Berrylands closure for 4 months from May

[Snow1964]

Can't find it posted anywhere, has been announced that Berrylands station on South West main line will be closed for 4 months from 11th May for platform rebuild. The current platforms are wooden and are on the embankment.

Station was opened 16th October 1933 between New Malden and Surbiton to serve the new suburb being built between Surbiton, Tolworth and Kingston bypass

Both platforms partially made of timber will be replaced using glass-reinforced plastic to extend the lifespan of the station for decades. Passengers will also benefit from improved lighting, CCTV, customer information screens and station help points.
A rail replacement bus service will operate every 30 minutes between New Malden and Surbiton during the closure. The station's ticket office, car park and toilet facilities will also be shut.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/transport/south-london-train-station-shut-3369547

 

[norbitonflyer]

Why can't they do one platform at a time, and keep the station open?

 

[Snow1964]

Why can't they do one platform at a time, and keep the station open?

I wondered about that too, not like contractors will be running across 4 tracks to rebuild both platforms in parallel.

As the platforms need to at least 209m long (class 701s are 203.1m) it would be quite easy to add a gentle sloping ramp to mid platform, for accessibility and step free.

 

[cduncan]

Why can't they do one platform at a time, and keep the station open?

According to the FAQ, "Doing one platform at a time would have nearly doubled the length of the works, stretching well into term time and causing more disruption for local schools."

 

[nlogax]

Good to know this is finally happening, though I shall miss the somewhat wonky nature of the platforms which even their resurfacing couldn't disguise.

They'd better keep the white top fence rail though. Half the time that's how I've ascertained where I am on the journey!

 

[DM352]

It would be nice if the Berrylands CLASP building was also in scope for replacement but get there is limited budget and the building is not wonky!

 

[NSEWonderer]

Surprised they didnt put in wheelchair accessibility work into the project but then again I don't know the numbers that would require it

 

[norbitonflyer]

According to the FAQ, "Doing one platform at a time would have nearly doubled the length of the works, stretching well into term time and causing more disruption for local schools."

Indeed, but half a station for eight months, with the ability to double back at New Malden or Surbiton, is much better than no station at all for four months. (In fact, doubling back at Surbiton is often quicker than taking a direct train to/from London, even when they are running)

 

[Recessio]

The noticeable wonkiness of the platforms was always slightly disconcerting

 

[JulienD]

From today until September, Berrylands station on the SWML will have its platform replaced.
Looking at images of the platform, it is absolutely appalling! How could it have gotten this bad before action was taken?
How was it not shut down earlier under some kind of accessibility or health and safety regulations?
Surely if a platform is in such a state it's a health and safety risk that could get the station shut down?
And are there any stations with platforms in similar states that need to be refurbished?

 

[Henffordd]

The noticeable wonkiness of the platforms was always slightly disconcerting

Wonky for some time, I think. They felt wonky in the 1960s, when I last used Berrylands: especially when one of Mr Bulleid's machines passed through on the fast line with a Bournemouth express. Quite frightening!

 

[zwk500]

And are there any stations with platforms in similar states that need to be refurbished?

Cheddington had 1 platform unexpectedly closed a few years ago. Took several weeks before it was fixed, IIRC.

 

[Parallel]

Not quite the same condition but Selhurst (the up fast) as a few dips along the platform. I’ve boarded a train there before and it was quite a large step up to the doors.

 

[The exile]

Surely if a platform is in such a state it's a health and safety risk that could get the station shut down?

Clearly not, otherwise it would have been. After all, undulating surfaces are a feature of the natural world so they aren't in themselves unsafe. What would be more likely to make it actually unsafe is the reason for the undulation or if there were sudden unmarked changes in levels (ie one surfacing panel considerably lower than the one immediately adjacent to it - as frequently used to be the case with the concrete panels used on many East German stations once they started to get a bit long in the tooth.

 

[Thebaz]

Cheddington had 1 platform unexpectedly closed a few years ago. Took several weeks before it was fixed, IIRC.

Dorking (Deepdene) could do with a rebuild

 

[Hugo Smith]

Dorking (Deepdene) could do with a rebuild

I'm 28 and i'll probably be buried before that happens

 

[Thebaz]

I'm 28 and i'll probably be buried before that happens

Hopefully not!

 

[Snow1964]

Been through Berrylands today and majority of both platforms have been removed.

There is a section of platform remaining near the buildings at the London end. Also part of each platform at the far (Surbiton) end (was this part new about 2016-17 as part of the extension from 8 cars to 10 cars on Waterloo suburban).

 

[swt_passenger]

Been through Berrylands today and majority of both platforms have been removed.

There is a section of platform remaining near the buildings at the London end. Also part of each platform at the far (Surbiton) end (was this part new about 2016-17 as part of the extension from 8 cars to 10 cars on Waterloo suburban).

2014 I think, I remember a few stations being complete well before the stock increased. It must have been one of the fairly early batches, IIRC the contractor did 3 or 4 stations at a time.

 

[Dr_Paul]

The lack of provision of step-free access to the new Berrylands station has been a matter of concern in the vicinity. I would have thought that it is possible to provide a ramp up to each of the platforms; the embankment is not that high, and there is a fair amount of space around the station on both sides.

Incidentally, the depiction of the new Berrylands station on the Travel and Tour World site is a hoot. The wonders of Artificial Intelligence never cease to amaze... I like the idea of Berrylands as 'the New Tourism Hub of London', it's next to a rather malodorous sewage farm.

 

[walkingsophie]

I like the idea of Berrylands as 'the New Tourism Hub of London'

Hey the Hogsmill River and the Berrylands Nature reserve near there is quite nice. I have ended up at Berrylands a couple of times during day trips.

 

[deltic]

Interesting article on the bus replacement rail service presently serving Berrylands arguing that the blanket policy of providing them should go - https://timleunig.substack.com/p/reducing-wasteful-spending-on-our

The key quote is

At first sight a rail replacement bus service seems sensible - except that no-one is using it. I have seen many of these buses in the last few weeks, and they are virtually always completely empty. I asked one of the drivers whether it was busier at rush hour, and he told me that it was never busy. In fact, he told me, he had done an entire eight hour shift one weekday, from 6am until 2pm, without picking up a single passenger. It was, he told me, the most boring job he had ever had.

 

[Parallel]

Probably because very few passengers would naturally just travel between Berrylands and New Malden or Surbiton. By the time you walk to the rail replacement bus stop, wait for the bus, are driven to one of the other stations, disembark and access said station, then wait for your train, it’s going to be an unattractive alternative. I can’t imagine it would appeal to many, except those who are mobility restricted, have lots of luggage or live very close to Berrylands station.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Interesting article on the bus replacement rail service presently serving Berrylands arguing that the blanket policy of providing them should go - https://timleunig.substack.com/p/reducing-wasteful-spending-on-our

The key quote is

A 'bustitution' trip from Berrylands to New Malden station is obliged to take a rather roundabout route. There is no road connection east from Berrylands towards New Malden, it's a footpath; nor is Lower Marsh Lane to the north-west a roadway, it's a bike-track and footpath. From Berrylands to New Malden, on the railway a straight, slightly north of east journey, will require travelling westwards towards Surbiton, then turning north towards Kingston and then eastwards to New Malden, or southwards to the Kingston Bypass (A3) and then eastwards to the next big junction, turning there northwards to New Malden. From New Malden to Berrylands, the latter journey would be longer, requiring going all the way to Tolworth, then north and then east to Berrylands; the former more or less the same route via Kingston.

Although I doubt that there are many passengers wishing to travel between Berrylands and New Malden stations, it is a journey that is circuitous by road -- a 213 to Kingston, then a K2 (which serves Surbiton prior to going to Berrylands) -- and I guess that's why there's a 'bustitution' service laid on. Otherwise, the linked article is correct in pointing out that passengers wishing to go between Surbiton and Berrylands are better served by the K2.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jun 2026 ==

Probably because very few passengers would naturally just travel between Berrylands and New Malden or Surbiton. By the time you walk to the rail replacement bus stop, wait for the bus, are driven to one of the other stations, disembark and access said station, then wait for your train, it’s going to be an unattractive alternative. I can’t imagine it would appeal to many, except those who are mobility restricted, have lots of luggage or live very close to Berrylands station.

Berrylands is very unhelpful for people with restricted mobility: there are only stairs to either of the platforms. And there are no provisions in the rebuilding scheme to provide ramps or lifts.

 

[Snow1964]

Apologies for poor quality, took picture of rebuilt platform from a not smooth riding 444 as passed through quickly this evening.

Looks like London bound platform is built, but fence at the back is only installed along part of platform currently.

 

[Edvid]

A 'bustitution' trip from Berrylands to New Malden station is obliged to take a rather roundabout route. There is no road connection east from Berrylands towards New Malden, it's a footpath; nor is Lower Marsh Lane to the north-west a roadway, it's a bike-track and footpath. From Berrylands to New Malden, on the railway a straight, slightly north of east journey, will require travelling westwards towards Surbiton, then turning north towards Kingston and then eastwards to New Malden, or southwards to the Kingston Bypass (A3) and then eastwards to the next big junction, turning there northwards to New Malden. From New Malden to Berrylands, the latter journey would be longer, requiring going all the way to Tolworth, then north and then east to Berrylands; the former more or less the same route via Kingston.

Rode it from New Malden to Berrylands today and after heading south down the High Street it stuck to residential roads, including Malden Way (parallel with the A3 Kingston Bypass) and Elmbridge Avenue. Just as well considering the heavy traffic on the A3!

 

[Dr_Paul]

Rode it from New Malden to Berrylands today and after heading south down the High Street it stuck to residential roads, including Malden Way (parallel with the A3 Kingston Bypass) and Elmbridge Avenue. Just as well considering the heavy traffic on the A3!

I forgot that there's two-way traffic on the service road alongside the north side of the A3 along that stretch, and the bustitution service needn't have to cross the main carriageway at any point.

 

[nlogax]

More progress, view of the up platform this morning.