| Annual rail passenger usage | |
| 2004/05 * | 1.803 million |
| 2005/06 * | 1.839 million |
| 2006/07 * | 1.951 million |
| 2007/08 * | 2.123 million |
| 2008/09 * | 2.123 million |
| 2009/10 * | 2.011 million |
| History | |
| Opened 4 July 1849 | |
| National Rail - UK railway stations | |
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | |
| * Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Wokingham from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. Please note: methodology may vary year on year. | |
Wokingham railway station is a railway station in the town of Wokingham in Berkshire, England. It is situated at the junction of the Waterloo to Reading line with the North Downs Line. The station is managed by South West Trains, who provide services along with First Great Western.[1]
Contents |
The line from Reading to Redhill was built by the Reading, Guildford and Reigate Railway (RG&RR), and was opened in stages: the first sections, from Reading to Farnborough, which included a station at Wokingham, also from Dorking to Redhill, were opened on 4 July 1849; other sections followed, with the last section, from Guildford to Shalford, on 15 October 1849.[2][3] From its beginning, the RG&RR was worked by the South Eastern Railway (SER), which bought the RG&RR in 1852.[2]
The Staines, Wokingham & Woking Junction Railway (SW&WJR) opened a line between Staines and Wokingham (Staines Junction) on 9 July 1856; the SW&WJR was worked by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR), and they were authorised to run over the SER into Reading.[4] This gave Wokingham a direct route into London Waterloo.
The electric service from Waterloo to Reading was introduced on 1 January 1939, being an extension of the existing electrified network from Virginia Water.[5]
The current signal box, opened in 1933, is responsible for a large part of the south-easterly section of the North Downs Line and an eastern portion of the Waterloo route, as well as the level crossing. Wokingham's station building was replaced in 1973 by a featureless structure built in prefabricated concrete (CLASP). The platforms were extended slightly in 1987 to accommodate eight-car Waterloo trains. Platform 2 (Reading bound) has recently undergone a further extension to accommodate longer trains and the addition of a signal at the London end. This is for reversing trains in times of disruption and during the Reading station upgrade.
The principal crossing adjacent to the station had its barriers first brought into use in 1976. A footbridge is also provided for pedestrians when the crossing is being traversed by trains. Originally it was built from old double-head rails, but has been replaced by a more modern angular design. A pedestrian crossing lies in the 'V' of Wokingham Junction- the splitting of the Waterloo and North Downs Lines. The latter is crossed by means of a concrete footbridge.[6] There is also an occupation crossing located on the Waterloo line at Knoll Farm, opposite Langborough Recreation Ground, but is restricted to use by the farm opposite.
A major barrier crossing lies further along the same line on Easthampstead Road at Star Lane. An extremely busy crossing that had automatic half-barriers installed in about 1964. In 1997 it was upgraded to full barriers and the provision of CCTV. There is a second AHB, Waterloo Crossing where barriers were first installed here in 1965. Unlike Star Lane Crossing, it was not upgraded, and retains half barriers. There was a third crossing at Amen Corner, which survived to see instalment of AHBs before closing in 1982 as part of the A329 re-routing. Today, this road crosses the line by means of an overbridge located further towards Wokingham, whilst a pedestrian footbridge occupies the site of the former crossing.[7]
South West Trains operate services between London Waterloo and Reading: these run every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 60 minutes on Sundays.[8]
First Great Western operate an hourly semi-fast service between Reading and Gatwick Airport and an hourly stopping service between Reading and Redhill, giving a total service frequency of about two trains per hour on this route off-peak.[9]
Wokingham station is an important interchange for passengers between the Waterloo-Reading line and the North Downs Line.
It was announced on 3 February 2011 that Wokingham station was to be redeveloped from Spring 2012 to Spring 2013.[10] The initial plan involves a new station building further along the platform nearer to Reading than the existing building and creating a new spur road linking Wellington Road to the Reading Road. An artists impression of the new station building was released on 6 July 2011 to the local press.[11]
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | First Great Western North Downs Line semi-fast services to Gatwick Airport |
Blackwater | ||
| Reading | First Great Western North Downs Line local stopping services to Redhill |
Crowthorne | ||
| Bracknell | South West Trains Waterloo to Reading line |
Winnersh | ||